How To: Update Your Legal Name

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Students and alumni may update their student record to reflect their current legal name. Documentation is required to complete this process.

Even if you are a student, CUNY employees (faculty or staff), must contact their main campus’ HR office to follow the proper procedure to update legal or preferred names.

Brooklyn College staff and faculty can refer to these resources for guidance on name changes.

Types of Names in Your Student Record

Legal Name

This is the name that appears on your government-issued ID, social security card, and birth certificate. It’s the official name Brooklyn College uses in your CUNYfirst record, transcript, and any formal documents.

Want to update it? You’ll need to submit legal documentation to the Office of the Registrar.

Preferred Name

Your preferred name is how you’d like to be known around campus whether it’s a nickname, middle name, or something that better reflects your identity. It shows up on class rosters, your BC student email account, in campus communications, and in many student-facing systems, such as CUNYfirst, DegreeWorks, and Schedule Builder.

Just keep in mind: it doesn’t replace your legal name on things like your transcript, diploma.

For information on how to update your legal name, please review these resources.

Diploma Name

Your diploma is a celebration of you, and we want the name on it to reflect that! You can request a diploma name that’s different from your legal name – maybe you want to include a middle name or use the name you go by every day.

Just note: it won’t affect your official records, and using a name that’s too different from your legal one might cause issues with things like licensing or jobs down the line. See below for more information.

For more information on diploma names, please review these resources.

To update your information, follow the steps below:

Download the Personal Data Change Request Form.
Complete all fields under the Required Information section.

Complete all fields under the DOCUMENTED (LEGAL) NAME CHANGE/CORRECTION OF DOCUMENTED NAME section.

If the appropriate documentation is not submitted with this form, the request will not be accepted or processed.

Required Documentation

Two original proofs are required. If there is not enough documentation to support your name change request, the request will not be accepted or processed.

Original documentation, not copies, must be submitted.

Proof #1	Valid, government issued photo ID with the new legal name on it (e.g., passport, drivers license) AND
Proof #2	One of the following with the new legal name: – Marriage Certificate – Passport – Birth Certificate – Social Security Card – Divorce Degree – Court Order

Important Notes

This request cannot be submitted or processed for CUNY employees/faculty, even if they are students. If you are a CUNY employee or faculty, you must reach out to the the HR office of main campus to submit your request.
Two official documents are required.
Passports may not count as both Proof #1 and Proof #2.
Documents that do not show the new, legal name will not be accepted as proof.
Middle names are not displayed in CUNYfirst and do not appear on official printed documents with the exception of diplomas.

Graduating Students & Alumni: Name Changes on Diplomas

Diplomas reflect your legal name, not your preferred name. If you’re about to graduate, you can request a Diploma Name that’s different from your legal or preferred name (just for the diploma).

If you’re an alum and you’ve legally changed your name, you’ll need to submit a legal name change request first, then order a replacement diploma with your updated name.

Submit Your Request

Your completed Personal Data Change Request Form and original documentation should be submitted in person to the Enrollment Services Center in 102 West Quad Center.
Original documentation, not copies, must be submitted. Copies of your documentation will be made at the time of submission and your original documents will be returned to you.
Requests will be processed within 5-7 business days.

Questions?

For questions on this process or to follow up on your request, reach out to studentrecord@brooklyn.cuny.edu.