Have your gender affirming name read out at graduation

Trans and gender-diverse students’ experiences, alongside research from Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, have identified that using preferred rather than legal names is key to providing a safe and inclusive environment for trans and gender-diverse students.

The Rainbow Support Adviser can support you to change what first name gets read out for you at your graduation ceremony, even if your preferred first name is not changed legally.

You can only change your first name, your legal surname will be read aloud to meet the legal requirements of graduation.

Graduation is a legally recognised process which can make it tricky if your preferred name is different to your legal name. Your certificate and the name read out at the ceremony has to reflect your legal surname at the time of presentation.

Waipapa Taumata Rau can provide pastoral and financial support for legal name change.

The Rainbow Support Adviser will provide confidential support through the process. Please email them a request to change your name at your ceremony through studentrainbownetwork@auckland.ac.nz.

In your request, please provide the following:

• Your preferred name
• Your student ID
• Graduation date and time
• A letter of support from someone who has known you for longer than six months stating that you have been using your preferred name in your daily life for at least six months. You must include contact details for this person.

The information you supply is protected by the Privacy Act, which places strict requirements on the use and disclosure of personal information.

You can expect to receive a response within a few days to setup a meeting with the Rainbow Support Adviser to discuss changing your name for your graduation ceremony. You are welcome to bring a support person to the hui if you wish to do so.

To prevent disruption at graduation ceremonies this process is limited to applicants who fit the following criteria, and this process is currently only available for transgender students.

Applicants must:

• Self-identify in a meeting with the Rainbow Support Adviser as a member of the rainbow, takatāpui, or MVPFAFF communities.
• Have been using their preferred name in daily use for at least six months.
• Have a support letter support from someone who has known you for longer than six months stating that you have been using your preferred name in your daily life for at least six months. This must contain contact details for this person.
• Be using a name that falls within these guidelines:o Must not be spelled with numbers or symbols
  • Must not be offensive
  • Must not be an official rank or title
  • Must not be considered a risk of causing disruption to the flow of the graduation service (for example: Carmen-Gettit, Ella-Vader)

The information you supply will only be shared with the Rainbow Support Adviser, the Graduation Manager and the speaker at the graduation ceremony in accordance with the Privacy Act.

Since graduation is a legal process, during the ceremony your preferred first name will be read out first, then the initial of your legal name, then your legal surname.

After your meeting with the Rainbow Support Adviser, if you meet criteria, your request will be sent to the graduation office and your name will be amended on the scripts for the day.