Welcome to our Trans Resources page! Below you’ll find information that may be helpful to those of trans experience on and off campus. Please let us know if you have additional questions or concerns as you navigate your gender confirmation.
Need some support? Look at these links:
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How to change your name in Rhode Island
- How to amend your birth certificate
- Documentation changes
- Financial Support
- Transitioning in the Workplace
- List of URI Gender-Inclusive Restrooms
- Sharing Pronouns Online at URI
Interested in changing your name? Here is some information that may help:
Preferred First Name Change Process
The University of Rhode Island believes in the importance of equity and creating an inclusive campus environment where people can be their authentic selves. In our cornerstones, URI states, “We respect the rights and dignity of each individual and group. We reject prejudice and intolerance, and we work to understand differences.” In that vein, URI has enacted a new policy and procedure for any student to indicate a preferred first name to the campus community, regardless of legal first name status. We believe that this important step will move us closer to a campus community that truly values and recognizes students as they wish to be addressed.
Any student at the University of Rhode Island can indicate their preferred first name to the university community regardless of whether or not they have legally changed their name.
Choosing a preferred first name in E-Campus will automatically change which first name appears in many internal locations such as class lists, grade reports, and unofficial transcripts.
The following are the places where the preferred first name is used:
Campus ID
Class Rosters
Grade Reports
eCampus
Directory Listing (unless you have chosen FERPA Exclusion)
The following are the places where the legal first name is used:
Student Accounts
Federal Records
Guest Access on eCampus (you would designate this)
Paychecks and Timecards
Financial Aid
Responses to enrollment inquiries such as verification requests (unless you have chosen FERPA Exclusion)
Official Transcripts
Education teacher certification records, nursing licensure, engineering licensure, pharmacy licensure, and other types of state or federal licensure or certification programs
Please Note: the preferred name is used solely for URI’s internal systems; external systems (such as home-town newspapers, official transcripts, enrollment verifications, etc.) will continue to use your legal first name.
Keeping Your Legal First Name Confidential
If you do not wish URI to share your legal name with external organizations you have the option of requesting FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) directory exclusion, which revokes the University’s right to share any of your information with any outside source. This option is available on E-Campus under Self Service >Personal Information >FERPA Restrictions.
It is important to know that choosing to request FERPA exclusion means that you will not be listed in the directory and the University cannot confirm your student status (e.g., for the purposes of credit card and insurance verifications, etc.). For more information, please contact Carnell Jones in Enrollment Services at 874-7280; Jack Humphrey in Enrollment Services at 874-4479; or Annie Russell in the Gender and Sexuality Center at 874-2203.
How to Indicate Your Preferred First Name
To indicate your preferred first name, login to E-Campus, navigate to self service, click on campus information, and click on names. For some applications, the preferred name will immediately display. For others, there is a 24-48 hour waiting period before changes will appear in the system. Ultimately, all changes should take effect within 5 business days.
Staff with an administrative need (e.g., police, health, and financial services; deans’ office staff) will see both legal and preferred names. Similar to GPAs and other sensitive information, these staff members are trained on the implications of this access. Report any problems with this process to Carnell Jones in Enrollment Services at 874-7280; Jack Humphrey in Enrollment Services at 874-4479; or Annie Russell in the Gender and Sexuality Center at 874-2203.
Can I Set My Preferred Name to Whatever I Want?
Yes, but the university reserves the right to remove a preferred name if it is used inappropriately (such as for misrepresentation).
Changing Your Campus ID
After 48 hours, your preferred first name will appear in the system and you can request a new campus ID. When making a name-change on your ID card, it is possible to retain your old card if you so choose. However, all access will be removed from the prior card. Visit the Campus ID Office to have a new ID card issued. There is no fee for this process.
Changing Your Email Address
Your URI Email Address can be changed by making a request here: E-Campus Request Change. When making the request, indicate “transitioning” in the reason for request. Within 48 hours, a ITS representative will contact you about choosing a new email address. The whole email change should take approximately 5 business days to complete.