Penn State is officially pursuing efforts for Zoom users to add their pronouns to their displayed screen names, the university announced Wednesday.

The university also plans to update its AD84 Preferred Name and Gender Identity Policy, which will be employed by late spring.

“We are working to create a culture of belonging by allowing people to be their authentic selves in their place of work or learning, whether that is digitally or in-person,” Brian Patchcoski, assistant vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion in Penn State Student Affairs said in a release.

“We must maintain equity in digital environments,” he continued. “While our information systems at times provide limitations to how we might wish to engage, we continue to work behind the scenes toward changes to keep equity at the forefront.”

Penn State students and faculty can currently change their Zoom display names to their preferred names and pronouns if the “rename” feature is enabled by the host. But this is still something students and faculty have to change in each Zoom meeting since it automatically resets to a person’s biological name as opposed to their chosen name.

Penn State said administrators have been meeting with Zoom reps to discuss how to add this feature so that students and faculty can share their pronouns on Zoom permanently. However, no timeline has been given for when this will actually be in effect.

With the update of the AD84 policy, students and employees can self-assert their chosen first and middle names. Employees can choose their preferred last name as well. This update applies to faculty and students to fit their chosen gender identity; faculty and others with different publication or professional names; faculty and students from other countries who wish to use an “Americanized” name; individuals who have possible safety issues; and nicknames. 

“The integration process will be an upcoming challenge as the main systems will navigate these major shifts and then our downstream systems at the college, unit and department levels also will be working to integrate any changes as they are able,” Patchcoski said.