Name Change and ID Cards

The New School understands the importance of being identified by the correct name. The university is working diligently to make that happen in as many systems as possible on campus.
The entire New School community is asked to be respectful and use the name that each student, faculty member, or staff member you interact with goes by. It is important not to simply rely on one’s perceptions and assumptions but to be proactive in asking a person what name they go by. Students, faculty, and staff are asked to make every effort to respect everyone’s right to self-determination in our community by using the correct names. In this way, we will contribute to creating a welcoming and safe university community.
Below you will find instructions for making changes to both preferred and legal names and other resources.
- New School ID Cards
  
  All degree-seeking students, faculty, and staff may have a New School ID card with their preferred name if they wish. A preferred name is a name you use to identify yourself other than your legal name. This initiative is designed to ensure that our trans students, faculty, and staff have an ID card that accurately reflects who they are and how they identify.
  Students
  You can enter a preferred name at any time. You will see a preferred-name link in MyNewSchool; click on the Services tab. This link will open up to a Google form. On this form a field will be provided for you to put in your preferred first name. After the request is approved, please wait 48 hours before going to Campus Card Services for a new ID card. You may also have a new photo taken at this time. Note that you must turn in your current card and pay a $25 fee in order to receive your replacement card. Only replacement cards incur this fee. Students can email Student Health Services at shs@newschool.edu if financial assistance is needed.
  Before arriving on campus, new students can request a preferred name on their ID card by using the same Google form.
  Your approved preferred first name will be displayed on the following places: your Net ID, Self-Service, MyNewSchool, Canvas, Starfish, HireNew, course rosters, and your newcard.
  The university is legally obligated to use a student's legal name in the following areas:
  Financial aid
  Transcripts
  Health insurance plans
  Diplomas
  Hiring forms such as I-9 and federal and state tax forms
  Enrollment and/or degree verification
  Student bills
  Faculty, Staff, and Student Workers
  Faculty and staff can enter a preferred name at any time in Workday (click on the Personal Information link; then click on the Preferred Name link). After the request is approved, please wait 48 hours before going to Campus Card Services for a new ID card. Faculty, staff, and student workers may also have a new photo taken at this time. Note that you must turn in your current card and pay a $25 fee in order to receive your replacement card. Contact Irwin Kroot in Human Resources at krooti@newschool.edu if financial assistance is needed.
  Please note: University ID cards with a preferred name cannot be used as legal identification.
- Legal Name Change
  
  Students
  To make a legal change such as legal sex, transcript name, diploma name, alumni name, or Social Security number to university documents, you need to visit the Registrar's Office with your legal documentation; staff will provide instructions. Your official record will be changed. If you have already graduated and are requesting the change as an alum, the university charges a diploma duplication fee.
  Documents accepted for the purpose of a legal name change:
  Birth certificate
  Court order legalizing the change
  Valid Social Security card, driver's license, or passport
  For international students: comparable paperwork approved by their consulate
  Faculty, Staff, and Student Workers
  Staff, faculty, and student workers can initiate a legal name change in MyDay on their own. Before the name change can be approved and processed, however, original documentation must be presented in person to the Human Resources office.
  Documents accepted for the purpose of a legal name change:
  Social Security card or passport showing your new name
  A final court decree indicating the granting of the new name
  Original documents must be presented. Photocopies are not acceptable.
- Legal Resources
  
  American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
  The ACLU works to protect rights guaranteed by the law and the U.S. Constitution and to extend these rights to segments of the population to whom they have traditionally been denied, including people of color, women, lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, prisoners, and people with disabilities.
  Callen-Lorde
  Callen-Lorde offers support finding gender marker legal clinics and provides information about name change in New York, New Jersey, and nationally. Its website has many helpful resources and know-your-rights information.
  HIV Law Project
  The HIV Law Project offers free civil legal services to HIV-positive residents of Manhattan and the Bronx and all homeless New Yorkers.
  HIV Law Project
  15 Maiden Lane, 18th floor
  Phone: 212.577.3001
  Immigration Equality
  Immigration Equality is a national organization working to end discrimination in U.S. immigration law against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and HIV-positive people. The group helps obtain asylum for those persecuted in their home countries on the basis of their sexual orientation, transgender identity, or HIV status. Members meet at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center on the third Monday of every month at 8:00 p.m.
  Immigration Equality
  40 Exchange Place, 17th floor
  Phone: 212.714.2904
  Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
  Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, and those with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work.
  Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
  120 Wall Street, Suite 1500
  Phone: 212.809.8585
  LawHelp
  LawHelpNY.org is a website that provides do-it-yourself legal resources.
  The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center
  The LGBT Community Center provides information, referrals, and legal support for LGBTQ individuals, including immigrants. The goal of the immigrant support group is to provide a safe, non-judgmental environment where immigrants can talk about their immigration and migration experience and receive information and referrals to LGBT organizations that understand the unique needs of newly arrived LGBT immigrants.
  Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Law Association of Greater New York (LeGaL)
  LeGaL is a bar association of the LGBTQ legal community that provides a free walk-in legal clinic at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center every Tuesday, 6:00-8:00 p.m. For referrals to an attorney, leave a message stating the nature of the matter and your name and phone number.
  LeGaL
  208 West 13th Street (at the center)
  Phone: 212.353.9118
  Phone: 212.459.4873 (attorney referral service)
  New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy (NYAGRA)
  NYAGRA advocates for freedom of gender identity and expression for all. It is currently involved in a number of major initiatives at the state and local level. Please visit NYAGRA's website to see full descriptions of its current initiatives.
  New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy
  24 West 25th Street, 9th floor
  Phone: 212.675.3288 x338
  New York Association of Collaborative Professionals and LGBTQ Collaborative Professionals of NYC
  This group is made up of attorneys, coaches, and financial and child specialists who help couples resolve conflict and fashion separation settlements that fit their needs. Unlike the adversarial model of resolution, this problem-solving framework lays the foundations for future constructive dialogues between the individuals.
  Email: info@lgbtqcollabnyc.org
  Southern Poverty Law Center
  The Southern Poverty Law Center is a nonprofit civil rights organization dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society.
  Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP)
  SRLP provides direct representation, resources, and referrals for low-income transgender people and transgender people of color in regard to name changes and ID documents. It also offers a range of general legal and know-your-rights resources.
  Transgender Law Center
  The Transgender Law Center is a civil rights organization that advocates and provides legal information for transgender communities.
  Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF)
  TLDEF is committed to ending discrimination based on gender identity and expression and achieving equality for transgender people through public education, test case litigation, direct legal services, community organizing, and public policy efforts.
  Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund
  151 West 19th Street, Suite 1103
  Phone: 646.862.9396
  Email: info@transgenderlegal.org

Name Change and ID Cards

Students

Faculty, Staff, and Student Workers

Students

Faculty, Staff, and Student Workers

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Callen-Lorde

HIV Law Project

Immigration Equality

Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund

LawHelp

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Law Association of Greater New York (LeGaL)

New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy (NYAGRA)

New York Association of Collaborative Professionals and LGBTQ Collaborative Professionals of NYC

Southern Poverty Law Center

Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP)

Transgender Law Center

Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF)

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