OVERVIEW
Chosen names, also known as preferred names, are names that individuals choose to use instead of their legal names. Students, faculty and staff can use a chosen first name that differs from their legal name in SFU’s centrally-managed systems (i.e. goSFU, Canvas, MyInfo and Microsoft Apps).
What you need to know
SFU is undergoing a digital transformation to optimize our processes, technology and facilities while supporting our students, faculty and staff to achieve our academic mandate. As part of this digital transformation, we are phasing out certain systems and standardizing technology in use across SFU.
Name changes are now integrated across our centrally-managed systems: goSFU, Canvas, MyInfo and Microsoft Apps. However, there are additional third-party systems and programs that are not supported by central IT and managed by faculty administration. For those systems, there may be a different process and contact person to change your name. Please reach out to faculty administration or your supervisor for more information on those systems.
As our central systems and processes continue to evolve, updates may be available, and this webpage will be updated.
How to change your name in SFU systems
The below article provides step-by-step instructions on how to change your name in our centrally-managed systems.
For Students:
For Faculty and Staff:
More Information
FOR STUDENTS
Change your name in goSFU
i. Current students, please go to goSFU and sign in with your computing ID and password. Applicants, please go to applicant.sfu.ca and sign in with your student number and password.
ii. Click on Student Centre
iii. Scroll down to Personal Information and click on Names from the list.
iv. Click on ‘Edit’ icon for Chosen Name.
v. You can only update the First Name and Middle Name. After clicking on ‘Save’, you will see the Chosen Name has been updated successfully.
Change your name in Canvas
- Go to your Canvas profile and update your Display Name. Here are more instructions to guide the process.
- After January 2026, Canvas will automatically update with goSFU
Will my chosen name automatically update in Canvas?
Yes, starting January 2026, Canvas will automatically update directly with goSFU (students). Until then, manual updates are required.
Updating your goSFU and Canvas accounts will update the following systems:
- Microsoft Apps (Microsoft Teams)
- Canvas Cloud
- Class and grade rosters
FOR FACULTY AND STAFF
Change your name in myInfo
- Staff: Contact People, Equity and Inclusion via pei_reception@sfu.ca or call 778-782-3237
- Faculty: Contact Faculty Relations via frsupp@sfu.ca or call 778-782-9715
- Your chosen name will be added to myInfo
Change your name in Canvas
- Go to your Canvas profile and update your Display Name. Here are more instructions to guide the process.
- After January 2026, Canvas will automatically update with myInfo.
WILL MY CHOSEN NAME AUTOMATICALLY UPDATE IN CANVAS?
Yes, starting January 2026, Canvas will automatically update directly with myInfo (staff/faculty). Until then, manual updates are required.
Staff will need to contact People, Equity and Inclusion via pei_reception@sfu.ca or call 778-782-3237 to change their name. For Faculty, please contact Faculty Relations via frsupp@sfu.ca or call 778-782-9715.
Updating myInfo and Canvas accounts will update the following systems:
- Microsoft Apps(Microsoft Teams)
- Canvas Cloud
- Internal directories and systems as they update
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Institutional Records
WILL MY LEGAL NAME STILL BE REQUIRED?
Yes, legal names are still required for some official records (e.g., tax forms). Your chosen name will be used wherever possible for campus systems, IDs, and learning platforms.
More information for students is available here: https://www.sfu.ca/students/enrolment-services/id-card/changing-your-name.html#change-name
Faculty and staff can contact Faculty Relations or People, Equity and Inclusion for more information and support on legal name changes.
System Integration
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR MY CHOSEN NAME TO APPEAR ACROSS SYSTEMS?
Once you update goSFU or myInfo, your chosen name will appear in connected systems (like Canvas, Microsoft Teams, UPASS, and ID Cards) within 24 hours.
WHERE WOULDN't MY CHOSEN NAME AUTOMATICALLY APPEAR?
Zoom does not automatically update when you change your chosen name in goSFU or myInfo. If you use Zoom for classes or meetings, you’ll need to update your display name directly in Zoom.
There are additional third-party systems and programs that are not supported by central IT and managed by faculty administration. For those systems, there may be a different process and contact person to change your name. Please reach out to faculty administration or your supervisor for more information on those systems.
Technical and Administrative Support
What IF my chosen name isn't updating correctly?
Please submit a
support ticket through the IT Service Desk and we can support your requests.
Note: There are additional third-party systems and programs that are not supported by central IT and managed by faculty administration. For those systems, there may be a different process and contact person to change your name. Please reach out to faculty administration or your supervisor for more information on those systems.
Can I change my computing ID and/or email alias to reflect my chosen name?
Email aliases may be updated; this process is made possible by submitting a
support ticket to IT.
Canvas Integration
WILL MY CHOSEN NAME AUTOMATICALLY UPDATE IN CANVAS?
Yes, starting January 2026, Canvas will automatically update directly with goSFU (students) and myInfo (staff/faculty). Until then, manual updates are required.
Staff will need to contact People, Equity and Inclusion via pei_reception@sfu.ca or call 778-782-3237 to change their name. For Faculty, please contact Faculty Relations via frsupp@sfu.ca or call 778-782-9715.
SEEKING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT