There are differences in departments and systems that use your lived name and those that need your legal name. Please look at the following chart for more information about these differences and how your name is used by the College. Please note: College staff will do their best to use your lived and legal names in the places described below, but the College cannot guarantee that your lived name won't be used external to campus.
Area that uses your name | Where lived name is used | Where legal name is used |
Athletics | Team rosters | |
Canvas | Class lists | |
Campus Groups (Student Activities) | Account profile, organization rosters | |
Bursar | QuickPay online billing system | Tax documents (e.g., 1098 form); name on tuition bill; communication with students and parent(s)/ guardian(s) |
Campus Services, Mail Services | Mailing label | For reference in delivering mail |
Career Exploration and Development | Communication with students | |
Communications and Public Affairs | Media releases and hometown news; On campus award ceremonies (e.g., Sarah and James Bowdoin Day ceremony) | |
Counseling Service | Communication with students | |
Dean of Students | Communication with students | Visas |
Development and Alumni Relations | Communication with students | Communication of students' names to parents or guardians, alumni and in print or digital pieces |
Directory on College website | Directory display name, search results | |
Email (Bowdoin account) | Email display name, Email lookup in Outlook's Global Address List | |
Health Services | Communication with students | Insurance, billing, medical records |
Human Resources | Communication with students | Insurance, I-9 Employment Eligibility form, W-4 IRS form |
Information Technology | Email display name, Email lookup name | |
Library | Patron record | |
Office of Co-Curricular Opportunities | Communication with students | Off campus study documents (e.g., passports, visas, consulate letters, transcripts from off campus study institutions). Some fellowship applications. |
OneCard | Name on OneCard | |
Payroll | W-2 IRS form, pay slips | |
Polaris | Student profile, class rosters, advisee lists, DegreeWorks | |
Registrar's Office | Communication with students | Federally mandated enrollment reporting, transcript (see faq below about transcript name, as lived name is an option for transcripts) |
Residential Life | Housing lottery assignments | |
Safety and Security | Communication with students | Coordination/collaboration with law enforcement and communication with external entities, as required |
Student Aid | Informal communication with students | Formal communication with students and/or parents/guardians. Financial aid application, award letters, and associated documents. |
Student Employment | Job applications | Pre-hire process after student is hired |