Can't Change My Name on My Graduate Degree?

[Persephone]

A friend and I are possibly going to co-author a book. I asked him if he was comfortable with me being Barbara instead of my old male persona. After all, I would like at least one book in my name before I die,

One thing he said was, "Frankly, I wanted your doctorate on the book for credibility and book sales."

I agreed with that concept and said that shouldn't be a problem, "After all, my degree is still mine."

But I've been thinking, what if some "investigative reporter" contacted my university to authenticate my degree?

I certainly don't want my gender to become an issue instead of the focus being the book.

Hmmm, maybe better find out what the school's policy is. So tonight I went looking.

According to the website of the registrar of my alma mater:

Name (Correction / Change) - To change or correct your student name, you must complete a Request for Change/Correction of Student Number/Name form, available in the REG Lobby. The request must be accompanied by a court order, valid driver's license, certificate of naturalization, certificate of marriage, or some other form of positive identification. A photo I.D. must also be presented. A change of name will be processed only for students who have an active academic record and are currently pursuing a degree program. At the time of graduation or program abandonment, academic records are closed and no further changes in the record may occur. The name on the record at that time becomes the permanent name of record. Permanent names of record on closed academic records are not changed as the result of divorce decrees, marriage certificates or court ordered name changes

(Bolding is my own, not the university's).

Now what???

Hugs,
Persephone.

[AudreyTN]

A friend and I are possibly going to co-author a book. I asked him if he was comfortable with me being Barbara instead of my old male persona.

One thing he said was, "Frankly, I wanted your letters Ed.D. on the book."

I said that shouldn't be a problem, "after all, my degree is still mine."

But I'd been thinking, what if some "investigative reporter" contacted my university to authenticate my degree?

I certainly don't want my gender to become an issue instead of the focus being the book.

Hmmm, maybe better find out what the school's policy is. So tonight I went looking.

According to the website of the registrar of my alma mater:

Name (Correction / Change) - To change or correct your student name, you must complete a Request for Change/Correction of Student Number/Name form, available in the REG Lobby. The request must be accompanied by a court order, valid driver's license, certificate of naturalization, certificate of marriage, or some other form of positive identification. A photo I.D. must also be presented. A change of name will be processed only for students who have an active academic record and are currently pursuing a degree program. At the time of graduation or program abandonment, academic records are closed and no further changes in the record may occur. The name on the record at that time becomes the permanent name of record. Permanent names of record on closed academic records are not changed as the result of divorce decrees, marriage certificates or court ordered name changes

(Bolding is my own, not the university's).

Now what???

Hugs,
Persephone.

Try to find a lawyer and sue them. IMO that's a denial of a basic civil right.

otherwise, I'd take my diploma to a professional printing company, and I'd take my transition letter and show them that you were such and such, and you are now this person, and take a printed copy of the schools policy that they won't change your name in their records, but that you want a copy of the diploma to reflect your new name. Technically you're not committing fraud or forgery because you earned the degree, you just changed your name and gender.

or you might talk to to the school, and see if you pay for the cost of duplication of the diploma, if they will validate and notarize it for you, and just ask them to stick a memo in your file that employers may call about you, and they can voice validate your diploma. If you have copies of your transcripts, I can change the name on them for you if you'd like. I'm a photoshop wizard.

[CharleneT]

I ran into the same problem. One school had no problems changing my records ( U of Iowa ), the other refused ( Grinnell College ). I was surprised the same liberal arts school was the sticker... I have not had luck getting them to change their mind.

[ColleenA]

Despite what they have posted, I think it's worth bringing up your question with someone there. I would think the main reason for the policy is the sheer number of women who change their names due to marriage or divorce, often multiple times, and the school doesn't want to keep updating records for such a common occurrence. In fact, the part about "court ordered name changes" may have been included because some women tried to argue such a document carried more clout than a divorce decree or marriage certificate.

Given that your situation has to be pretty rare - and can demonstrably raise uncommon difficulties - a person with enough authority may turn out to be sympathetic and allow an exception to the policy. I don't think it could hurt to ask.

[AudreyTN]

Despite what they have posted, I think it's worth bringing up your question with someone there. I would think the main reason for the policy is the sheer number of women who change their names due to marriage or divorce, often multiple times, and the school doesn't want to keep updating records for such a common occurrence. In fact, the part about "court ordered name changes" may have been included because some women tried to argue such a document carried more clout than a divorce decree or marriage certificate.

Given that your situation has to be pretty rare - and can demonstrably raise uncommon difficulties - a person with enough authority may turn out to be sympathetic and allow an exception to the policy. I don't think it could hurt to ask.

good advice here Collen. i would definitely suggest this as well, if you don't get help from the first person, go up the CoC, ask to talk to their boss, then the next person up, and keep going till you either exhaust them all or you get the answer you want. don't be afraid to have an attorney call or write them and bully them a little bit too. Threaten them with the press about how the University is discriminating against you, violating your privacy, etc. Most likely, they'll want to avoid negative press....and most Universities are quick to fall in line once you mention an attorney, or an attorney starts calling or submitting letters stating the intent to sue.

any phone conversations, you have...record them for your records. that way you have it all on tape if something goes haywire.

[ColleenA]

I have to say, Audrey, that your second post bridges beautifully from my post as a starting point to your earlier statement to "try to find a lawyer and sue them." I agree that Persephone should be prepared to reach that "extreme" should it be necessary.

[Traci Elizabeth]

Wow! That sucks! Strange, as I had no problem whatsoever changing my undergraduate and graduate degrees (different universities) to my new court ordered name and gender changed to "F" on my permanent transcripts and records. I even got new diploma's showing my court ordered name change.

I would still approach your universities and explain that you have a gender change and having "male" on your school records is not only embarrassing but also incorrect as you are a female. If they refuse find out who you can appeal their decision (maybe directly to the Board of Trusties) too.

[Stephenie S]

Too bad. Most universities have become politically correct over the last decade. That rule may be ancient. I would try to talk to someone rather than relying on a web site. You might find that they are not so hard nosed after all.

Stephie

[kimdl93]

How about listing a third co-author using your present name?

[Traci Elizabeth]

How about listing a third co-author using your present name?


Why didn't I think of that? And what is wrong with using your current name as a pseudonym?

[Eryn]

Try to find a lawyer and sue them. IMO that's a denial of a basic civil right.

Yes, this is America, where we sue first and ask questions later!

I'd say that the alternative, to actually talk with someone there, is a better way to go. Lawyering up might just prompt the school to harden its position. A private conversation with the registrar might yield a way around the problem without conflict.

[Kaz]

I totally support Eryn... as someone who is unlucky enough to work in this sector... the problem everyone has missed so far is falsely claiming someone's qualifications as yours...

Simple... I've changed my name, change my certificate. Hmmm can we have legal evidence of a name change? No I just want present these qualifications with a different name...

Get out of the pink fog and think it through? Please! This is not a "civil right"... it is a duty of care by the awarding bodies to make sure qualifications are not openly traded and therefore become meaningless. In some countries they have already... you can buy an MBA on the internet... you can buy a medical degree... scary!

So talk to them... in the UK higher education is pro-diversity and needs examples of how they have embraced diversity in practice to satisfy the auditors... I can't believe we are world leaders in this, so the US should be addressing this too?

[Jorja]

I would think as long as you have a proper court order for name change there would be no problem. Go talk to them.