Update Personal Information

This is only a tutorial. No login is required.

INTRODUCTION

We want to communicate with you! This guide explains how to update your personal information. Jump to the topics of interest with the links below:

Please take a moment to proofread and update your personal information.

TIP: You can record the pronunciation of your name and opt to display your MataCard student ID photo in class rosters. Learn more at myCSUNprofile.

Step 1

Go to the CSUN home page at www.csun.edu and:

Select CSUN Portal from the MyCSUN menu in the top navigation.
Log in with your CSUN user ID and password.

MyCSUN menu with CSUN Portal login link on every CSUN webpage.

Step 2

Your CSUN Portal home page displays.

In the Top Tools area, select the Student Center backpack icon link.

CSUN Portal home page and Top Tools area with backpack icon link to Student Center.

Step 3

The SOLAR Student Center home page displays in three sections:

Academics

Finances

Personal Information

 Tip: Forgot your 9-digit Student ID Number? In the Finances section, select the “Account Information” link. Your ID number displays at the top center of the page (see inset).

Let’s look at the Personal Information section.

Full view of the three SOLAR Student Center sections with several links in each section.

Step 4

In the Personal Information section, you can edit preferences for:

Emergency: Contacts, email and text alerts
Identity: Preferred name and/or diploma name (Choose the name you want to use for CSUN Gmail and Canvas.)
Pronouns (for gender expression)
Legal matters: FERPA, Authorization to Release, and Dependents Info
Your contact info: Home and diploma addresses, phone numbers and personal email

Choose a link above to jump to details for that topic in this guide.

Let’s start with the Emergency links.

Step 5

Emergency Contacts and Messages: Use the links and the checkbox to edit your preferences in case of an emergency:

Select the “Emergency Contact” link to add or edit your contact persons.

Check the “Emergency Text Message” box if you want CSUN’s Office of Emergency Management and Preparedness to text your mobile phone in an emergency. Be sure to enter your cell phone number in the Contact Information box on the right.

Select the “Campus Email Address” link to add a personal email address to receive any school emergency alerts. They will be sent to both your CSUN and non-CSUN email accounts. For all other purposes, university communications will be sent only to your CSUN email account.

Select the Emergency Contact link at #1 in the image below.

Personal Information section with the emergency contact and message links to set your options highlighted.

Step 6

The Emergency Contacts page displays, along with top tabs to navigate to the other “Personal Information” pages.

Select the Add an Emergency Contact button to add people, their phone numbers, addresses, country, relationship to you, and status as primary contact (or not).
Select the pencil icon to update existing contacts.
Select the trash icon to delete a contact.
Select Save to keep your changes.

Tip: To return to the SOLAR Student Center, select it from the drop-down menu (upper right) and hit the “go” button.

Emergency Contacts page and table with options to add, update or delete your people.

Step 7

Identity, Name and Pronoun Preferences: Back in the SOLAR Student Center Personal Information section, use the three links on the left to set your preferences as follows:

Select Identity to indicate sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression if desired. Responses are optional, private and secure. Helpful: CSUN Pride Center
Select Preferred/Diploma Names to view your first, middle and last name of record (i.e., your primary name).
- You can change your preferred first, middle and last names to display on CSUN Gmail and/or the Canvas learning platform for your instructors and classmates to see.
- You can also edit the name that will appear on your diploma (see Step 9 below). However, to add accents, umlaut, tilde or other diacritical marks, you'll need to complete the Diploma Name Change Request (PDF).
Select Pronouns to choose your subject, object, and possessive pronouns. Helpful: Why Pronouns Matter for Everyone

Select the Identity link.

SOLAR Student Center links for Identity, Preferred and Diploma Names, and Pronouns.

Step 8

The Identity tab and page display options that allow you to specify your gender and/or sexual orientation. Select the information icons for definitions or visit CSUN Pride Center.

To proceed, select your gender and sexual orientation choices for each question.

If your choice does not appear, you can specify another option in the blank fields provided.
You can also opt out by selecting "Decline to State."

To proceed, select your gender and sexual orientation choices for both questions.

Select Save to record your selections.

Next, let’s look at the Preferred Names tab.

Identity page with radio buttons to choose your gender and sexual orientation, add another choice, or decline to state.

Step 9

On the Pref Names tab and page, your primary and preferred names display in two rows.

Notes:

Your primary and preferred names are the same unless you edit your preferred name.

You can choose where your preferred name will display (see below). However, official CSUN transcripts and FERPA directory information will reflect your legal name.

Your preferred name will display on class and grade rosters, in Canvas, and in the CSUN Directory.

To change your full legal name, use the Legal Name Change Request (PDF).

To specify a name for your CSUN diploma, choose Diploma from the "Name Type" drop-down menu in the Add a New Name box and select Add. Note:
- If your primary and preferred names display as exact duplicates, your diploma name will default to your primary name.
- If you have entered a different preferred name, your diploma name will default to your preferred name.
- If your desired diploma name differs from your primary or preferred names, use the Diploma name option. To include diacritical marks (é, ñ, ü, etc.) on your diploma, you must use the Diploma Name Change Request (PDF).

Let’s edit your preferred name. In the Preferred name row, select the pencil icon Request Change link.

Your Primary and Preferred first, middle and last names display in a table. Request Change link for preferred name only.

The Preferred Names Change Request page displays your current names.

To request a new preferred name:

Enter your preferred first, middle and/or last names in the boxes.
Select the CSUN Gmail and/or Canvas Learning Platform checkboxes to indicate where you want to use your preferred name.
Select Save.
On the confirmation screen (not shown), select the OK button to return to the previous Pref Names page.

Please allow approximately two business days for your preferred name to appear in your CSUN Gmail or Canvas accounts. You will receive a confirmation email once your request is received.

Select the Pronouns tab (see next step).

Preferred Name Change Request page to enter new first/middle/last names with checkboxes for CSUN Gmail and/or Canvas.

Step 10

The Pronouns page displays.

Use the drop-down menu to select your preferred subject, object, and possessive pronouns and populate the three boxes.
You can also select “Not Listed” to enter other pronouns into the boxes. See the chart at Why Pronouns Matter for Everyone.
Select the Save button.

Your preferred pronouns will immediately show up on the rosters for your classes.

Return to the Student Center using the drop-down menu and “go” button in the upper right corner of the page.

Pronoun page, drop-down menu options, and three pronoun fields.

Step 11

FERPA, Authorize to Release, and Dependents: Before changing the default settings on these legal matters and authorizations, please review:

FERPA Directory/Restriction: Privacy Rights of Students in Education Records

Authorization to Release Information Guide

Update Dependents Information Guide

You may also contact Records and Registration for assistance.

Three SOLAR Student Center links for FERPA, Release Authorization, and Dependents.

Step 12

Contact Information: Select any link to update your information.

Select Home Address to verify your home mailing address in case you made a typo on your admission application, or you’ve recently moved.
Select Diploma Address if you’re graduating and want your diploma sent to a different mailing address.
Select Home Phone or Cellular Phone to add or update your numbers.

Select the Home Address link.

Student Center Contact Information box with links to update mailing addresses, phone numbers and/or email addresses.

Step 13

The Addresses tab displays your home mailing address and other addresses if any.

Select the pencil icon to edit your current address

Select the "Add a New Address" button to enter a diploma or other type of address.

Save your updated information. Then you can:

Navigate to other personal information pages using the top tabs.

Return to the Student Center using the drop-down menu and "go" button.

Exit this page by closing the "Addresses" tab in your web browser.

Return to the CSUN Portal by selecting its tab in your web browser.

Remember to log out of the portal when done (not shown).

Thank you for updating your personal information!