Preferred Name

Western Michigan University recognizes that employees may wish to use a name other than their legal name for University communications. For instance, employees often have nicknames by which they prefer to be addressed or professional names that are used for publication purposes. In these and similar instances, employees may opt to specify their preferred first and last name via Employee Self Service.

When designated by an employee, preferred name will be used in all University communications except where use of a legal name is required by University business. Use of a preferred name is not permissible for any purpose of misrepresentation. The University reserves the right to remove a preferred name if it is deemed inappropriate. If an employee does not specify a preferred name, the legal name will continue to be used for all purposes.

Definitions

• Legal name: The name that an individual is given at birth and which appears on a birth certificate recognized by a government or other legal entity, or the name which appears on a marriage certificate or other government issued document (e.g. court order) on which a legal name change is recorded.
• Preferred name: The name by which an employee wishes to be known.

Examples

• Your legal name is Joseph John Doe. Your preferred name might be John Doe.
• Your legal name is Katherine Anna Rodriguez. Your preferred name might be Kat Rodriguez.
• Your legal name is Bianca BeBe Bronco. Your preferred name might be BeBe Brown.

Places where legal name will display

• Bronco identification card
• Insurance documents
• Payroll and tax forms
• Retirement documents

Places where preferred name will display

• General mailings (i.e. non-legal mailings)
• Service anniversary recognition (including 25 Year Club)
• WMU Directory

How to set your preferred name

1. Visit the My Self Service channel in GoWMU.
2. Select Employee Self Service.
3. From the main menu, select Self Service then Personal Information and then WMU Preferred Name.
4. Enter the effective date of the change and the new preferred name.
5. Note: Please enter your first and last name, even if only one name is changing. If you prefer to be known by only one name, you may enter only one name for your preferred name.

How to change your legal name

1. Visit the My Self Service channel in GoWMU.
2. Select Employee Self Service.
3. From the main menu, select Self Service then Personal Information and then Name Change.
4. Enter the effective date of the name change and click the edit name button.
5. Enter your new legal name and click submit.
6. To activate your name change, you must bring legal proof of your name change to Human Resources (e.g. marriage license, driver's license or court documentation.)
7. Note: For U.S. employees, all legal name changes must match the name printed on your Social Security card.

Student employees

Students are subject to the Registrar's Office policy available at Preferred Name.

Questions?

For questions about preferred name, please contact Human Resources.