Access and Opportunity

Purpose & Scope

Honoring and respecting the individuality of everyone in our college community is an important and vital part of Quinsigamond Community College’s core values of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive, respectful, and equitable environment for all students, staff, faculty & Alumni. To that end, QCC recognizes the right for students and employees to self-identify how they choose to do so. This entails identifying with your lived name rather than your legal name. The purpose of this policy is to encourage, protect, support, and create a culture where community members feel they can express themselves.

It is crucial that we acknowledge and respect how members of our QCC community wish to be addressed and treated. No one should ever find themselves in a position where their identity is disregarded or overlooked. Therefore, through this policy and beyond, we are dedicated to ensuring that everyone's identity is respected and recognized. We are committed to cultivating a climate where all individuals feel welcome and safe to represent themselves unapologetically and authentically in every aspect of campus life.

Definition

Lived Name: A lived name, also known as chosen name, is the name that an individual self-identifies by in their daily life, interactions, and communications, regardless of its alignment with their legal or birth name. It is the name that reflects their identity, self-expression, and how they wish to be addressed by others within a particular community, organization, or context.

Legal Name: Often a legal name is the name given at birth but may change subsequently. Legal name appears on official documents such as birth certificate, passports, driver's licenses, social security cards, and other government-issued identification. It is the name that is recognized by law and used for official documents/purposes, such as legal transactions, employment records, tax filings, and other formal documentation.

Policy

The Lived Name Policy is followed when any Student seeks to be identified by their lived name rather than their legal name. The College acknowledges that a lived name can and should be used where possible in the course of college business and education. Students may use a lived name wherever a legal name is not required on internal documents, communications, systems, and web portals. Examples of where lived names can be present include, but are not limited to:

• Student identification cards
• Email and calendar entries
• Class rosters and advisor lists
• Learning Management Systems
• Diplomas, awards, and recognitions

This form does not change a student’s legal name. A student’s legal name shall be used on all College documents, systems, and communications external to the College and/or where a legal name is required. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Financial aid records
• Student accounts records
• Student personally identifiable information
• Student directory information
• The recipient’s full name on the face of the envelope
• Payroll records
• Health records
• Official transcripts
• Federal immigration documents
• Interactions with government agencies
• All mailed envelopes, including window envelopes

In order for any Student/Employee to change their legal name on all College records, a court order or other acceptable legal documentation is required and has been granted.

Please note that there are certain limitations that prevent us from updating existing your record in external accounts such as Pearson products, My Math Lab, Castle Branch, QCC Bookstore, Gallagher, etc. If the account is already created for you, that original name will stay intact until manually updated by the account user. In those cases, the best solution for users to reach out to their contacts and request they update your account to reflect the lived name and new QCC student email address.

More Resources

Umass Pronoun Information

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Procedures for Students

• For those wishing to request a lived name change, please review the College’s Lived Name Change Policy and complete the Request of Lived Name Change Online Form. 
• While Quinsigamond Community College makes every effort to make requested lived name, gender, or pronoun changes in all appropriate places and in a timely manner, the process may take up to 10-14 business days.
• Once the lived name change is processed, the Registrar’s Office will notify the IT Service Desk to update your QCC student email address to reflect the change. The IT Service Desk will follow up with you once done, and the new QCC student email address will be sent to your personal email address.
• It is highly recommended to use your Lived Name on your QCC ID card. Please allow 48 hours after your request has been processed and you can come to the Office of Student Life, Fuller Student Center to have your new ID printed. 

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The following process is followed when an employee seeks to be identified by their lived name rather than their legal name. The College acknowledges that a lived name can and should be used where possible in the course of college business and education. Employees may use a lived name wherever a legal name is not required on internal documents, communications, systems, and web portals. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Employee identification cards
• Email and calendar entries
• Course listing
• Intranet directory
• Business cards
• Name tags
• Awards and recognitions

An employee’s legal name shall be used on all College documents, systems, and communications external to the College and/or where a legal name is required. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Financial aid records
• Employee accounts records
• Employee personally identifiable information
• Payroll records
• Health records
• Federal immigration documents
• Interactions with government agencies
• All mailed envelopes, including window envelopes

Procedures for Employees

• In order to change your lived name, please do one of the following:
  • Email humanresources@qcc.mass.edu. Once your email is reviewed by Human Resources, you will receive a confirmation of receipt.
  • Visit Human Resources in Office 222 in the Administration Office. No need to bring anything with you.
• The change will usually take 1-2 weeks to become effective, but during peak times of the semester could take up to 3 weeks to complete.
• This process is for internal employees, all new employees will be able to complete this process during onboarding.

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We want to acknowledge that we gather as Quinsigamond Community College on the traditional land of the Nipmuc, past and present. While a land acknowledgment statement is an important initial step and not enough, it is a necessary decolonial practice that promotes indigenous visibility and social justice, reminding us that we are on settled indigenous land. We condemn the unjust deeds done in the past and honor with gratitude the land and the indigenous people who have stewarded it throughout the generations. We commit to continuing to work for peace and reconciliation and to be better neighbors and caretakers of the land we inhabit. Back to Top

Filled Positions:

• Sara Simms- Asst. Director of Human Resources/Affirmative Action Officer (ex officio, non-voting)
• Brenda Safford- Diversity Caucus Representative (GSC Alternate)
• Viviana Abreu-Hernandez- Diversity Caucus Representative
• Byron Thomas(Chair)- Faculty (GSC Representative) 
• Henry Ritter- Unit Professional
• Emilio Cruz- Adjunct Faculty
• Terri Rodriguez- Non-Unit Professional (GSC Representative) 
• Cebelis Crespo- Classified Staff
• Julie Tzipori- At-Large Member
• Paul LaCava- At-Large Member
• Steve Rayshick- At-Large Member
• Craig Toney- At-Large Member
• Shirley Dempsey- At-Large Member

Vacant Positions:

• Student Life and Leadership (ex officio, non-voting)
• Diversity Caucus Representative
• Three Student Positions

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