Personal Information Change

Student Preferred First Name Policy

A preferred first name is a name by which you are normally addressed, and is different from your legal first name. Texas A&M University allows a student to provide a preferred first name that will be used in place of the legal first name for certain University functions and records. Submitting a preferred first name for common use will not remove or alter the legal first name. For information about changing your legal name, please refer to the information below.

Guidelines for Changing Student Preferred First Name

Applicants who indicate a preferred first name on the application for admission will automatically have their preferred first name entered in the Texas A&M University student information system. Current and former students may add a preferred name using the "My Dashboard" tab. From there, click "Personal Information" and select "Preferred First Name" from the drop-down options and then enter your preferred first name.

While preferred first names do not require approval from the University for use, Texas A&M officials reserve the right to review preferred first name records. Preferred first names that are deemed by the Student Conduct Office as inappropriate for reasons including, but not limited to, avoidance of a legal obligation, fraud, use of obscene or offensive language, or misrepresentation will be removed and their use ceased. Students using preferred first names in this manner may also be subject to conduct sanctions.

A preferred first name may not be used where use of the legal name is required by policies applicable to the University, the State of Texas or in accordance with local, state, or federal laws and regulations.

Examples of where preferred first names are used:

Class Rosters
Student Self-Service in Howdy
Learning Management System

Examples of where the legal name will be used:

Official Transcripts
Diplomas and Certificates
Scholarships & Financial Aid Records
Tax Documents

For questions about this policy, please refer to records@tamu.edu.

Current Student Name Change

Guidelines for Changing the Name on Official Records

The Records Office is responsible for maintaining a student's official legal name for Texas A&M University and for the State of Texas. Please read the following guidelines carefully before requesting a change of name. These guidelines will assist you in changing your legal name with Texas A&M University. Legal documentation must be presented with the completed Name Change Request form in order to alter your name as it appears on your original application for admission to Texas A&M University. You must present the original legal document, which will be copied in the Records section for your file. If you are requesting a name change via mail, you must submit a certified copy of the legal document that bears an original county certification stamp. Acceptable legal documents for name changes are determined by the reason for the change as shown below. A driver's license, social security card, or marriage certificate issued by the church, are not acceptable as legal documentation for a change of name by Texas A&M, except when correcting a minor spelling error such as a transposition of letters.

1. Typical Reasons for Names Changes

Reason for Name Change	Documentation Required
Marriage	Original marriage license bearing the filing stamp from the county or parish in which the license was issued. Church-issued marriage certificates are not acceptable documentation for a name change.
Divorce	Original divorce decree that includes a specific decree granting restoration of the maiden name. The decree must be signed by the presiding judge and bear the county filing stamp. (If submitting a copy, you need only include the first page of the decree, the page containing the name restoration order, and the page bearing the judge's signature.)
Court Order	Original court order signed by the presiding judge and bearing the county filing stamp.
Citizenship by Naturalization	Original Certificate of Naturalization.
Correct an Error on the Admission Application	Birth certificate, Permanent Resident card, or current, valid U.S. passport.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: International students' names must appear on your University records exactly as they appear on the passport issued by your home country. The U.S. entry visa may not be used as documentation for a name change.

2. Student Legal Name

The legal name as maintained in the Compass Student Information System will be the name that appears on your Texas A&M University permanent record, on your diploma, and in the official commencement program. Changes permitted to your name are as follows:

Name Change Type	Name Change Permitted
First Name	You may not drop, alter, or change your first name without legal documentation such as a birth certificate, court order, Certificate of Naturalization, Permanent Resident card, or passport. International students may not alter any portion of their name from the way it appears on their passport.
Middle Name	You may change your given middle name to a middle initial (i.e. change "Sue" to "S.") without legal documentation. A birth certificate, driver’s license, passport, Certificate of Naturalization, or Permanent Resident card is needed to expand the middle name from an initial, add a middle name, or to remove the middle name completely. Name changes permitted based on a marriage license include replacement of the given middle name with the maiden name or inclusion of the maiden name with the given middle name. International students may not alter any portion of their name from the way it appears on their passport.
Last Name (Surname, Family Name)	Your last name may be changed only on the basis of a marriage license, divorce decree granting restoration of the maiden name, Certificate of Naturalization, Permanent Resident card, or court order. When changing your name based on marriage, you may replace your maiden name with your married name, or use both names. A combined surname can be hyphenated. International students may not alter any portion of their name from the way it appears on their passport.

