Clarion University Office of Social Equity coordinated a campus-wide committee to develop a policy allowing students to use a preferred first name in place of a legal name. Clarion is the first university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education to develop such a policy.
The university recognizes that many members of its community use first names other than their legal names. For some students and employees, a chosen or preferred first name may be an important component of their identity, according to a memorandum announcing the policy.
While anyone is welcome to use a preferred first name, this option has been developed to respond to the needs of some international students and employees, transgender people and others who prefer the use of a nickname.
"This policy is an important step for Clarion University. Not only does it speak to inclusion, but it also allows the university community to use the name which best expresses who they are, whether it is a middle name, an anglicized international name or one associated with gender identity," said Amy Salsgiver, interim director of Social Equity.
A student or employee's preferred first name will be used instead of the person's legal name in select university-related systems and documents. The legal name will be used in university-related systems and documents related to official university records.
The university reserves the right to deny or revoke a preferred name that is deemed inappropriate in situations including: avoiding a legal obligation, fraud, obscene language or misrepresentation.