Gender Recognition and Lived Name Policy

Across the University of California system, significant steps are being taken to support a more equitable and inclusive work environment. In 2020, President Michael V. Drake, M.D., announced the Gender Recognition and Lived Name Policy (GRLN) to ensure that all individuals are identified by their accurate gender identity and lived or preferred name on university-issued documents and in UC's information systems.

Using correct names and pronouns shows respect and acceptance and honors individual agency. There are many of us who are benefiting from GRLN, including trans and nonbinary people, people whose gender identity is different than indicated on official documents, survivors of abuse or trafficking, people whose lived or preferred name is a variation of their legal name (e.g., international students, faculty and staff who have adopted anglicized names), or married people who had a legal name change, but prefer to use the name under which they have published academic works.

UC ANR, UCPath and UC Systemwide have partnered to offer the following process and system improvements, effective June 20, 2023: 

• UCPath online has built new options to support the Gender Recognition and Lived Name policy.  These changes allow for UC ANR employees to populate changes to the Name field, which flow into our UC ANR Directory and Portal.
• The Name field is defined as a self-chosen or personal and/or preferred professional name used instead of a legal name.
• Starting on June 20, employees can change their name in UCPath using the employee self-service (no longer directly in the UC ANR portal). Watch this video for what to expect in UCPath: What to Expect for Managers and Employees
• Changes made in UCPath will be reflected in the UC ANR Directory and Portal. The legal name change process remains unaffected, for instructions go to: Update My Legal Name.

What Do You Need to Do?

• Keep your name: No change required. What is populated as your UCPath preferred name will become your Name. If there is no preferred name in UCPath, the legal name will populate the Name field.
• Update your name and/or identity: Go to UCPath employee self-service to make updates when: 
1. You prefer a shortened or alternate version of your legal name (ex. Elizabeth = Lizzie; Robert = Rob/Bob; Sung Kwon = Sung).
2. You want to change name and gender as given/birth name/gender does not reflect your gender identity.
3. Your married legal name does not match preferred name under which you are published or known professionally.

Read more