Campus Resources

Affirmed Name Policy

To foster a campus environment that is inclusive, Coast Community College District has established an Affirmed Name Policy.

Orange Coast College recognizes that many students and employees use names other than their legal name to identify themselves. These may include, but are not limited to, people who use their middle name instead of their first name, people who use a name that affirms their gender identity, people who use nicknames of their legal name, or people who use an anglicized name.

Students and employees may use their affirmed name, regardless of whether they have legally changed their name. Please note students and employees' legal names will continue to be used in certain capacities as required by law; e.g., transcripts, payroll records, financial aid documents.

How do I select a preferred first name?

Students and employees should give serious consideration to the preferred name they select. This information will be used to identify individuals throughout the campus and District, so any abuse of the Preferred Name Standards – including fraud, misrepresentation, or the inclusion of foul/inappropriate language – will result in the administrative removal of the preferred name. Inappropriate use of a preferred name may result in a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and/or Board Policy and may result in disciplinary action.

To indicate a preferred first name, login to MyCoast. Under the “Personal Information” tab, select “Update Personal Contact Information.” After clicking on this tab, scroll to the bottom of the page to the “Preferred First Name” section. Fill in the box with the preferred first name. Once the information has been updated, click “Submit.”

Pronouns

Personal pronouns often take the place of a person's name. The only way to be certain about a person's pronouns is to ask them; making assumptions may lead to misidentifying, misgendering, and/or otherwise negatively impacting the person.

In Canvas, users have the option to select their pronouns from a dropdown menu on the Canvas profile page. Refer to Personal Pronouns - A Resource for Students (PDF) and Personal Pronouns - A Resource for Faculty (PDF) for more information.

Additional information regarding the Affirmed Name Policy and Pronouns can be found on the District's Equity, Inclusion, and Compliance website.