What is the Process for Changing a Legal Name?

• The criteria and required documentation to legally change a student's name is available on the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center website.
• The criteria and required documentation to legally change an employee's name is available on the Human Resources Forms Library webpage.

Kent State University has two options to accept payments from 529 Plans – online and by mail. 

What Is the Process for Having the Chosen Name Appear on the FLASHCard?

• Once a chosen name has been approved, allow two business days for the name to appear in the systems. It is highly recommended that a new FLASHCard is obtained with the chosen name as soon as possible. The chosen name will be on the front of the card and the legal name will be printed on the back of the card.   

Is There a Cost to Have a New FLASHCard Created With a Chosen Name?

• No.

Will the Chosen Name Be Used Everywhere at Kent State?

• No. The chosen name will be used where possible in the course of University business. There are places where the legal name will continue to be used for University business or legal needs. Those who are utilizing the chosen name should always be prepared to reference their legal name as well as provide their university identification when necessary. 

Where Will the Chosen Name Appear?

The Chosen Name will be implemented in the systems below.

How Is a Chosen Name Requested?

• A chosen name is requested through FlashLine. Please follow these instructions:
  • Log into FlashLine
  • Click on Settings to access Chosen Name, Pronouns, and/or Gender Identity Requests in the Secure Account Access Section
  • Click on Update Chosen Name.

Can Any Name Be Submitted as a Chosen Name?

• No. The University has the authority to deny or remove a chosen name at any time. Only the first name can be updated with a chosen name. Middle and last names cannot be updated through the chosen name process.

Can a Middle or Last Name Be Changed Using the Chosen Name?

• No. Only the first name can be updated with a chosen name.

What is a Chosen Name?

• Individuals may desire to be addressed by a name that is different than their legal name. Building a sense of belonging is part of Kent State University’s mission statement, and we recognize that some use a name other than their legal name to identify themselves. Kent State University has established a process for identifying a chosen name.
• The chosen name will be used where possible in the course of University business.

The Division of Student Life at Kent State University has been selected as one of the 2024 Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs (MPPWSA) by the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) — College Student Educators International and the Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine. The division has received this national recognition for the fourth consecutive year. Out of the 26 MPPWSA, Kent State was the only university in Ohio included in this year’s list.

The Ohio Council of Higher Education Retirees (OCHER) is offering a day-long conference at Quaker Station in Akron on Wednesday, Apr. 3, for the retired and soon-to-be retired. If you are within 3 years of retirement from Kent State, register by Mar. 27. Attend all day or part of the day. The $15 fee covers lunch, coffee/tea all day and parking. Questions?

To help make performance evaluations valuable and streamlined, Employee & Labor Relations is teaming up with Training & Development to bring you webinars with tips and best practices. Today's session, A Practical Guide to Managing Work Performance (BC 1 hr) covers best practices. And on Mar. 27, join us for Navigating the Online Performance Evaluation System (1 BC hr). More webinars like this will be announced over the coming months, and an email update will come out this week announcing the beginning of the evaluation process.