Diploma Names
A graduating student’s name on their diploma must be their legal name and adhere to the following guidelines:
• First names may be complete or initialed and must match student’s name on record. Omission of the first name is not acceptable.
• Middle names may be completed or initialed and must match the student’s record. Omission of the middle name is acceptable.
• Last names must match the college records exactly.
• Hyphenated last names may be used, provided the student’s file has documentation to verify both names.
• Suffixes, such as Sr., Jr., III, etc., may be used if documented on the student’s record.
• Special accent marks may be requested through email.
• Neither titles nor degrees previously earned will be included as part of a graduating student’s name on a diploma.
To update a student’s legal name, documentation of the legal name must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar prior to the degree conferral date. Requests to change a student’s legal name after the degree has been conferred will not be processed. Acceptable types of documentation to note a legal name are the following:
• Birth certificate
• Marriage document
• Divorce decree
• Certificate of Naturalization showing the new name
• Court order approving the name change.