Student Preferred Name
Overview
Student names are displayed in several locations, including in Canvas and Google. Some students are more comfortable with their nicknames instead of given names being displayed. Students may contact their school administrator to request a preferred name that will replace their displayed name in Google and Canvas only. Requesting a preferred name does not impact students’ legal names in HCPSS systems or update their login. All preferred names will be approved by school staff prior to displaying in Google and Canvas.
View Child's Preferred Name
You may view your child’s preferred name by:
- Logging in to HCPSS Connect Links to an external site.
- Selecting Student Info from the left navigation
- Looking for the Preferred First Name field under Student Name to see what is currently set.
Parents/guardians who would like their child’s preferred name to be changed should contact their school administrator.
Preferred Name vs. Presenting Name
Preferred names are nicknames or names the students preferred to be called. This is not the same as presenting name, in which a change is made so that the name and/or gender of the student reflects the student’s identity. If your child is transgender or gender non-binary Links to an external site., they should reach out to their school counselor to discuss the presenting name option. Using the presenting name option masks the student's legal name from other students and most staff.
Howard County Public School System Information Technology Department