Rice University recognizes that students may choose to use a preferred first name other than their legal first name to identify themselves. The university allows a student to submit a preferred first name that will appear in place of the student's legal first name in many university-related records, such as Canvas, Exchange email, and the university's online directory. To make the update:
- From your web browser, go to ESTHER at https://esther.rice.edu.
- Login using your Net ID credentials and using DUO authentication.
- From the Esther Main Menu, click Personal Information.
- From the list of Personal Information options, click Update Biographical and Demographical Information (Name(s), SSN, etc.).
- From the Update Biographical and Demographical Information (Name(s), SSN, etc.) Page, you should see the Preferred First Name option. If you have not previously entered a Preferred First Name, you will see "NO PREFERRED NAME." If you have previously entered a Preferred First Name, you will see your Preferred First Name.
- Click on either "NO PREFERRED NAME" or your Preferred First Name to make changes.
- Enter your Preferred First Name. (Please note that you are not able to change your Preferred First Name to your Legal First Name. Should you want to do that, you should leave the Preferred First Name blank.)
- Click Submit Changes button.
For more information on Preferred First Name (and Legal Name), please click here.
Changes made to a Preferred First Name will be reflected within 24 hours..