Update Your Name & Pronouns

If you have legally changed your name and need to update your university records, you will need to submit a photocopy of your driver’s license, birth certificate, or marriage/divorce certificate to the FSU Panama City Office of Admissions & Records. Once you see the change reflected on your FSU MyProfile page, you will need to allow 24-48 hours for your name change to take effect across FSU’s systems.

If you see your name has been updated on your FSU MyProfile page and you have waited 48 hours after seeing that update, but your name is still not updated in Canvas, follow the instructions below for updating your name in Canvas only.

If you have not legally changed your name but go by a different name, you can list your name across the FSU system. At this time, following these steps will result in your name displaying in grade rosters, class rosters, faculty rosters, the advising portal, your FSU webmail account, and Canvas. 

Please note that you will need to allow 24-48 hours for any name changes to take effect across FSU’s systems.

1. Log in to myFSU.
2. Under the “MyFSU Links” in the upper left of your portal, select the Student Central icon.
3. Select the “My Info” title.
4. Your “Personal Details” page will appear. Under the “Names” section, you will see your legal name listed as the primary name. To designate a different name, click the grey “+” icon.
5. In the window that appears, enter your first and last names, then click the garnet “Save” button.

If you wish to adjust your name at any point, you can come back to this area of Student Central and click on your name to edit it. Once you see the change reflected on your FSU MyProfile page, approximately 24-48 hours later, your name should have been successfully changed across the FSU systems. If your name has still not been adjusted in Canvas after 48 hours, you will need to manually adjust your name in Canvas by following the steps below.

It is recommended following these steps to change your name directly within Canvas only in the following circumstances:

• You wish to only change your name in Canvas and not in any other FSU system.
• You have already updated your name, saw it reflected on your FSU MyProfile page, and waited 48 hours after seeing that change; however, your name is still not reflected in Canvas.

Please note: Changing your name in Canvas only impacts your information in Canvas. Canvas name changes will not carry over to any other FSU system, such as myFSU, FSU webmail, registrar records, and more. Name changes in Canvas do not have any impact on student grade records.
To change your name directly in Canvas:

1. Log in to FSU’s Canvas.
2. Go to your Canvas Account Settings by selecting “Account” on the global navigation menu that displays on the left of your screen, then select “Settings.”
3. Press the “Edit Settings” button on the right of the page.
4. Adjust your “Full Name” field so that it contains your desired name. Keep in mind: Though you can change your “Display Name” so that it is different from your “Full Name” in Canvas, we do not recommend doing this because the display name does not adjust the name displayed everywhere in Canvas. It is simpler and more helpful for both instructors and students to edit the “Full Name” field to ensure that the name displays uniformly across the entire Canvas system.
5. Press the garnet “Update Settings” button.

Please contact ODL Technical Support (canvas@fsu.edu or (850) 644-8004) for assistance if you experience any difficulty changing your name in Canvas.

MyFSU Student Central features the ability for students to manage their personal pronouns centrally. Because personal pronouns in Canvas are not yet integrated with myFSU, changing them in myFSU will not automatically change them in Canvas. You will still need to manually select your personal pronouns in Canvas.
To select your personal pronouns in Student Central:

1. Log in to myFSU.
2. Under the “MyFSU Links” in the upper left of your myFSU portal, select the “Student Central” icon.
3. Select the “My Info” title.
4. Your Personal tab and the “Personal Details” page contained within it will appear by default. Select the “Biographic” tab.
5. Below the “Demographic Information” heading, you will see the Preferred Pronoun option. Click on the “Preferred Pronouns” field to select and/or edit your pronouns.
6. Select a pronouns option from the dropdown menu that appears.
7. Click the garnet “Save” button.
8. Illustrated instructions (pdf)

You can choose to select your personal pronouns in FSU’s Canvas system. The pronouns that you choose for your account will display after your name in several different areas of Canvas as an easy way to communicate with your classmates and instructors which pronouns best reflect your identity. You will be able to see yours and others’ personal pronouns in several areas of the course including discussions, comment fields, user profile pages, and your inbox.

Please note: Choosing to designate your personal pronouns in Canvas is an optional feature and is not a requirement – you do not have to designate your pronouns in Canvas if you do not wish to do so. 
To select your personal pronouns in Canvas:

1. Log in to FSU’s Canvas.
2. Go to your Canvas Account Settings by selecting “Account” on the global navigation menu that displays on the left of your screen, then select “Settings.”
3. Press the “Edit Settings” button on the right of the page.
4. Click the “Pronouns” field to select and/or edit your pronouns.
5. Select a pronouns option from the dropdown menu that appears.
6. Click the garnet “Update Settings” button.

If you have legally changed your name, you need to update your employment records. To change your name, you must apply for and receive a copy of your new social security card with your new name. Wages are attached to social security numbers and the name on the paycheck must match the name on the social security card filed with the Social Security Administration (SSA).  Once you receive your new social security card with your new name, please follow FSU Human Resources instructions for your name change.

If you have not legally changed your name but go by a different name, you can update your name with Human Resources by submitting a Preferred Name Change Request form. An employee’s preferred name will be visible in the FSU directory and FSU webmail system. Once you see the change reflected on your FSU MyProfile page, approximately 24-48 hours later, your name should have been successfully changed across the FSU systems. If your name has still not been adjusted in Canvas after 48 hours, you will need to manually adjust your name in Canvas by following the steps below.

It is recommended following these steps to change your name directly within Canvas only in the following circumstances:

• You wish to only change your name in Canvas and not in any other FSU system.
• You have already updated your name, saw it reflected on your FSU MyProfile page, and waited 48 hours after seeing that change; however, your name is still not reflected in Canvas.

Please note: Changing your name in Canvas only impacts your information in Canvas. Canvas name changes will not carry over to any other FSU system, such as myFSU, FSU webmail, and more.

To change your name directly in Canvas:

• Log in to FSU’s Canvas.
• Go to your Canvas Account Settings by selecting “Account” on the global navigation menu that displays on the left of your screen, then select “Settings.”
• Press the “Edit Settings” button on the right of the page.
• Adjust your “Full Name” field so that it contains your desired name. Keep in mind: Though you can change your “Display Name” so that it is different from your “Full Name” in Canvas, we do not recommend doing this because the display name does not adjust the name displayed everywhere in Canvas. It is simpler and more helpful for both instructors and students to edit the “Full Name” field to ensure that the name displays uniformly across the entire Canvas system.
• Press the garnet “Update Settings” button.

Please contact ODL Technical Support (canvas@fsu.edu or (850) 644-8004) for assistance if you experience any difficulty changing your name in Canvas.

You can choose to select your personal pronouns in FSU’s Canvas system. The pronouns that you choose for your account will display after your name in several different areas of Canvas as an easy way to communicate with your students which pronouns best reflect your identity. You will be able to see yours and others’ personal pronouns in several areas of the course including discussions, comment fields, user profile pages, assignment pages, course sections lists, student context card, and your inbox.

Please note: Choosing to designate your personal pronouns in Canvas is an optional feature and is not a requirement – you do not have to designate your pronouns in Canvas if you do not wish to do so. 

To select your personal pronouns in Canvas:

• Log in to FSU’s Canvas.
• Go to your Canvas Account Settings by selecting “Account” on the global navigation menu that displays on the left of your screen, then select “Settings.”
• Press the “Edit Settings” button on the right of the page.
• Click the “Pronouns” field to select and/or edit your pronouns.
• Select a pronouns option from the dropdown menu that appears.
• Click the garnet “Update Settings” button.