Your name is a part of your identity. How your name is used plays an important role in creating a welcoming and inclusive employee experience. Our vast ITsystems and applications weave a complex web of information that spansacross the campuses and at the CU system-level. In addition, some data is sent beyond CU to benefits and retirement providers.Unfortunately, this means that there isn't one easy place to change a name and ensure the update is in place everywhere.
The following information was gathered to help guide individuals though the name change process. Creating efficiencies in the name change process is a priority of our campus leaders. We will continue to update this site as processes and guidance change.
Name Change Process: How is your name changing?
University of Colorado faculty and staff can select a preferred first name within the employee portal. A preferred first name is the name you use that differs from your legal name.
If you change it in the :
- HCM (HR information system)
- MyCUinfo Portal
- Google Suite
- ServiceNow, OIT’s primary service management tool
- Phone Directory (Cisco Call Manager)
- Canvas
- Zoom
- Cornerstone
- WorkTango
If you change it in the :
- Colorado.edu email
- CU People Search
- Microsoft Office 365
This name is displayed in the "From:" line of email messages you send and is a combination of your first and last names. If you wish to use a display name that is not listed, please contact the. See thefor more information.
Where will I still see my legal name?
- Legal Forms
- W-4/ W-2
- Pay Advice
Need to change your legal name with CU «Ƶ? Complete the LegalName Change Form.
When will I see my updated preferred first name in «Ƶ Systems?
- It may take up to 48 hours for your preferred name to update in the «Ƶ systems listed above
For questions or help, contact the Information Technology Service Center at oithelp@colorado.eduor 303-735-4357.
How to Designate a Preferred First Name
- I have never designated a preferred first name and want to.
- Step 1: Designateyour preferred first name in the MyCUinfo portal.
- Go to the
- From theCU Resourcesdrop-down menu, selectMy Info and Pay.
- Click theMy Infotile.
- Click on the "Name" tabalong the left-hand side. A form will populate.
- Enter the preferred name atPreferred First Name.
- SelectSave.
- You should receive an email confirmation it is complete.
- Step 2: Select how you want your preferred first name to appear in IdentiKey Manager.
- Go to .
- SelectChoose My Display Name from the Settings box.
- Login with your identiKey.
- Select how you want your name to appear from the drop-down menu.
- Click Save.
- Step 1: Designateyour preferred first name in the MyCUinfo portal.
- I was/am a student and have designated a preferred first name in Campus Solutions.
- Step 1: Verify/update your preferred firstname in campus solutions.
- Log in to.
- Select your profile at the top right.
- Select “Account Settings,” then “Profile and Privacy.”
- In the pop-up menu, select "Names."
- Select "Preferred" to expand that panel.
- Follow the steps on the page to add, edit or delete that information.
- If you haven't set a preferred name, select "Add a new name"; if you have set one, select "Edit"to modify it or "Delete"to remove it.
- Step 2: Select how you want your preferred first name to appear in IdentiKey Manager
- Go to .
- SelectChoose My Display Name from the Settings box.
- Login with your identiKey.
- Select how you want your name to appear from the drop-down menu.
- Click Save.
- Step 1: Verify/update your preferred firstname in campus solutions.
- I am an employee and already have a preferred first name in use.
- Step 1: Verify your first preferred name in the MyCUinfo portal.-=
- Go to the
- From theCU Resourcesdrop-down menu, selectMy Info and Pay.
- Click theMy Infotile.
- Click on the "Name" tab along the left-hand side. A form will populate.
- Enter the preferred name atPreferred First Name.
- SelectSave.
- Step 2: Select how you want your preferred first name to appear in IdentiKey Manager.
- Go to .
- SelectChoose My Display Name from the Settings box.
- Login with your identiKey.
- Select how you want your name to appear from the drop-down menu.
- Click Save.
- Step 1: Verify your first preferred name in the MyCUinfo portal.-=
- I am a faculty member or advisor and would like to change my preferred first name.
- Visit the Register's Office Faculty & Staff Records page for instructions.
There are four main steps to go through when legally changing your name:
Step 1: Submit Name Change Form and Support Documents
- Complete the legal name change form.
- Attach receipt or proof of legal name change from the Social Security Administration office (SSA).
- Send to hrmail@colorado.edu(Contact HR: 303-492-6475)
Submitting this form changes the legal name in the following places:
- HCM (HR information system)
- MyCUinfo Portal
- Google Suite
- ServiceNow, OIT’s primary service management tool
- Phone Directory (Cisco Call Manager)
- Canvas
- Zoom
- Cornerstone
- Concur Travel and Expense
- SkillSoft
- CU Market Place
In addition, the following offices receive a copy to update their records:
- Department of Human Resources Personnel Records
Step 2: Choose Display Name
Choose your display name in Identikey Manager – Note: this may take up to 24 hours to become available once the Name Change Form is processed.
- Log in with your IdentiKey and password to the website by selecting Choose My Display Name under the settings box.
- From the drop-down menu, select the new display name.
Selecting a New Display Name changes:
- Colorado.edu email
- CU People Search
- Microsoft Office 365
Note: This name is displayed in the "From:" line of email messages you send and is a combination of your first and last names. If you wish to use a display name that is not listed, please contact . See the .
Step 3: Additional Name Change Notifications
You will need to notify additional offices that a legal name change has taken place to ensure systems are appropriately updated if you do not see the change automatically occur after a few days:
Benefits Office
Email Employee Servicesat benefits@cu.edu to discuss what changes need to be made with benefits providers. Please include your name, employee ID, and contact information.
