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Multicultural Student Center for Equity and Justice

Names and Pronouns

Students needing assistance with changing their name within the institution can speak with the MSCEJ team for guidance in the process.

Name Change Process

All members of the campus community have the ability to include a “preferred” name on their record.  Know that the term “preferred” is used only because that is the name given to the form field. People use a name not prefer a name. 

Students and staff who do not have a faculty appointment can use the process below to update or add a name to their record.

  • Go to My UTSA
  • Click on myUTSA Account and LOG IN
  • Click on Personal Information tab
  • Click on Personal Information in the list of service options
  • Click on "Enter your preferred first name" [if you have this option]
  • Type your name in the field
  • Click Submit

The name you add will show up on the following:

  • myUTSA Account and BANNER
  • Canvas
  • Class Roster
  • Class Photo
  • Mid-term Grade Report
  • Final Grade Report
  • Diploma [recent addition as of Spring 2022]
myUTSA-Account-Log-in-View.png

You can also get your ID card with this name.  If you want this name to be your email address, that will require an additional request to UTS to update your email and also display names (ex: the way your name appears when you log onto a computer on campus) on some platforms and systems.

Note: If a person has any percentage of a faculty appointment, they will have to go through People Excellence.  Also, if a person has legally changed their name, that is a different process.  Faculty and staff will go through People Excellence; students will go through One Stop.

Request a training session on this topic for your student organization, group, or department.

Pronoun Guide

Language is constantly evolving. It is imperative to stay up to date on the most current and inclusive language to use when it comes to just about every topic.

In 2019, Merriam-Webster updated its entry for they to include the nonbinary pronoun among its definitions. It also named they its word of the year.​

Using the correct pronouns supports, validates, and affirms the person’s identity. It recognizes and honors their identity and existence. As with the name, pronouns are also not “preferred”; they are the pronouns a person uses. Intentionally using the wrong pronouns is offensive, alienating, and can be considered harassment and/or discrimination.

Never assume a person’s pronouns.  Assumptions can be incorrect and/or inaccurate.  This is harmful as it evokes stereotypes and implications about a person’s identity. This impacts a person’s self-image, self-worth, etc.

Some Common Pronouns

   She, her, hers 

   He, him, his 

   They, them 

   Ze (Zie), hir (pronounced: zee, here) 

   Xe, xir (pronounced zee, and zeer) 

   Combinations, ex: she, they 

   Bilingual, ex: she, her, ella

 

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If a person hasn’t shared their pronouns, don’t just guess; politely ask, or share your pronouns and ask that they do the same. Normalize sharing pronouns by offering them when you introduce yourself, include it in your email signature, on your name tag, and add them to your display name on Zoom and additional platforms.

In groups, use language that is inclusive, such as everyone, folks, team, scholars, students, colleagues, people.

If you slip up and use an incorrect pronoun, correct yourself and commit to doing better in the future. If you realize after the conversation, apologize in private and commit to doing better in the future.

If the person gets upset; avoid defensiveness and step back to consider your impact, validate their feelings, apologize and commit to doing better.