Update Your Student Data
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The Office of the University Registrar maintains your student record data. Student record data includes, but is not limited to, citizenship or immigration status, date of birth, legal name, marital status, and Social Security Number (SSN).
- Only current students have the ability to manage their address and preferred name changes through Path@Penn.
- Students on leave from the University of Pennsylvania should contact registrar@upenn.edu using their Penn email account for assistance.
- PennKey username and password are required to access the student data update forms. If you need assistance retrieving or acquiring a PennKey username and password, please visit PennKey Support.
- Alumni who encounter access issues using your PennKey credentials (username and password), please complete the OUR Forms PennKey Access Issue form.
For the data categories listed below, students can manage updates on their own via Path@Penn or the Penn Directory.
- Only current students have the ability to manage their address and preferred name changes through Path@Penn.
- Students on leave from the University of Pennsylvania should contact registrar@upenn.edu using their Penn email account for assistance.
- Penn Directory requires PennKey authentication.
Current students may update address information using the "Update my personal information" link on Path@Penn.
| Permanent Address* | All students are required to have a current permanent address. |
|---|---|
| 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. |
*This address type is required on student records.
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 can now edit their own Preferred First Name, Personal Pronouns, and Gender Identity on the Personal Information page in Path@Penn.
In most instances, Penn will use a student's preferred first name in University correspondence and documentation, including on your PennCard, Path@Penn, Canvas, course rosters, and the Penn Directory. Your legal name will be used if no preferred first name is provided.
Penn will always use your legal name in circumstances where required by law, such as for tax documents or federal reporting obligations. Additionally, your legal name will be used in situations where its omission could impact your access to healthcare, such as when Penn Wellness coordinates care with external healthcare providers or your health insurance.
To change or correct your Legal Name, you must provide proper documentation and follow the procedure detailed in the section below.
For more information about preferred first names and legal names, please visit the Preferred First Name & Legal Name FAQs page.
- 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.
- PennKey username and password are required to access the student data update forms. If you need assistance retrieving or acquiring a PennKey username and password, please visit PennKey Support.
- Alumni who encounter access issues using your PennKey credentials (username and password), please complete the OUR Forms PennKey Access Issue form.
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 provide these required documents with your request form:
- Photo ID:
- For current students: PennCard (preferred), Driver's license or passport
- For alumni: Driver's license or passport
- One of the following forms of documentation for verification of citizenship or immigration status:
- Valid passport
- Permanent Resident card
- Certificate of naturalization
Note: F-1 and J-1 international students should also report any changes in immigration status, including the receipt of permanent residency, to International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).
For more information, contact your assigned ISSS advisor or submit a general inquiry to ISSS.
Please provide these required documents with your request form:
- Photo ID:
- For current students: PennCard (preferred), Driver's license or passport
- For alumni: Driver's license or passport
- One of the following forms of documentation for verification of birth date:
- Birth certificate
- Driver’s license
- Valid passport
Please provide these required documents with your request form:
- Photo ID showing name as it appears in the system:
- For current students: PennCard (preferred), Driver's license or passport
- For alumni: Driver's license or passport
- Document or photo ID showing the desired diploma name (Driver's license, passport, marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order, social security card, birth certificate, etc.) *
*Note: If you change your name after a divorce, the divorce decree should indicate approval for a change of name included as part of the decree.
A legal name change will be reflected in student systems and official documents, such as transcripts and diplomas.
Note: If you have already graduated and completed the legal name change process outlined below, you may order a new diploma reflecting your updated legal name. Information on ordering diplomas is found here: https://srfs.upenn.edu/student-records/degrees-graduation-and-diplomas/diplomas.
Please provide these required documents with your request form:
- One form of photo ID:
- For current students: PennCard (preferred), Driver's license or passport
- For alumni: Driver's license or passport
- One form of photo ID showing the current name (either a valid state driver’s license or a valid passport)
- One of the following forms of documentation for verification of the legal name change:
- Birth certificate
- Legal Name Court Order
- Social Security Card
- Marriage certificate
- Divorce decree (Note: If you change your name after a divorce, the decree should indicate a change of name approval included as part of the decree.)
Note the following:
- If you change your name after a divorce, the divorce decree should include approval for a name change as part of the decree.
- Please submit a Marital Status Change form and the required documents if you require a marital status change.
- If you attended or graduated prior to Fall 2010, please be aware that the name displayed on your transcripts cannot be updated. However, the Office of the University Registrar (OUR) can provide a letter to accompany your transcript requests, confirming your name as it appeared during your time at the institution. Please contact transcripts@upenn.edu for support.
Please provide these required documents with your request form:
- Photo ID:
- For current students: PennCard (preferred), Driver's license or passport
- For alumni: Driver's license or passport
- Copy of marriage license or divorce decree
Note the following:
If you also require a legal name change, please submit a Legal Name Change form and the required documents.
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). The University will need your SSN on file to allow for rapid response to such queries.
- To produce an IRS 1098-T tax form, the University will need your SSN on file.
Initial Social Security Number Entries
Students who 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.
- The form will be submitted 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 to correct or update for student employment or financial aid processing.
Please provide these required documents with your request form:
- Copy of PennID (current students and recent alums only).
- One form of photo ID (such as PennCard, valid state driver’s license, or valid passport)
- One of the following forms of documentation for verification of SSN:
- A Social Security Card or other Social Security Administration documentation validating the SSN
- A copy of a state or federal tax document containing the SSN
- An employment record containing the SSN
- A military document containing the SSN (such as a military ID card)
- Tribal ID card containing the SSN
- Medical Benefits card containing the SSN
- A government-issued ID or acceptable document showing legal presence/identity or residence address containing the SSN
The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) is a database of information about federal student loans and grants that is maintained by the U.S. Department of Education (DoE). The NDLDS tracks federal student aid from approval through repayment, provides a centralized view of a student's federal financial aid history, and helps schools and financial aid administrators make decisions about eligibility.
Please provide these required documents with your request form:
- Photo ID:
- For current students: PennCard (preferred), Driver's license or passport
- For alumni: Driver's license or passport
- One of the following forms of documentation for SSN proof:
- A Social Security Card or other Social Security Administration documentation validating the SSN
- A copy of a state or federal tax document
- An employment record containing the SSN
- A military document containing the SSN (such as a military ID card)
- A government-issued ID card containing the SSN
- A driver’s license, permit, or ID card containing the SSN (must be government-issued)
- Tribal ID card containing the SSN
- Medical Benefits card containing the SSN
- Any acceptable document submitted as proof of legal presence/identity or residence address containing the SSN
