Policies and Procedures for Students
Potsdam is grounded in its commitment to diversity and a shared responsibility to fostering a campus climate where inclusivity is exercised, individuality is respected, celebrated and recognized as foundational to our community values. Our campus strives to be a campus where all feel welcomed and an integral part of our campus community regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or background.
NYS Compliance Requirements and Policy Background
Under New York Civil Rights Law Section 79-Q, all New York State agencies, including State University of New York colleges and universities, are charged with the responsibility of updating campus policies, practice and systems in the collection and utilization of chosen names, gender identity and pronouns, and must comply with the following:
- Implementing an option within campus operational systems in which students are provided with the opportunity to identify and indicate their chosen names, pronouns and gender identity in accordance with federal law.
- Providing a Legal Sex “X” option in addition to Male and Female options.
Gender Markers and Preferred First Name Policy Information
Division of Human Rights Resources
- GENDA website
- Protections against gender identity discrimination (PDF)
- Protections against discrimination at educational institutions (PDF)
Utilization of Identifying Information Provided
The Potsdam campus personal information procedures are intended to provide users with the opportunity to indicate preferred first names, gender identity and pronouns. This information will be utilized and appear on multiple campus portals, class rosters, student email addresses and more.
Where will my Information Appear once I submit my request?
Your chosen name and pronoun will appear on campus portals and various campus records and documents including:
| Platforms, Rosters, Documents | Preferred/Chosten First Name | Gender Identity | Chosen Pronouns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banner/BearPAWS | X | X | X |
| Starfish | X | ||
| Class Rosters | X | X | |
| Health Service Records | X | X | X |
| Human Resources | X | X | X |
| Email Display Name | X | ||
| Campus ID /Meal Card | X | ||
| University Police | X | X | X |
| Athletic Roster (Along w/ Legal Name for NCAA Compliance) | X | X | X |
How to Add/Modify/Remove a Gender Identification and/or Personal Pronoun
- Log into BearPAWS (bearpaws.potsdam.edu).
- Select “Personal Information” on the Main Menu.
- Select “View/Update Personal Information” on the Personal Information Menu.
- In the “Personal Details” box, select “Edit” in the top corner.
- You may update the Personal Pronouns, and/or Gender Identification fields.
- Select “Update” to save your changes.
Please note that this is a new process for the campus which must be integrated into existing systems. We remain committed to making sure that all our students are afforded the option to make changes to personal identifiers by being able to indicate: Preferred First Name, Personal Pronouns and Gender Identity. As we work to expedite these integrations into our systems, we want to remind all that there may be on-going delays and revisions in order to maximize this important student resource. We ask for your patience and invite all to reach out to designated campus departments for assistance if you have any questions or concerns.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your submitted requests, we ask that you contact the following offices and individuals for assistance.
- Registrar
- One Stop
- Your Advisor