California may soon allow its college students to change the name on their diploma to their preferred name.
California Assemblyman David Chiu introduced the assembly bill, AB 245, so that transgender and non-binary conforming students do not have to use the name assigned to them at birth, also known as a “deadname.” Chiu said the bill would prevent difficulties that transgender and non-binary conforming students face when they apply for jobs or graduate school and their paperwork has a different name on it.
The bill was passed on a 47-0 vote, but still needs to be signed by Gov.Gavin Newsom. If the bill gets signed, it would begin in the academic school year of 2023-24.
It also expands on a past bill, AB 711 that Newsom signed in 2019. The previous bill required K-12 institutions to update student records to reflect their preferred names and gender identities.
Nat Betancourt, the coordinator of the California State Fullerton LGBT Queer Resource Center, said this assembly bill is incredibly important for college students.
“When we think of the students and all they have accomplished and used at the university, and we also think about the growth that they had personally, it makes perfect sense to have their degrees, their diplomas reflect their most authentic self and so by having people’s chosen names, their true names, be able to be on their degree and diploma is incredibly important,” Betancourt said.
Betancourt added that having the chosen name on the diploma continues to affirm students and LGBTQ individuals that their journeys, experiences and identities are valid.
If approved, the California Legislative Information website states that this bill would allow students to change their name on their diploma directly through the university. Alumni would also be able to change their names on their diplomas. If the university receives any form of government-issued documentation that proves a legal name change, the school would then grant the name change.
CSUF’s University Registrar Robert Bodeen said college students are able to change their names now, but it will not show up on their transcripts and diplomas yet.
“Students’ preferred names are shown on class rosters and other areas in the system currently. Students will not be able to have their preferred name on their transcript or diploma until the 2023-2024 class is graduating, as it states in AB 245,” Bodeen said.
Bodeen added that students can select their preferred names now by logging into their student center. They can select the option to change their preferred name, submit it and the name change will be in the university’s system.
Betancourt said that the bill will allow transgender, nonbinary and other gender non conforming students to update their degree and diploma, especially if they have already graduated.
“By having that, students are able to have their most reflective identities on official documents,” Betancourt said. “When students are going to be interviewing for jobs back at the university, they can utilize their most true name and their most true identity and experience.”
According to the bill, the university cannot charge students a higher fee for changing their name to their preferred name based on legal name documents or gender change than the fee they currently charge students for a name update, correcting or reissuing documents.
“We’re just allowing for people to have that ability to really be their most true self without being ashamed, without living in fear. And then of course without having to constantly bring up sometimes trauma or negative experiences,” Betancourt said.
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