NY announces new policy to let students use chosen names, pronouns for college records, diplomas

A new directive requires State University of New York schools to use a student's chosen name, rather than legal name, on official records including diplomas.

"An inclusive chosen name and pronoun policy doesn't only help students feel safer on campus—it is also a matter of respect. This is the next concrete step toward ensuring SUNY's current and future transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary students feel embraced and uplifted," SUNY interim chancellor Deborah F. Stanley said in a statement. "To those students and families who are seeing an unprecedented effort to roll back LGBTQIA+ rights and opportunities in other states, we want you to know that New York State and SUNY's 64 colleges and universities intend only to move forward."

Under the new policy, SUNY schools will be required to use a student's chosen name "in any instance consistent with federal law where a student is comfortable sharing such information." This includes school email addresses, campus portals and profiles, class rosters, and diplomas.