Student-Facing Systems – Faculty and Advisors, if applicable
Submit aninstructor & advisor preferred/affirmed name update formto the Office of the Registrar to update your name in Campus Solutions and its downstream systems. The update will occur in the following:
- Buff Portal
- Buff Portal Advising
- CU «Ƶ Class Search
- MyCUInfo's Faculty Toolkit tab
Note: If you previously used a preferred name in these systems, then you will need to complete this form to ensure the preferred name matches the new legal name. In most cases, a preferred name in the system facing systems will override the legal name.
Student-Facing Systems – student, if applicable
To update your legal name:
- Download astudent biodemographic information update form, complete parts I and II, then print and sign it.
- Take a clear photograph or scan of your signed form and any supporting documentation. (Accepted file types: png, jpg, pdf, tif.)
- Log in to the Office of the Registrar's.
- In the "Comments" field, briefly specify what information you're updating(e.g., "Updating legal name").
- Open the document type drop-down and select "Change of Person Record."
- Click the "Select Documents for Upload" button, locate the image of your form, and click "Open."
- Confirm that your form uploaded successfully, then upload your supporting documentation.
- Whenfinished, click "Submit."
Note: If you previously used a preferred name in these systems, then you will need to complete this form to ensure the preferred name matches the new legal name. In most cases, a preferred name in the system facing systems will override the legal name.
CU System Supported
If you use the following systems, please contact University Information Systems (UIS) at help@cu.edu to ensure your legal name has been updated:
- Concur Travel and Expense
- SkillSoft
- CU Market Place
- Salesforce
Your Individual College, School, Institute or Department
Some areas of campus have their own systems in use. We recommend checking with your college, school, institute or department HR to see if additional steps need to be taken. For example, some colleges manage their own website directory. Your department web administrator would need to make that update.
Step 4: Notify External Service Providers
You will also need to notify the following external service providers:
Retirement Provider(s)
- CU 401 (a) Retirement Plan
- Phone:800-842-2252
- Hours:8 a.m. - 10 p.m. (ET) Monday – Friday
- Phone:800-759-7372
- Hours:7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday (MT) 7 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Friday (MT)
P-Card or Travel Card
If you have a p-card or travel card and would like a new on with your new legal name, complete the and submit to the Procurement Service Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When I was hired, my offer letter addressed my preferred name, but I was entered into the HR system with my legal name. Why?
- Why is my legal name required when I am hired at CU «Ƶ?
- How do I get my previous/dead name completely removed from «Ƶ IT systems?
- How do I get my Identikey/ login username changed?
- Why doesn’t my HCM Preferred First Name display?
- What do I do if I still see my name incorrectly displayed somewhere?
- How do I update my preferred first name in MyCUinfo Portal and IdentiKey Manager?
- How do I update my preferred first name in the Buff Portal?
When you initially apply to CU «Ƶ, you can create a profile using any name. You offer letter is generated using the name provided in the profile creation and application process. Once the offer is accepted, you are asked to provide personal information including your legal name. This information is what is entered into our HR information systems.
Your legal name is required for several federal, state and university employment requirements, including employment verification (I-9/ E-verify) and background check.
When your name is updated, the old name remains in systems. If you would like previous/dead name removed from «Ƶ IT systems, please contact the Office of Information Technology at oithelp@colorado.edu or 303-735-4357.
Please contact oithelp@colorado.edu or 303-735-4357. The Office of Information Technology will work with you to time the change to ensure email and access are minimally impacted by the change.
Due to the decentralization of campus systems, the HCM Preferred First Name may not feed into all campus-wide systems. If your preferred first name is updated in HCM and does not display in a system outside of those listed within “I Use A Preferred Name”, it’s best to reach out to the system administrator or department owner of that application to confirm what name options are available. For example, some campus or department targeted email campaigns may only pull in the Legal Name and not the Preferred First Name entered in HCM. The campus is working with the System Office to include Preferred First Name in the Salesforce Marketing Cloud (Campus Email Communications), CU Marketplace, Concur, and Skillsoft. As additional systems are updated to include Preferred First Name, this site will be updated.
It is best to contact the office responsible for that system.
To change your preferred name in the employee portal:
- Go to the
- From theCU Resourcedrop-down menu, selectMy Info and Pay.
- Click theMy Infotile.
- Click on the "Name" tabalong the left-hand side. A form will populate.
- Enter the preferred name atPreferred First Name.
- SelectSave.
- You should receive an email confirmation it is complete.
To change your preferred name in the IdentiKey identity management system:
- Go to.
- SelectChoose My Display Namefrom the Settings box.
- Login with your IdentiKey.
- Select how you want your name to appear from the drop-down menu.
- ClickSave.
In Buff Portal (current CU «Ƶ students and post-1988 alumni)
To change your preferred name through Buff Portal:
- Log in to.
- Select your profile at the top right.
- Select "Account Settings," then "Profile and Privacy."
- In the pop-up menu, select "Names."
- Select "Preferred" to expand that panel.
- Follow the steps on the page to add, edit or delete that information.
- If you haven't set a preferred name, select "Add a new name"; if you have set one, select "Edit"to modify it or "Delete"to remove it.
Your preferred name will display in the following systems:
- Buff Portal
- Buff Portal Advising
- CU «Ƶ Class Search
- MyCUInfo’s Faculty Toolkit tab
Through the Office of the Registrar
If you don’t have access to Buff Portal, visit the Office of the Registrar’sYour Information & Records pageto learn how to change your preferred name in most student-facing systems
Name Change Resources
- Colorado Name Change Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of transgender Coloradans by assisting them with their legal name change and gender marker corrections.
- Center for Inclusion and Social Change Legal Name/ Gender Changes
- A department of the CU «Ƶ Office of Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement