University of Wisconsin–Madison
Decorated graduation cap that says, "Once a badger."

Winter grads: Here’s how to make sure your name is correct on your diploma

Nick Heynen

Congratulations to all Badgers who will graduate this winter with a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from UW–‍Madison! If you’re graduating this December, it’s time to make sure your name is correct on your diploma.

When you applied to graduate, you selected either your legal name or your “name in use” to appear on your diploma and in the Commencement program (if you’re participating in the ceremony). Here’s how to quickly double-check that your name is spelled correctly, regardless of which option you selected:

How do I update my name at UW–‍Madison?

  1. Log into MyUW and select the “Name in Use (Preferred Name)“ tile.
  2. This takes you to your personal information in the UW–‍Madison Profile app.
  3. Check the spelling of your name in use and your primary/legal name in the Personal Information section.

If you spot an issue with your name in use, simply select the “Edit Name in Use” button to easily make a change. You can update your first and middle names however you want. For your last name, you can only change the capitalization, spacing, apostrophes and hyphens.

If you find an issue with your primary/legal name, follow the Registrar’s instructions for updating your legal name in your student record.

Get ready for winter Commencement 2024

Important name-related deadlines:

  • Dec 15: Commencement ceremony at the Kohl Center
  • Dec 22: Deadline to update your name (legal or name in use) for your diploma

Keep in mind that it can take some time for a change to show up in your student record—up to 48 hours for your name in use and between 3 to 5 days for legal name changes. Don’t miss these deadlines to ensure you’re recognized with your proper name as you celebrate your outstanding achievement of graduating from UW–‍Madison!

Contact the DoIT Help Desk if you run into trouble editing your name in use in the Profile application. Contact the registrar’s office at 608-262-3811 or registrar@em.wisc.edu if you have questions about applying to graduate, deadlines, your diploma or changing your legal name in your student record.

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