Name & Gender FAQs

On November 25, 2020, the North Orange County Community College District approved a new policy regarding students' names and pronouns. Open AP 5041 for more details.

Every effort must be made by District employees to use your gender, pronouns, and chosen name as declared (on the Personal Information Change Form and within Canvas) in every context within the District, including face-to-face, electronic, and print interactions, except where legally required to use the legal name and sex.

• Your gender identity will be used only for data reporting purposes.

• Your personal pronouns can be updated in Canvas and on Zoom.

• A student's chosen name will appear everywhere within Canvas and on Faculty Rosters within myGateway. We are currently in the process of updating other software applications used throughout the college to show your chosen name rather than your legal name whenever possible. Your legal name will be used on every other document, both for legal purposes and privacy reasons. If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions about the use of chosen names and legal names, please contact the campus LGBTQ+ Liaison.

A person’s personal pronouns are words used in place of their proper name. Some examples include “she/her,” “he/him,” “ze/hir,” “they/them,” or other pronouns. Some students may use specific pronouns, multiple pronouns, or no pronouns.

Both students and employees can add/update their personal pronouns in Canvas and on Zoom. Individuals can also share their pronouns in their email signatures and in introductions and conversations. Employees and students are expected to honor pronouns if they have been shared and should be cautious not to assume anyone's pronouns based on their name or appearance.

To add/change pronouns in Canvas...

• Please log on to Canvas. Click “Account” (top left), select “Settings,” and click the “Edit Settings” button.

• A drop-down menu will appear next to “Pronouns.”

• Be sure to click the “Update Settings” button. As soon as you have done this, your pronouns should appear in parentheses after your name everywhere your name appears in Canvas.

To add pronouns in Zoom...

• If you have a Zoom account, access Zoom on the web.

  • Under the Profile tab, select Edit to the right of your name.

  • In the Display Name field, add your pronouns after your last name (this is often done in parentheses).

    • Example: Jenelle Herman (she/her)

• If you do not have a Zoom account, you may need to update your Display Name each time you enter a Zoom meeting.

  • You can sometimes do this below the Meeting ID when you initially join a meeting.

  • You can also edit your Display Name once you have joined a meeting by clicking the three dots when you hover over your image on the screen.

To legally change your name and gender markers, you must follow the legal process for the state you live in. The National Center for Transgender Equality has information for each state as well as for federal documents. If you open the link and scroll down, you should find information relevant for California residents.