Description
Catmail uses your official name from your records. It will display your preferred name: for students if you have entered one through the My OHIO Student Center or for employees if you have a name entered on My Personal Information. If you have not provided a preferred name, it will display your legal name.
Environment
Android, iOS, PC, Mac, web browser
Students
Preferred name and/or pronoun
You can update your preferred name and/or pronoun in My OHIO Student Center. After logging in, click on the Names link in the Personal Information section.
Legal name
To change your legal name, you will need to contact the Office of the University Registrar. A legal name change requires an official document and/or court order verifying the correct information at the time the request is made. You can submit one of the following forms of validation in person, to the Office of the University Registrar, Chubb Hall:
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Valid passport (required for international students in non-immigrant status);
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Court action document;
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Divorce decree (the appropriate page of the decree);
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Marriage certificate;
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Valid driver's license and social security card (you must submit both and the names must match);
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Federal or state-issued identification card and a social security card (you must submit both and the names must match).
When only one word is provided for the legal name, the information will be stored in a system's last name field with the standardized designation of 'FNU' (first name unknown) stored in the first name field.
If you have additional questions about name changes, contact Registrar Services by email at registration@ohio.edu, by phone at 740.593.4495, or in person on the first floor of Chubb Hall.
Note: Changes will not be immediately visible in the Exchange GAL (Global Address List or address book), but will be refreshed automatically the following morning between 4:00 AM and 5:00 AM.
Outcome: As a student you understand the options to submit a name change request.
Employees
You can change your first name in Catmail by filling in the Preferred Name field in the University's HR database:
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Log into My Personal Information.
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Expand the My Personal Information folder and click Personal Information.
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In the Basic Details section, click Update.
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Choose Correct or complete the current details.
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Enter your preferred first name in the Preferred Name box and click Next.
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Continue to click Next until you reach the Personal Information: Review screen. Make sure your Preferred Name is correct and click Submit.
Note: Changes will not be immediately visible in the Exchange GAL (Global Address List or address book), but will be refreshed automatically the following morning between 4:00 AM and 5:00 AM.
Outcome: As an employee you understand how to change your first name in Catmail.
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