Your Preferred/Chosen Name

UB allows students and faculty/staff to enter or edit their preferred/chosen first names, and this name will appear on the front of your UB Card. Your legal name will appear on the back of the card.

Students

If you would like a preferred/chosen name to appear on your UB Card, please visit the Office of the Registrar’s Preferred/Chosen Name webpage for instructions on how to enter or edit your preferred/chosen name in HUB. To provide sufficient time for us to process the change, please wait 24 hours after submitting your preferred/chosen name before visiting the UB Card Office at 1Capen to obtain your updated UB Card. You may contact the UB Card Office in advance to ensure the update has been completed at ubcard-info@buffalo.edu.

If you are attending a UB new student orientation, please ensure that you enter or edit your preferred/chosen name in HUB at least five days prior to your scheduled orientation as UB Cards are printed and prepared for students ahead of time.

If you entered a preferred/chosen name on your admissions application, your preferred/chosen name will be loaded into HUB automatically.

Faculty & Staff

UB faculty and staff can submit a Employee Preferred/Chosen First and Middle Name Request form to identify themselves by a name other than their legal name. The preferred/chosen name will appear in the UB directory and in some university systems such as HUB, UB Learns and EAB Navigate. Please know that there will be official university record systems where an employee's legal name will still appear. Employees can complete and submit the form electronically, and documentation is not required.

Replacement Cards

Students and faculty/staff who currently have a UB Card may purchase a replacement card with their preferred/chosen name. The fee reflects the cost to produce each UB Card. Selecting a preferred/chosen name Is optional and your existing card remains valid.

The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) will cover the replacement cost for students who require a new UB Card in order to accurately reflect their gender identity. Please contact EDI at (716) 645-2266 or diversity@buffalo.edu for approval of this payment.

More Information

Why will the legal name still appear on the back of the UB Card?

While the campus will use your preferred/chosen name in places including class rosters, UBLearns and HUB, there are instances where your legal name must still appear. Having the legal name on the back of the card allows you to present your preferred/chosen name while still being able to use the UB Card for identification in campus matters that require your legal name.

My UB Card doesn’t have my preferred/chosen name. Am I required to get a new card?

You do not have to obtain a new UB Card. For identification purposes, your photo, last name, and UB person number that appear on the card can still be used for verification.

Who should I contact with questions about using a preferred/chosen name on the UB Card?

Questions related to the UB Card should be directed to the UB Card Office at ubcard-info@buffalo.edu. Questions about entering or editing a preferred/chosen name in HUB should be directed to HUBmail@buffalo.edu.