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Preferred/Chosen Name Policy (Effective Fall 2020)

Preferred/Chosen Name
A preferred/chosen name is a name that you choose to be called that is different from your legal name. Stony Brook University allows you do this by setting a preferred/chosen name through your SOLAR account. When you select a preferred/chosen name, it will appear instead of your legal name where possible in some university related records, documents and systems. Your legal name will appear on all other University records and documents.

Name changes must consist solely of alphabet characters and cannot include symbols, numbers, or special characters. This ensures consistency and compatibility across all systems and records.

Preferred/Chosen Names Policy
It is the policy of the University to provide all members of our community with the opportunity to use a preferred/chosen name that is different from their legal name, where possible. In some instances, the University is obliged to use a person's legal name and cannot use a preferred/chosen name. Such instances include but are not limited to: employment and payroll records, health insurance records, billing records, financial aid documents, reimbursements, travel and purchasing authorizations, official transcripts, etc. 

The University reserves the right to remove a preferred/chosen name if it is used inappropriately, including but not limited to: for the purpose of misrepresentation, to be disruptive, or to attempt to avoid a legal obligation. 

Student's legal name will remain unchanged in all University-related systems. Students who wish to change their legal name can obtain the needed form on the Forms page of the Registrar's website.


Preferred/Chosen Names FAQ