Preferred Name

At Corning Community College, everyone deserves to be accepted and valued.  SUNY CCC embraces diversity and values an inclusive culture where every person is able to succeed to their full potential.

A preferred name can be an essential part of a person’s identity, and CCC recognizes that students may choose to use a name different from their legal name. CCC has established a policy that allows students to indicate their preferred first names to the College community, even if they have not changed their legal name.

Current students can select to use their preferred first name for contact. The preferred name does not change the legal name but is used in place of the legal name as summarized below.

To add your preferred name follow the below steps:

  • Login into your MyCorning account
  • Click on Student Resources
  • Click on My Banner
  • Click on Personal Information
  • Click on SSB9 Personal Information Page
  • Click on Personal Information
  • Click on Edit in the top right corning of Personal Details
  • Add your preferred name and select update

Once you have updated your preferred name, your name preferred name will appear in the following locations:

  • Brightspace (the learning management system for classes with online content)
  • My Banner student information pages (the student information system)
  • Emails from the College sent to your @corning-cc.edu address (please note that if you have a personal email address that is set to receive College communications, the legal name will be used.)
  • Email Display Name (when a student updates their preferred name and then sends an email to an outside mailbox their preferred name will be displayed after the daily update.)

Faculty will see your preferred name when using the following faculty services:

  • Class rosters (in Banner)
  • Brightspace
  • Student information pages (in Banner)

What is a preferred name?

A preferred name is the name a student wishes to be known by in the SUNY CCC community that is different from a student’s Legal Name.

What is a legal name?

“Legal Name,” as defined by the Department of Homeland Security for issues relating to driver’s licenses and identification cards, and the name which can be accepted by Federal agencies for official purposes. It is the “individual’s first name, middle name(s), and last name or surname, without use of initials or nicknames.” 6 CFR 37.1, 37.3 That name might appear on a passport, driver’s license, birth certificate, U.S. Social Security Card, or an official court order of name change.

Is a preferred name the same as a nickname?

Preferred name and nicknames are totally different name types at SUNY CCC. Preferred name is the name you choose to be addressed by while at SUNY CCC by faculty, staff, and students and will be used for internal administrative purposes. Nicknames can be used by students as a personal preference but will not be reflected on internal college documents and systems. 

Will preferred name be used for communications sent to family?

SUNY CCC will not use preferred name when sending communications to families, on personal email addresses set to receive College emails, or for direct mail. The legal name will be used for financial aid and billing documents as well as College updates and marketing emails to personal email addresses.

Places at SUNY CCC where your legal name will remain:

  • Transcripts
  • Enrollment verifications
  • Paychecks and paystubs
  • Financial Aid records
  • Tax documents
  • Student billing
  • Conduct records
  • Public safety records
  • Health records

Resources: