CUNY is committed to making sure students with disabilities have equal access to college life and academics. Each campus has an Office of Disability Services that helps students get the support they need, like assistive technology, note-takers, interpreters, priority registration, and extra time on exams. These offices also offer guidance and connect students to helpful resources. Students are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504, meaning they have the right to accommodations, privacy, and a fair learning environment.
Across campuses students can access services such as counseling, referrals, assistive technology, note-taking support, interpreters, priority registration, and alternative testing.
Student Rights, Responsibilities & Appeals
CUNY Policies
- Statement on Protecting the Rights of Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming Students
- Memorandum on State and Local Laws Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Gender Identity and Gender Expression (2019)
- Memorandum on Student and Employee Requests for Name and/or Gender Changes (2021)
- Memorandum on Student and Employee Requests for Name and/or Gender Changes (2018)
- Memorandum on Expansion of the New York State Gender Recognition Act (2022)
- Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy
- Policy on Sexual Misconduct
- CUNY Sexual Misconduct Complaint Form
- CUNY School of Law Title IX page
Preferred Names & Gender Information
A chosen name, also referred to in CUNY policy as a preferred name or name-in-use, is a name someone uses instead of the name listed on their legal records, often to reflect their gender identity or a more familiar nickname. Under CUNY policy, students can update their chosen first and middle name, as well as their gender, without providing documentation. Unless otherwise specified, the chosen name along with the legal last name will appear on platforms such as CUNYfirst, Blackboard, and course rosters, and students may also update their student ID card, email address, and Zoom display name. While colleges may use a chosen name on most records and documents, official documents such as diplomas and transcripts still require a legal name change. It is important to use a person’s chosen name whenever possible, including in conversations, emails, formal settings, and registration forms, while treating any access to a person’s legal name as confidential information only used when legally necessary, such as for financial records or background checks. Find out more at LGBTQIA+ Hub!
Update Your Preferred Name
Log in to CUNYfirst
Go to Student Center
- Under Personal Information, click “Names”
- Click “Add a New Name” and choose the Preferred option
You may also submit the CUNY Preferred Name Request Form to the Registrar’s Office
Update Your Gender
- Log in to CUNYfirst
- Go to Self Service (might also say Employee Self Service)
- Under Personal Details, click “Gender Identity”
- Choose your gender identity. Options include: male (M), female (F), transgender (T), gender nonconforming (G), non-binary (X), a gender not listed (L) and not specified (U)
- Choose the date you want your gender identity to be shown
You may also complete the CUNY Gender Change Form and submit it to the Registrar’s Office
Update Your Student ID Card
You are entitled to a free updated ID card to reflect their preferred name, without a legal name change! Your preferred name must be updated in CUNYfirst.
Contact the Public Safety Department to request a new card.
Update Your Student Email
Your preferred name must be updated in CUNYfirst. Once done, you can contact IT Services – Helpdesk and request your student email address reflect the update.
Update Zoom
During a meeting, you can click the three dots next to your screen and choose “Rename”. Update the display name to reflect your chosen name and pronouns.
CUNY Accessibility Offices
CUNY Campus Disability & Service Centers
Hostos Community College:
Hostos Community College Accessibility
Location: 429 Grand Concourse, M Building, Room M200, Bronx, NY 10451
Hours: Monday–Wednesday 9:30 AM–4:45 PM; Thursday 9:30 AM–6:45 PM; Friday 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
Phone: (718) 518-4454
Email: ARC@hostos.cuny.edu
Borough of Manhattan Community College:
Borough of Manhattan Community College Accessibility Office
Location: 199 Chambers St, Room N-360, New York, NY 10007 (Accessible entrance: 77 Harrison St)
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8:30 AM–5:30 PM; Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Phone: (212) 220-8180
Email: accessibility@bmcc.cuny.edu
Baruch College:
Baruch College Disability Office
Location: 55 Lexington Ave, Newman Vertical Campus, Room 2-271, New York, NY
Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Phone: (646) 312-4590
Email: disability.services@baruch.cuny.edu
Bronx Community College:
Bronx Community College Accessibility Office
Location: Loew Hall, Room 213, West 181st St & University Ave, Bronx, NY
Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Phone: (718) 289-5874
Email: disabilityservices@bcc.cuny.edu
LaGuardia Community College:
LaGuardia Community College Accessibility Office
Location: 31-10 Thomson Ave, M Building, Room M120, Long Island City, NY
Hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; Friday 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Phone: (718) 482-5279
Email: OSD@lagcc.cuny.edu
Kingsborough Community College:
Kingsborough Community College Accessibility Office
Location: 2001 Oriental Blvd, Room D-205, Brooklyn, NY
Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Phone: (718) 368-5175
Email: aas@kbcc.cuny.edu
Queensborough Community College:
Queensborough Community College Accessibility Office
Location: 222-05 56th Ave, Room S132, Bayside, NY
Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Phone: (718) 631-6257
Email: oas@qcc.cuny.edu
Brooklyn College:
Brooklyn College Accessibility
Location: 2358 Boylan Hall, Brooklyn, NY 11210
Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Phone: (718) 951-5538
Email: access@brooklyn.cuny.edu
College of Staten Island:
College of Staten Island Accessibility
Location: 2800 Victory Blvd, Room 1P-101, Staten Island, NY
Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Phone: (718) 982-2510
Email: access@csi.cuny.edu
Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy:
Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy Accessibility Office
Location: 55 W 125th St, New York, NY
Hours: By appointment
Phone: (646) 389-4373
Email: accessibility@sph.cuny.edu
Graduate Center:
Graduate Center Accessibility Office
Location: 365 5th Ave, Room 7301, New York, NY
Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Phone: (212) 817-7400
Email: disabilityservices@gc.cuny.edu
School of Professional Studies:
School of Professional Studies Accessibility
Location: 119 W 31st St, New York, NY 10001
Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Phone: (646) 664-8621
Email: disabilityservices@sps.cuny.edu
Website: https://sps.cuny.edu/student-services/disability-services
School of Law:
School of Law Disability Office
Location: 2 Court Square, Long Island City, NY 11101
Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Phone: (718) 340-4200
Email: studentaffairs@law.cuny.edu
Hunter College:
Hunter College Accessibility Office
Location: 695 Park Ave, Room E1124, New York, NY
Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Phone: (212) 772-4857
Email: tgumbs@hunter.cuny.edu
NYC College of Technology:
NYC College of Technology Accessibility
Location: 300 Jay St, Namm Hall, Room A-237, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Phone: (718) 260-5143
Email: disabilities@citytech.cuny.edu
Medgar Evers College:
Medgar Evers College Accessibility
Location: 1650 Bedford Ave, Room S-106, Brooklyn, NY 11225
Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Phone: (718) 270-5143
Email: ose@me.cuny.edu
City College of NY:
City College of NY Accessibility
Location: 160 Convent Ave, North Academic Center, Room 1/218, New York, NY 10031
Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Phone: (212) 650-5913
Email: disabilityservices@ccny.cuny.edu
York College:
York College Disability Office
Location: Academic Core Building, Room 1G02, Jamaica, NY 11451
Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Phone: (718) 262-5143
Email: disabilityservices@york.cuny.edu
This website was created through the collaborative efforts of the 2026 LGBTQIA+ Health Fellows Program, an initiative founded and developed through the leadership and vision of Dr. Jan Oosting, Associate Professor, Nursing; Mateo Tebar, LGBTQIA+ Student Resource Assistant; and Anthony Sweeney, Associate Director of Student Life. Special recognition is extended to Tiya Williams, LGBTQIA+ Health Fellows Program College Assistant, for coordinating resources and supporting the website development. Additional recognition goes to Jesse Evans-Rice, Open Lab Manager, and Christina Chala, CUNY Central’s Student Inclusion Office Manager, for their guidance, support, and contributions throughout the project. Their collective dedication and commitment helped make this resource possible, and it will continue to support the community for years to come.
This project is made possible due to generous funding from the New York City Council Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual Caucus and the Office of the Mayor, and supported by The LaGuardia and Wagner Archives.
