The Associated Students of Madison Diversity Committee met Monday to discuss its campus-wide “Preferred Name Policy” campaign, which could enable students and faculty to modify their first name in the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s information systems.
The campaign seeks to create a policy for students and faculty who do not identify with their birth name and wish to be recognized by an alternate preferred name.
The policy would allow students to use a preferred name on their WISCards and Learn@UW accounts, while also giving faculty members the ability to amend their name within the university’s information.
Gabe Javier, Director of the LGBT Campus Center, said all students and faculty would stand to benefit from this policy.
“This is a universal accessing issue,” Javier said. “There will be people beyond trans-identified people who access this policy.”
The committee members identified international, trans-identified, divorced and recently married students and staff as potential beneficiaries of such a policy.
The committee also began development of a campaign strategy focusing on the need to educate and familiarize both those who could benefit and their allies who will help the campaign move forward.
The committee’s next step will be to seek the support of Dean of Students Lori Berquam, Vice Provost for Enrollment Joanne Berg and Chief Information Officer Bruce Maas through testimonials, letter writing and petitions.
Although no other Wisconsin university has adopted such a policy, universities across the country, including the University of Michigan, have successfully embraced similar policies.
