Preferred First Name Request

FSC will attempt to display preferred first name to the college community where feasible and appropriate, and make a good faith effort to update reports, documents and systems accordingly. Specifically, the college will display a preferred first name in the following areas:

• FSC ID Cards –(BOTH Legal and Preferred First Name will be visible)
• Email address
• Email display
• Blackboard
• Class rosters
• Grade rosters
• Advising screens – Degree Audit and other advising systems
• Directory listings (telephone, online, hard copy)
• Email list server interface
• Campus registration and password expiration reset

Some college departments interact with, and send reports to, federal, state and other third party services that verify the identity of faculty, staff and students using the legal name and other personally identifiable information which prohibits the use of a preferred first name. In these cases, your legal first name will appear on all other college records and communications such as:

• Transcripts (official and unofficial)
• Official enrollment and degree verification documents
• Student billing and student accounts (including e-Bills)
• Financial aid and scholarship records
• Medical records
• Insurance documents
• Benefits enrollment
• Retirement documents
• Immigration documents
• Payroll/tax records (including web time entry) and payment types
• Education Department teacher certification records
• Diploma name

Campus Staff with an administrative need (e.g., police, health services, financial services; deans' office staff) will see both legal first name and preferred first name. Similar to GPAs and other sensitive information, the +staff are trained on the implications of this access.

• Emergency contact forms
• Admissions records
• Athletics recruiting

You can request a new FSC ID Card once your preferred first name request has been processed in student/employee information system (usually within 48 hours). The lost/replacement card fee applies to this service.

Changing your preferred first name in FSC systems can have ripple effects on your day-to-day experiences. It can lead to confusion regarding your identity, challenges in customer service, and/or the interruption of your ability to access some college systems. As such, your preferred name can be changed no more than once an academic year and twice during your tenure at Farmingdale State College.

No. Using a preferred first name is entirely optional. If you regularly use your legal name, then please do not submit a preferred name.

Feel free to contact the Registrar's Office with any questions regarding this process if you are a student.  Faculty and staff should contact the Office of Human Resources.