Inclusive Practices for the Online Environment

Gender inclusivity is also important in video conferencing, online learning and cloud-based platforms. Access to name and identification customization may be something you or your institution has access to, while some forms of customization may require student action. In either case, faculty should not assume that names listed on the class roster or online learning platforms are the appropriate names to use with students. Although using students’ names is an excellent way to build a positive classroom environment, it is advisable to learn the names and pronouns students use before communicating with them using first names or gender pronouns.

Institutional Challenges

Official and Preferred Name Changes at your Institution:

Find out from your institution what procedures students need to follow to request an official or preferred name change at your school. You can include this information in your syllabus or course online learning platform.

Faculty should note that there may be delays in updating name and gender markers on documentation. If a name change request has not been processed before the start of the term, students may not have their correct names or gender listed on class rosters or on the online learning platform for the course. For this reason, it is a current best practice to solicit students’ name and pronoun use before the start of term or during the first class by:

• using pre-course surveys and in-class name/pronoun cards;
• inviting students to introduce themselves using their family name and the name they’ll be using in this class (you should mark this down); and
• avoiding using names to call on students until you have ensured your list is accurate.

Resources