A new optional feature in the online student portal, MyCUInfo, allows CU Boulder students to indicate the pronoun with which they identify, making the information part of their university record.

“We heard from students who wanted the information to be available in places such class rosters,” said Kristi Wold-McCormick, university registrar. “The additional information can help faculty and staff know how to correctly address students in an inclusive way.”

Students may select from the following options in the student portal: she/her/hers; he/him/his; they/them/theirs; ze/zir/zirs; and xe/xer/xers.

“We want students to know that this element of their identity is important to us,” said Morgan Seamont, assistant director of the Gender and Sexuality Center. “Retention data for LGBTQ students is generally lower, so anything we can do to increase inclusivity is a good thing.”

The Office of the Registrar and the Gender and Sexuality Center have worked with several other units, including University Information Systems to launch the new option. The project has involved coordination with the other CU system campuses, which also are making the feature available.

The pronoun option is the second of four planned enhancements to the student portal. The first, announced last year, allows students to indicate their preferred name in their university record.

Upcoming enhancements will allow students to self-select and indicate their sexual orientation, such as heterosexual, and gender identity, such as transgender. This information is considered protected data and will be used only to inform the university on student demographics, which can assist in providing support and resources.

Universities and colleges across the nation are providing pronoun options to students.