You Belong at Queensborough
Queensborough Community College celebrates diversity and is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning community members. The College recognizes that faculty, staff, and students lead complex lives with intersectional identities and that gender and sexual orientation are just aspects of who we are. Queensborough is committed to educating our campus on the complexities of identity, allyship, intersectionality, and the importance of a sense of belonging. At Queensborough, "celebrating diversity" are not empty words. The College actively strives to make our commitments actionable by providing targeted educational opportunities, programming, professional development, and support networks.
There is a place for you at Queensborough. You belong here, and you matter.
Preferred Name and Gender Identity Changes
An essential part of the experience of belonging is getting to choose your preferred name and gender identity.
Queensborough students and employees are welcome to change their gender identity, pronouns, and first and/or middle name to their preferred name. No documentation is needed for these updates. Employees and students are also invited to request a new email address to reflect the updated information. Changes to preferred name and gender identification will be reflected on Queensborough email, identification cards, Blackboard, course rosters, and Zoom accounts.
Please note that changes to gender identity and preferred names are for internal Queenborough and CUNY use and do not constitute legal changes.
The law requires the use of legal names and assigned gender on official records & documents. This means that preferred names and gender identifications are not reflected on official records or legal documents, which includes CUNYfirst account & login, academic records (i.e. diploma and transcript), financial aid, and payroll.
Click here for more information about the CUNY applications impacted by preferred name changes.
Students: Preferred Name and Gender Identity Changes
Queensborough students can choose between two methods to change their gender and/or preferred name. One method is self-service in CUNYfirst, and the other allows for support from campus personnel in the Registrar's Office. Students should select whichever option feels the most comfortable.
Preferred Name Change
Self-service CUNYfirst Change
Step 1: Log in to CUNYfirst
Step 2: Click on Student Center
Step 3: Click on Personal Information
Step 4: Go to Name and change it to your preferred name
Step 5: Save the changes
This change will update course rosters; however, faculty are not alerted that a change has been made. If a faculty member is using a printed roster, they will not see the changed name. Students who would like their faculty alerted that a name has been changed for a student in their course should change their name using the Registrar's Office process that is outlined below.
Registrar's Office Change
Step 1: Complete the Preferred Name Change Form. Click here to access the form.
Step 2: Submit the form to Jorge Heredia, Office of the Registrar, at Jheredia@qcc.cuny.edu.
Students with questions should feel free to contact Mr. Heredia (he, him, his) via email or phone ( 718.631.6262 ext. 2542). In-person assistance is also available, but appointments should be scheduled to ensure that Mr. Heredia is available.
Gender Identity Change
Self-service CUNYfirst Change
Step 1: Log in to CUNYfirst
Step 2: Click on Student Center
Step 3: Click on Personal Information
Step 4: Go to Gender and change it to your preferred gender
Step 5: Save the changes
This change will update course rosters; however, faculty are not alerted that a change has been made. Students who would like their faculty alerted that a gender has been changed for a student in their course should change their gender using the Registrar's Office process that is outlined below.
Registrar's Office Change
Step 1: Complete the Gender Change Request Form. Click here to access the form.
Step 2: Submit the form to Jorge Heredia, Office of the Registrar, at Jheredia@qcc.cuny.edu.
Students with questions should feel free to contact Mr. Heredia (he, him, his) via email or phone ( 718.631.6262 ext. 2542). In-person assistance is also available, but appointments should be scheduled to ensure that Mr. Heredia is available.
Faculty and Staff: Preferred Name and Gender Identity Changes
Queensborough faculty and staff can choose between two methods to change their gender. One method is self-service in CUNYfirst, and the other allows for support from campus personnel in Human Resources. While faculty and staff can opt to change their gender via a self-service option, changes to preferred names can only be processed in Human Resources.
Preferred names and gender identifications can be reflected on Queensborough email, login credentials, employee identification cards, Zoom accounts, and internal directories. Preferred names and gender identifications are not reflected on legal documents or official records. The law continues to require the use of legal names and assigned gender on official records & documents, such as CUNYfirst account and login, payroll, checks, benefits, pension plans, and other official documents.
