Pronouns & Name Changes

We strive to consciously acknowledge and honor the diverse layers of identity and experience, particularly those that our communities often struggle to recognize.

Pronouns are a key aspect of this recognition. They are the words we use to refer to someone instead of their name. For example: “Nadia aced her exam.” Pronouns express our identities, so when someone asks you to use specific pronouns, they are asking you to respect their identity. If you someone shared their pronouns with you, use them. If you don’t know someone’s pronouns, don’t assume. Until you learn their pronouns, use their name or gender-neutral pronouns like “they.”

Using incorrect pronouns for someone, especially intentionally, can make them feel disrespected and may lead to dysphoria, exclusion, and alienation. Assuming someone’s gender is never safe, and having people automatically use the correct pronouns for you is a privilege not everyone enjoys. Ignoring or disrespecting someone pronouns is an act of oppression and can be considered an act of violence. Just as with someone’s name, being mindful of and using the correct pronouns honors and respects their identity, fostering more personal connections.

Sometimes bear in mind that people may not want to share their pronouns, and that’s perfect fine. In such cases, it’s generally safe to use gender-neutral pronouns like “they/them” or the person’s name until they indicate otherwise.

Introducing yourself with your own pronouns can create a safe and inclusive environment. It signals to others that you respect their identities and won’t make assumptions about their pronouns. For example, you could say, “Hello, my name is Rami and I use they/them pronouns.” This also encourages others to share their pronouns comfortably.

You can politely ask someone for their pronouns, such as by saying, “Hey, what are your pronouns?” However, it’s generally best to let people disclose their pronouns on their own terms. While knowing someone’s pronouns is important, respecting their comfort and boundaries is paramount. Don’t demand pronouns from someone if they’re not comfortable sharing them. Respecting a person’s identify and comfort is more important than knowing their pronouns.

Chosen Name

Names are important parts of our identity and experience. Salt Lake Community College recognizes that many members of our community use names other than their legal names or names given at birth to identify themselves. SLCC will make every effort to ensure that the name you identify with appears in your student records wherever we are able to do so. Please understand that the college is required to keep documents related to financial aid and official academic transcripts under your full legal name, and some processes may take time to complete.

• To make updates or corrections to your display name, legal name, legal sex/gender and/or pronouns, please fill out the Change of Personal Information Update Form on the Student Forms page. For more information, including where your chosen name and pronouns will appear, visit the Office of the Registrar’s Change Your Personal Information page.
• If you have any questions or need assistance changing your legal name and gender markers, please contact the SLCC Gender & Sexuality Student Resource Center at 801.957.3143, gssrc@slcc.edu, or visit the Center at SCM 1-140 on the South City Campus.

Examples

Note: There are many more than these four pronouns out in the world. These are simply the most common in the US.

Share your pronouns at slcc

On Canvas:

1. Open user settings (“Account” > “Settings”)
2. Click “Edit Settings”
3. In the “Pronouns” drop down menu, select your pronouns
4. Click “Update Settings”
5. You can view your pronouns in your settings and profile. They will also be displayed in many other areas around Canvas, such as comment fields, discussions, inbox, People Page, and more!

On Banner:

Visit the Office of the Registrar's Change Personal Information page for the following information:

• How to add a chosen name to your student record?
• How to update your personal pronouns on your student?
• List of where you will see your chosen name and/or personal pronouns.
• Additional information on both chosen names and personal pronouns.

On your OneCard:

• You can add your pronouns to your OneCard by either visiting an ID center or submitting a request online. Learn more on the OneCard page.

On Microsoft 365:

1. Go to Teams and open your profile card. To open your profile card in Teams, you can select your profile picture in the upper right hand corner in Teams.
2. On your profile, select “+ Pronouns” or the pronouns listed below your name.
3. To add or change your pronouns, select from the examples (currently only available in English), or enter your own. To delete, remove your pronouns.
4. Select “Save” and then “Got it.” Changes are updated immediately.