Your name appears in more university systems than you might realize.
It’s on class rosters, academic records, scholarship applications, university directories, and graduation documents. Depending on the system, instructors, administrators, and other members of the campus community may see it.
But what happens when the name you normally use is different from the name on your legal documents?
And what if you don’t want your personal information appearing in the university’s student directory?
The University of Utah provides options for both situations through Campus Information Services, commonly known as Utah CIS.
Students can specify a chosen or preferred first name for use in certain university systems. They can also request restrictions on the disclosure of directory information under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
These are two different features.
Changing a preferred name affects how a student is identified in supported university systems. A directory privacy restriction controls whether certain information may be released to outside parties.
Neither feature should be confused with legally changing a name or making every university record completely private.
Here’s how the options work and what students should understand before making changes.
What Is a Preferred Name in Utah CIS?
The University of Utah uses the terms chosen name and preferred name to describe the first name a student wishes to use in everyday university interactions.
The university recognizes that a student’s legal first name may not match the name they normally use.
For example, a student whose legal name is Jonathan may prefer Jon.
An international student may use an English-language first name in everyday interactions.
Other students may use a chosen name for personal reasons.
The university allows enrolled students to enter a preferred first name through CIS without completing the formal legal name-change process.
However, the preferred name doesn’t replace the student’s legal name in every university record.
Some systems are required to retain legal names for identification, financial, employment, or other official purposes.
How to Change Your Preferred Name in Utah CIS
The University of Utah’s Office of the Registrar provides a specific self-service procedure.
You don’t normally need to visit the Registrar just to update the preferred first-name field.
Follow these steps:
- Open the official CIS website at https://cis.utah.edu.
- Sign in using your university account.
- Select Student Homepage.
- Open the Profile tile displaying your name and uNID.
- Find the row labeled Preferred under the name types.
- Select that row.
- Enter your chosen first name.
- Click Save.
The university’s instructions specifically identify the Preferred name type row as the place to make this change.
You should review the saved information before leaving the page.
If the name doesn’t appear immediately in another university application, that doesn’t necessarily mean the update failed.
Different systems may have separate synchronization processes.
If a particular application continues displaying an unexpected name, contact the department responsible for that system.
Can You Change Your Last Name Through the Preferred Name Setting?
No.
The university’s preferred-name instructions are intended for changing a chosen first name.
They specifically state that last names cannot be changed through this method.
A student who needs to update their official last name must use the university’s formal personal-information change procedure.
This distinction matters because a preferred first name and a legal name change have different administrative consequences.
For example, changing Jonathan to Jon in the preferred-name field doesn’t require the same process as updating a legal surname after a marriage or court-ordered name change.
If you’re changing your legal name, the university may require supporting documentation.
Don’t attempt to use the preferred-name field as a substitute for correcting official records.
Where Will Your Preferred Name Appear?
The University of Utah publishes a list of systems that display a chosen or preferred first name.
Some use the chosen name as the primary display name.
Others show it alongside the legal name.
| University system | How the name is displayed |
|---|---|
| Campus Directory | Chosen/preferred name |
| Class Rosters | Chosen/preferred name alongside legal name |
| Academic Works Scholarship System | Chosen/preferred name alongside legal name |
| University Zoom account | Chosen/preferred name |
| Merit pages | Chosen/preferred name |
This list comes from the university’s official preferred-name FAQ.
It’s particularly important to understand the class roster arrangement.
A student might update their preferred name expecting the legal name to disappear from every instructor-facing record.
However, the university explicitly states that class rosters display the chosen name alongside the legal name.
That means the change improves name recognition in supported systems without guaranteeing that the legal name is hidden.
If you’re concerned about how your name appears in a specific application, ask the office responsible for that application.
Does Changing Your Preferred Name Update Your University Email?
Not necessarily.
The university’s preferred-name documentation identifies specific systems that display chosen names.
It doesn’t establish that changing the preferred-name field automatically changes a student’s email address, username, or account identifier.
Your university email address and account credentials may be managed through separate systems.
For example, a display name appearing in an application isn’t necessarily the same as the email address used to authenticate.
If you want to change how your name appears in email or another university service, check that service’s instructions.
Don’t assume that one CIS profile update changes every digital identity associated with your university account.
Can You Change Your Preferred Name More Than Once?
Yes.
The University of Utah states that enrolled students may update their chosen or preferred name as many times as necessary.
The university doesn’t describe a fixed limit on the number of preferred-name changes during enrollment.
This is useful when a student initially chooses a nickname and later decides to use a different first name.
However, the university also states that chosen names cannot be used for misrepresentation.
It reserves the right to remove a preferred name considered inappropriate.
The feature is intended to support genuine identification preferences, not to impersonate another person or create misleading university records.
What Happens if You Never Enter a Preferred Name?
Nothing special is required.
The University of Utah states that students who don’t specify a chosen or preferred name will continue to have their legal name displayed by default.
There is no requirement to enter a different first name.
Students who are comfortable with their legal name can simply leave the preferred-name field unchanged.
The feature is optional.
Preferred Name vs. Legal Name: Why the Difference Matters
A preferred name is mainly about how a student is addressed and identified in supported campus systems.
A legal