Update Your Student Data
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The Office of the University Registrar maintains your student record data. Follow the instructions on this page to make updates as needed.
For the data categories listed below, you are able to manage updates on your own.
Students may update their preferred email address by editing their profile on Penn Directory. Through Penn Directory, students can also control which contact information is made available to other members of the Penn community.
Students may update address information using the "Update my personal information" link on Path@Penn.
| Permanent Address | A current permanent address is required for all students. |
|---|---|
| Local Address | The address to be used when classes are in session. For students living in College Houses, this is updated automatically by College Houses & Academic Services. |
| Learning From Address | The address is used to indicate where a student is living while they are enrolled in their academic program. |
| Diploma Address | The address to be used for diploma mailing. |
| Emergency Contact Address | Contact information to be used in the event of an emergency involving the student. |
| Parent/Guardian/Sponsor 1 Address | Address of the student’s parent/guardian/sponsor. |
| Parent/Guardian/Sponsor 2 Address | Address of the student’s second parent/guardian/sponsor. |
Students now have the ability to edit their own Preferred First Name, Personal Pronouns, and Gender Identity on the Personal Information page in Path@Penn.
In most cases, Penn defaults to using your Preferred Name in University correspondence and documentation, including your PennCard, Path@Penn, Canvas, Course Rosters, and the Penn Directory. If you prefer your Legal Name be used in these places, do not list a Preferred Name. If you do not list a Preferred Name, Penn uses your Legal Name.
Penn always uses your Legal Name in situations required by law, such as generating tax documents and or any federal reporting requirements, or in situations where not using your Legal Name would limit your access to healthcare, such as when Student Health and Counseling is coordinating care with other healthcare providers and your personal health insurance.
To change your Legal Name, you must provide proper documentation and follow the procedure detailed in the section below.
The following data changes or corrections require legal documentation to be provided to the Office of the University Registrar. Students may update any of this information using the online Student Data Update Form. All required documentation may be provided as an attachment with the request form. We can accept photos of documents taken with a cell phone as long as the images are legible.
Please note that separate forms must be submitted for each request type. For example, if you are requesting a legal name change and to update your diploma name, you must submit a Legal Name Change and a Diploma Name Change request form separately.
Adding your Social Security Number (SSN) to your records at Penn has several benefits. The top reasons a student would want this number on file with the University are as follows:
- If you have prior student loans from other universities and meet the requirements to have their repayment deferred as you take classes at Penn, the University will need your SSN on file so your lenders can be alerted when they review your records in the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).
- Many companies use SSNs to verify your degree and/or enrollment credentials (only after you grant permission). To allow for rapid response to such queries, the University will need your SSN on file.
- To produce an IRS 1098-T tax form, the University will need your SSN on file.
Initial Social Security Number Entries
Students that have not yet provided their Social Security Number as part of their admission process can provide this information with no additional documentation required.
- Navigate to the Initial Entry SSN Form.
- Enter the required information.
- Upon submission, the form will be transmitted to the Office of the University Registrar for review and processing. You will receive an email once processing is complete.
Updates to Existing Social Security Number Entries
Students can request to change the Social Security Number on their academic record for the purpose of correcting or updating for student employment or financial aid processing.
Please provide these required documents with your request form:
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Copy of PennID (current students and recent alums only).
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One form of photo ID (such as PennCard, valid state driver’s license, or valid passport)
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One of the following forms of documentation for verification of SSN:
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A Social Security Card or other Social Security Administration documentation validating the SSN
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A copy of a state or federal tax document containing the SSN
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An employment record containing the SSN
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A military document containing the SSN (such as a military ID card)
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Tribal ID card containing the SSN
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Medical Benefits card containing the SSN
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A government issued ID or acceptable document showing legal presence/identity or residence address containing the SSN
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Note: SSN changes are only made Monday through Thursday.
A legal name change will be reflected in student systems, and on all official documents such as transcripts and diplomas.
Note: If you have already graduated and completed the legal name change process as outlined below, you may order a new diploma reflecting your updated legal name from the Office of the University Secretary (https://secretary.upenn.edu/ceremonies/diplomas).
Please provide these required documents with your request form:
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One form of photo ID showing former name (such as PennCard, state driver’s license, or passport)
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One form of photo ID showing current name (either a valid state driver’s license, or a valid passport)
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One of the following forms of documentation for verification of the legal name change:
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Birth certificate
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Legal Name Court Order
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Social Security Card
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Marriage certificate
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Divorce decree (Note: If you are changing your name after a divorce, the divorce decree should indicate a change of name approval included as part of the decree.)
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Please provide these one of these required documents with your request form:
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Driver's license
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Valid passport
Please provide these required documents with your request form:
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One form of photo ID (such as PennCard, state driver’s license, or valid passport)
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Copy of marriage license or divorce decree
Note: If also requesting a name change along with marital status, please see the required documentation for Legal Name Change as well.
Please provide these required documents with your request form:
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PennCard
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One of the following forms of documentation for verification of birth date:
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Birth certificate
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Driver’s license
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Valid passport
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Please provide these required documents with your request form:
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PennCard
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One of the following forms of documentation for verification of citizenship status:
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Valid passport
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Certificate of naturalization
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Birth certificate
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Certificate of citizenship
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Note: If you need to update your visa status, please contact isss@pobox.upenn.edu. For more information, please visit https://global.upenn.edu/isss/students.
