Overview
At SF, valuing diversity and inclusion is one of our core principles. We understand that using someone’s correct name and pronoun is a sign of respect.
The college recognizes that some students and employees may prefer to use a first name other than their legal name to identify themselves. A request can be made to use a preferred first name and pronoun where possible in the course of College business and education.
To request a name or pronoun change at SF
Students and employees can simply log in to their eSantaFe account, go to the My Information screen and make any needed adjustments. Once that is done, the student’s pronouns will be displayed in eStaff on all the headers of pages such as Student Information, Enrollment, Registration flags, and Change Log. Instructor’s rosters will show an additional column with pronouns listed next to each student’s preferred name.
To change pronouns in Canvas
To make a pronoun change inside of the Canvas learning management system, log into Canvas and complete the following:
Select the Account menu option from the left-hand global menu
Select the Settings menu option
Select the Edit Settings button on the right-hand side of the screen:
You will now see a pronoun settings box:
The default is set to none. If you choose to change your pronouns, click in the box and make your selection.
When you are done, select the Update Settings button to save your changes.
Why preferred names and pronouns are important
Preferred names impact many populations
- Global students may use a different name while studying in the United States.
- Students who have been victims of domestic violence may choose to go by a different name for safety reasons.
- Students that have been in foster care can experience many name changes.
- Refugees experience legal name issues when their documentation is completed.
- Some people have various traumas connected to their names, and choose not to use names that may bring up these events.
- People who are transgender often change their name to reflect their identity.
We are striving to create an educational environment where students may use a preferred first name wherever a legal name is not required on internal documents, communications, systems, and web portals.
If you have questions or need assistance you can contact the Office of Access and Inclusion at access-inclusion@sfcollege.edu.