Primary Name

A Primary Name is the legal name that appears on legal documents (i.e. passport, driver’s license, US Military identification, US Social Security Card, official court order of name change). A legal name is required for certain offices which necessitate its use. These offices may include but are not limited to Student Financials, Financial Aid, Human Resources, Student Employment, Payroll, International Student & Scholar Office, and the Office of the Registrar for items related to financial aid, tuition, paycheck, visa, transcript and more. A legal name should be used when completing official forms for the university.

Chosen Name

A Chosen Name is the name a student wishes to be known by in the university community that is different from a student’s legal name. Your Chosen Name will be displayed in SIS, class rosters, grade rosters, advising reports, Blackboard, and faculty and department center reports. 

Semester Honors and commencement lists will also use Chosen Name as a default.

If a Chosen Name is not entered, the Primary Name will be displayed.

Campus Name

Campus name is exclusively used for email and could be the same as your chosen or primary name.

Degree Name

Your Primary Name will be printed on the diploma as a default. Students wishing to list their degree name that is different than their primary name on their diploma or certificate MUST enter a Degree Name in SIS.

How To Change Your Name

Primary Name

To update your primary legal name, please complete the Student Information Change. You will be required to provide either a government issued photo ID (license, passport, etc.) or official court documentation (court order, marriage cert, etc.) reflecting the changed name.

Chosen Name

Students may choose to display a Chosen Name instead of their Primary Name in select university-related systems and documents, provided that the Chosen Name is not being used for the purpose of misrepresentation. Chosen Names that are not administratively possible to implement, including, without limitation, symbols or images, are prohibited. The university reserves the right to remove any Chosen Name without prior notice to the individual due to misuse or abuse of this chosen name policy, including, but not limited to, misrepresentation, attempting to avoid legal obligations, or the use of highly offensive or derogatory names.

Please note that the Primary Name will be used in all university-related systems and documents that require a legal name.

Students seeking to add a Chosen Name should navigate to:

  • SIS Self-Service > Left Menu > Personal Information > Names
    OR
  • SIS Self-Service > Homepage > Personal Information icon > Right Menu > Names
    1. Click on Edit for Chosen Name.
    2. Edit fields as appropriate.
    3. Click Save in the lower right corner of the page.

Important note: Chosen Name displays at the top of each self-service page in SIS and the Authorized Access pages. This means if you grant parent(s), family members, legal guardian(s) or other designees’ access to SIS, those who have been granted access as well as faculty and staff will see your Chosen Name versus your Primary Name.

Who Can View Your Chosen Name?

Chosen Name can be used in the following systems and records:

  • SIS (including those granted Authorized User Access i.e. parents, legal guardians, or other designees)
  • UMass Lowell Active Directory
  • Blackboard
  • Housing
  • Library

Primary Name will continue to be used for official university records, including but not limited to the following:

  • Legal documents
  • University reports
  • Student Account Statement (Bills)
  • Financial aid and scholarship awards
  • Academic advisement reports
  • Transcripts
  • Enrollment and degree verifications
  • UCard printing
  • Student Employment documents
  • Employment and Degree verifications
  • Federal and State agency reporting
  • Human Resources benefit information
  • SEVIS (Immigration status reporting)
  • Health records
  • Paychecks, W-2s, or other payroll documents

Campus Name (Email Only)

Students may choose to update their campus email address, provided that the Campus Name is not being used for the purpose of misrepresentation. Campus name is exclusively used for email and could be the same as your chosen or primary name. The email address has a limited number of characters. Students will need to complete the Campus name form located on The Solution Center website. The Campus Name request will be reviewed and if approved will be updated in SIS. It may take up to 48 business hours to update your email address. Students may request a new UCard at the UCAPS Office once the Campus Name is updated.

Degree Name (Diploma Only)

Your Primary Name will be printed on the diploma as a default. Students wishing to list their degree name that is different than their primary name on their diploma or certificate MUST enter a Degree Name in SIS. Students may email: registrar@uml.edu with any questions pertaining to their diploma or certificate. Diplomas will be sent out to students after the academic dean has approved the completion of degree requirements and the degree/certificate has been posted in SiS. If you wish to send your diploma to a different address other than your primary address, please make sure to update “diploma” address in SIS prior to the conferral date. The Degree Name and diploma address must be updated in SiS at least a month before the degree conferral day in order to get the printed name updated accurately. In addition to the diploma, the Degree Name will also be used for all Commencement announcements, awards and programs.