So, firstly some context for people who don't know what I'm talking about. UCSD has something called the 'Social Identities Tool' that lets you set a preferred name and pronouns, among other, related things. Prior to Fall 2023, all this did was change your name on the class register and your student ID, and notify your professors of your preferred pronouns.

However, starting in Fall 2023 UCSD instated something called the 'Lived Name for Students' policy, which actively hides your legal name except where absolutely necessary if you have a preferred name (now called a 'lived name') set up.

However, this summer, the first summer that this policy has been in place, I've had significant issues related to the university's bookkeeping being confused by my use of a lived name. Specifically, my SHIP waiver was initially rejected due to my health insurance having a different name than the one they saw on my file, and my Maximum Timeframe Appeal for Financial Aid was briefly lost due to what seems like part of my financial aid file being under one name, and part being under the other.

I'm wondering if, this being the first summer where the policy has been in effect, UCSD is having some teething pains with the new policy due to the transition from one academic year to another, and am curious to hear from other trans students or otherwise students who have a lived name that is not their legal name if they've had similar issues.