3. Degree Candidate Name Changes

Name changes for degree candidates must be completed no later than one week prior to the deadline to apply for graduation without a late fee. Students changing names after this date may be required to pay another diploma fee to cover the cost of reordering. Diplomas ordered after this name change deadline may not be received in time for the commencement ceremony (contact the Degree Audit Office for further details).

4. Other Student Name Change Information

If requesting your change of name in person, the original documents must be presented to the Records section where a copy will be made for your student file. Only a certified copy of an original legal document will be accepted by mail. No change of name will be processed on the basis of a document sent by facsimile (fax).

Former Student Name Change

Guidelines for Changing the Name on Official Records

1. Typical Reasons for Names Changes

Acceptable legal documents for name changes are determined by the reason for the change as shown below. A driver's license, social security card, or marriage certificate issued by the church, are not acceptable as legal documentation for a change of name by Texas A&M, except when correcting a minor spelling error such as a transposition of letters.

Reason for Name Change	Documentation Required
Marriage	Original marriage license bearing the filing stamp from the county or parish in which the license was issued. Church-issued marriage certificates are not acceptable documentation for a name change.
Divorce	Original divorce decree that includes a specific decree granting restoration of the maiden name. The decree must be signed by the presiding judge and bear the county filing stamp. (If submitting a copy, you need only include the first page of the decree, the page containing the name restoration order, and the page bearing the judge's signature.)
Court Order	Original court order signed by the presiding judge and bearing the county filing stamp.
Citizenship by Naturalization	Original Certificate of Naturalization.
Correct an Error on the Admission Application	Birth certificate, Permanent Resident card, or current, valid U.S. passport.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR INTERNATIONAL FORMER STUDENTS: International formal students' names must appear on your University records exactly as they appear on the passport issued by your home country. The U.S. entry visa may not be used as documentation for a name change.

2. Student Legal Name

Name Change Type	Name Change Permitted
First Name	You may not drop, alter, or change your first name without legal documentation such as a birth certificate, court order, Certificate of Naturalization, Permanent Resident card, or passport. International students may not alter any portion of their name from the way it appears on their passport.
Middle Name	You may change your given middle name to a middle initial (i.e. change "Sue" to "S.") without legal documentation. A birth certificate, passport, Certificate of Naturalization, or Permanent Resident card is needed to expand the middle name from an initial, add a middle name, or to remove the middle name completely. Name changes permitted based on a marriage license include replacement of the given middle name with the maiden name or inclusion of the maiden name with the given middle name. International students may not alter any portion of their name from the way it appears on their passport.
Last Name (Surname, Family Name)	Your last name may be changed only on the basis of a marriage license, divorce decree granting restoration of the maiden name, Certificate of Naturalization, Permanent Resident card, or court order. When changing your name based on marriage, you may replace your maiden name with your married name, or use both names. A combined surname can be hyphenated. International students may not alter any portion of their name from the way it appears on their passport.

Withholding Directory Information

Texas A&M University defines student name as directory information. As such, both legal and preferred first names may be disclosed without prior consent. A student who does not want names disclosed can withhold directory information by selecting the "My Dashboard" tab, selecting "Personal Information," and selecting "Directory Holds." This is subject to certain exceptions, including those university officials with a legitimate educational interest. It is important to know that withholding directory information may prevent the University from verifying your student status (e.g., for the purposes of insurance verifications or employment), certifying your degree, or publishing your name in the commencement program without prior written consent.

Change Address

To avoid missing important communication from the University, it is the student's responsibility to update his or her address in Howdy.

Because of SEVIS reporting requirements, international students must contact International Student Services to correct or update the international permanent address.

For additional information about change of address, see Section 1.2 of the Texas A&M University Student Rules.

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