Preferred Name Change
Step 1: Complete the Preferred Name Request Form.
Step 2: Submit the form to Martha Aspromatis, Interim Director of HR at maspromatis@qcc.cuny.edu
Gender Identity Change
Self-service CUNYfirst Change
Step 1: Log in to CUNYfirst
Step 2: Click on Employee Self Service
Step 3: Click on Personal Details
Step 4: Select Your Gender identity
Step 5: Save Selection
Human Resources Office Change
Step 1: Complete the Gender Change Request Form.
Step 2: Submit the form to Martha Aspromatis, Interim Director of HR at maspromatis@qcc.cuny.edu
Faculty and staff with questions should feel free to contact Martha Aspromatis (she, her) via email or phone at maspromatis@qcc.cuny.edu or 718.281.5075 . In-person assistance is also available, but appointments should be scheduled to ensure that Ms. Aspromatis is available.
Preferred Name Email Changes
In alignment with the preferred name policy, faculty, staff, and students are welcome to change their first name and/or the initial of their original assigned Queensborough email address. It is important to remember that the preferred name policy only pertains to first and middle names and does not facilitate changes to last names.
For example:
- If your legal name is Monisha Chowdhury your original Queensborough email is mchowdhury@qcc.cuny.edu or monisha.chowdhury00@qcc.cuny.edu
- If your preferred name is Amrit Chowdhury, the only part of the original Queensborough email that would change is the “m” in mchowdhury@qcc.cuny.edu or "monisha" in monisha.chowdhury00@qcc.cuny.edu
- The Queensborough email would be changed to achowdhury or to amrit.chowdhury00@qcc.cuny.edu
- The name that appears when you send an email would also be changed from Monisha Chowdhury to Amrit Chowdhury
Steps to Change to Your Email
- Contact the IT Help Desk by email at ServiceDesk@qcc.cuny.edu and inform them you would like to change your email to reflect your preferred name. When contacting the Help Desk, please share your legal name, current Queensborough email address, and Queensborough ID number.
Email Example:
Hello,I am a Queensborough staff member and would like to request my email be changed to reflect my preferred name. All of my information is below. Thank you for your help.
Legal Information
Legal First, Middle (if any) and Last Name
Current Queensborough Email
Queensborough IDPrefered Name Change Information
Prefered First, Middle (if any) - Once submitted, the Help Desk will send you confirmation that they received your request and will update you once the change has been processed and/or they need additional information.
All Gender Bathrooms
Individuals have the right to use restrooms consistent with their gender identity, which is defined by the individual. If privacy is preferred, below is a list of All Gender Restrooms, which are single-stall and located in easily accessible spaces.
Click here for the most recent map of all gender restrooms.
| Building | Location |
|---|---|
| Administration | 207, 208, 402 |
| Gym | No All Gender Restrooms |
| Humanities | 211, 226, 414, 432 |
| Library | 414 |
| Medical Arts | 348 |
| Oakland | No All Gender Restroom |
| Science | 143 |
| Service | 113 |
| Student Union | No All Gender Restroom |
| Technology | 06 |
| C – Building | No All Gender Restroom |
| W – Building | No All Gender Restroom |
| Y – Building | 10 |
| Z – Building | 106, 107 |
Safe Zone Training
The Safe Zone Project is an initiative designed to increase LGBTQ+ awareness and develop networks of allies.
In Spring 2023, Queensborough identified and trained twenty-two campus volunteers who will serve as campus Safe Zone facilitators. Beginning late spring, the College will host monthly Safe Zone workshops. Together, these facilitators and participants will help increase the understanding, compassion, and safety LGBTQ+ communities experience on campus.
Other Resources
CUNY LGBTQI+ Hub: Offer CUNY-specific policies and resources
LGBTQ Network: Offers LGBTQ support for Queens and Long Island
The Trevor Project: Offers crises services, public education, and advocacy resources
