Student Pronoun Registration This Fall

August 31, 2021

Dear Colleagues,

As part of our efforts to promote inclusion in the classroom, students will be able to register their pronouns in CourseWorks starting this semester. Pronoun selections will be visible for you in CourseWorks via NameCoach so that you can use them effectively in your classroom discussions.

This important initiative assists students who may not use the pronouns associated with the gender they were assigned at birth, as well as those with gender-neutral names who wish to make their pronouns known.

This change is deeply meaningful for students who identify as transgender or non-binary. It is also a tool for effective teaching: Using a student’s chosen pronouns is a signal of inclusion, fostering more robust participation from all of your students.

This program, successfully piloted over the past two years with partners at Columbia Business School, the School of International and Public Affairs, and the Mailman School of Public Health, was developed by University Life and the Registrar’s Office. We are delighted to offer this option to students across all of Columbia’s schools.

In the coming days, we will share additional information on how to access student pronouns so that you can use them in classroom discussions. If you would like to read more about gender neutral pronouns, please review A Guide to Pronouns in Use for Faculty and Instructors. You can also reach out to Associate Registrar Kristabelle Munson (km2137) with any questions.

We thank you in advance for helping to implement this change, and wish you a successful start to the new academic year.


Sincerely,

Mary C. Boyce
Provost
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Gender Pronouns: She/Her/Hers


Dennis A. Mitchell
Executive Vice President for University Life
Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement
Professor of Dental Medicine at CUMC
Gender Pronouns: He/Him/His