Affirmed Names and Gender Markers

Check out Our School District Website on Affirmed Names and Gender

This Affirmed Names and Gender website answers questions like how you can update your affirmed name and gender markers and how your name will be displayed. 

Steps to Change Your Name and Gender Identity at Cañada

Change your EMAIL, PRONOUNS, and/or NAME: Students can update their affirmed name and gender markers by submitting a Change of Personal Information Form   , use the link in the form to submit it to your appropriate College.

Helpful tip: An Admissions and Records Assistant will work with IT on all the changes. This process will take approximately two weeks. You will receive a confirmation email once everything has been completed. (This process will take longer if you are a student employee at the college due to multiple email changes.)

Helpful tip: Your email will "merge" with your old email account so you will not lose any data/messages. 

Change your NAME and/or PRONOUNS in Canvas:  Go to Account → Settings → Edit Settings, and select pronouns from the dropdown menu.

CHANGE your NAME on your STUDENT BODY CARD:  Go to Student Life in Building 5, Room 354 and they can update your student body card

Steps to Legally Change Your Name and Gender Identity

If you need support, we are here with resources!

In California, you can ask the court for an order recognizing your gender marker change and changing your legal name.

First:File a petition with the court and get a decree.

Helpful tips: The process takes up to 2 months. There is a fee waiver!

Second: Check out this guide if you would like to change your passport, Social Security Card, and Birth Certificate

Third: Check out this guide to then change your Driver's License

Helpful tip: Your driver's license can't be udpated without an updated Social Security Card

 

Additional Resources:

Here’s a helpful Name and Gender Change Workshop slideshow from the East Bay Community Law Center

 

Applying to UC/CSU and My Name

According to a 2025-2026 presentation, the University of California and California State University systems allow for applying with a lived/affirmed name option that they use for communications; however the UC/CSU systems are still requiring legal names on applications.

Helpful tip: If you have not been able to legally change your name upon applying, you do still need to utilize your legal name in applications.