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UW grads: Make sure your name is correct for winter commencement

Posted by Nick Heynen on November 18, 2025

Congrats on making it to the finish line, Badgers! Now let’s make sure your name is correct and ready for commencement and printing on your diploma.

Check how your name will appear on your diploma

When you apply to graduate in the MyUW Student Center, you have the option to select whether you want your legal name or your name in use to appear on your diploma.

You have until December 21 to make your final selection.

You can review both your legal name and name in use in the UW–‍Madison Profile app. Here’s how:

Update your name in use

  1. Log in to UW Profile with your NetID
  2. Open the Personal Information section
  3. Select “Edit Name in Use”

What you can change:

  • First and middle names
  • Last name: Only capitalization, spacing, apostrophes and hyphens

It can take up to 48 hours for your name change to appear in your student record.

Check your name in use

Review your legal name

  1. Log in to UW Profile with your NetID
  2. Open the Personal Information section
  3. Select “View Legal Name”

To change your legal name: You must submit a Name Change Request form along with legal documentation to the Office of the Registrar.

Check your legal name

Submit your name pronunciation for commencement

If attending the winter commencement on December 14, you should have received an email from NameCoach with instructions for recording your name pronunciation. You’ll get a name card at the Kohl Center with your pronunciation printed.

You have until December 9 to update your NameCoach entry for commencement.

Record or update your name pronunciation

  1. Find the email from NameCoach (sent to your UW–‍Madison email)
  2. Click the link in the email to access your NameCoach profile
  3. Follow the prompts to record or update your name pronunciation

Access NameCoach

Questions?

For help with the UW Profile application, contact the DoIT Help Desk.

For questions about applying to graduate, deadlines, your diploma or changing your legal name, contact the Office of the Registrar at 608-262-3811 or registrar@em.wisc.edu.

Visit commencement.wisc.edu for all the details about the Winter 2025 Commencement, including the graduate checklist.