Preferred Names in UQ's Virtual Learning Environment

What is happening?

The next stage of the Student Preferred Names Initiative will introduce the use of students’ preferred names in Blackboard and most connected subsystems such as Turnitin etc.

When will this occur?

From the start of O-Week Semester 1 2026, the first name displayed in Blackboard will be sourced from the preferred first name field, if set by the student in mySI-net.

Memo from the Academic Registrar

Dear colleagues,

I would like to draw your attention to the next stage of the Student Preferred Names Initiative, which will introduce the use of students’ preferred names in Blackboard and connected subsystems (e.g. Turnitin etc).

From the start of O-Week semester 1, the first name displayed in Blackboard will be sourced from the preferred first name field, if set by the student in mySI-net.

Because any change of preferred name will sync to Blackboard shortly afterwards (typically within an hour), please treat the first name as dynamic when generating or consulting static class lists or related reports. To ensure accuracy, always reconcile lists using both the student ID and legal last name.

Dr Kathryn Blyth
Director, Academic Services Division and Academic Registrar

Considerations

• only one first name will be shown for each student in Blackboard (preferred first name if set in Si-Net, legal first name if no preferred name is nominated)
• when a student updates their preferred name in Si-Net, there will be a one hour delay before this is reflected in Blackboard

Known exceptions

• student preferred names will not display for Inspera exams that are not accessed via Blackboard LTI
• student preferred names may not display in ePortfolio
• student preferred names will not display in iThenticate
• student preferred names will not display in Ed Discussion board
• Echo360 will only display student preferred names if accessed via Blackboard LTI