Chosen Name Policy

Op1.07 Chosen Name Policy

It is the policy of Missouri State University that any student, faculty, or staff may choose to be identified within the University Community with a chosen name that differs from the individual’s legal first name.

Students, faculty, and staff who want to use a chosen name should initiate the process in the University’s web portal (My Missouri State). A person’s chosen name will appear instead of or in addition to the person’s legal first name in university-related systems and documents where it is technically feasible and where the use of the legal first name is not required by university business or legal need.

Missouri State University reserves the right to deny or remove any chosen name for any reason, including but not limited to misuse, misrepresentation, attempting to avoid legal obligation, or the use of offensive names, with or without notice.

Under the University’s Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) policy, a student’s chosen and legal name are both identified, along with other items, as directory information and may be disclosed to the public without the student’s consent unless the student opts not to permit such disclosure. To revoke the disclosure of directory information, a student has the option of requesting a “FERPA Hold” via the FERPA website.

For more information regarding chosen name, including instances in which it will be used, refer to the chosen name informational page.