Chosen Name
Declaring a Chosen Name
Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District (GCCCD), recognizes that, within our
community, many students use names other than their legal names to identify themselves.
Generally, you can set a chosen name to any name, but GCCCD reserves the right to
reject a chosen name if it is used inappropriately, for misrepresentation, or fraud.
GCCCD will use the chosen name whenever possible unless legal requirements mandate
the use of the legal name. It is important to understand that designating your chosen/affirmed
first name does not constitute a legal name change.
Using Chosen Names
- Wherever possible, use someone’s chosen name. This includes casual conversation, email communication, and formal settings.
- If you are creating a registration/signup form, allow the use of chosen name only, unless there is some specific reason you need access to someone’s legal name.
- Depending on which platforms you use, you may have access to a student or colleague’s legal name. Treat this as confidential data and do not employ it unless there is a specific need for it to be used.
- There may be circumstances (e.g. when conducting a background check, dealing with financial records, or sending postal mail) when a legal name is required. Limit the use of that name to those circumstances.
Chosen Name Use in Systems
Chosen name can be displayed in the following locations:
- Add Authorization
- Canvas
- Class Rosters
- Commencement Program
- Diplomas
- Grade Rosters
- Wait Lists
Where chosen name will soon be available:
- Student Appointments System
- Student ID card except for ID cards used for clinicals for Allied Health Programs (expected Spring 2026)
Where chosen names will not be used:
Chosen names will not be used in cases where legal name is required, including, but not limited to:
- Any Legal Document Produced by the College
- College Email
- Enrollment Verifications
- Federal and State Reporting
- Federal Immigration Documents/SEVIS Documents
- Financial Aid Documents and Scholarship Systems and Documents
- Health Services Records
- International Education Documentation
- Licensing Certification Agencies
- National Student Clearinghouse
- Other Financial Matters
- Payroll Records
- Transcripts (Official and Unofficial)
- U.S. Mail
The District is engaged in several projects involving student information systems, some systems may not be able to accommodate the chosen/affirmed name.
A chosen name is a name you can designate to be used on class rosters in place of your legal name. It is a name that you wish to be identified by, and may be different from your legal name.
You are able to set/update your Chosen Name by logging into your account in Self-Service:
STEP 1: Log into Self-Service with your student login
STEP 2: Click on “User Options" in the left menu
STEP 3: Click on “User Profile" in the drop down menu
STEP 4: Click on “Edit Personal Identity" below your current account info
STEP 5: Fill in your Chosen Name
STEP 6: Click Save
A legal name is the name that appears on your passport, driver’s license, birth certificate, or U.S. Social Security Card. Adding a chosen name does not change a student’s official name as a part of their educational record. A student’s official name is their legal name
You can find information on how to purse a legal name change with the State of California here: Change your name in California | California Courts | Self Help Guide
Chosen names are limited to first name and last name.
Chosen names are limited to alphabetical characters, a hyphen (-) and space. You can request any chosen name, but the GCCCD reserve the right to reject a chosen/affirmed name if it is used inappropriately, such as misrepresentation or fraud or if it is deemed inappropriate. This includes but is not limited to names that:
- contain obscene, profane, or threatening language;
- promote illegal activity;
- include slurs or derogatory terms; or
- create confusion through the use of official titles or the intentional misrepresentation of identity.
Examples of chosen names that will not be approved:
- Names containing foul or inappropriate language
- Names used for the purpose of misrepresentation
No. Use of a chosen name is optional.
It is recommended you only update your chosen name once a semester and before the start of a term to avoid confusion with course rosters and college systems.
At this time, your college email cannot be updated. This feature is still in development.