Inclusive Name Change @EPFL

The Inclusive Name Change project was completed in February 2025. The result of a collaboration between several EPFL services and entities, its implementation now allows the use of a preferred/chosen (first) name or gender within the institution.

A preferred name or chosen name refers to the family name(s) and first name(s) that a person chooses to use in their everyday life, their social life, instead of their full name, also called “official name”. The “Inclusive Name Change” project aims to enable members of the EPFL community to use a preferred name.

The Inclusive Name Change Project Is Now Implemented

For many individuals — particularly transgender and/or non-binary people — changing one’s name, whether officially (through civil status) or unofficially (via the use of a preferred/chose (first) name), represents an important step in both their identity journey and their personal and social development. Legally speaking, in Switzerland, anyone is free to use a preferred first name in all circumstances that are not linked to the state; the use of such a name is protected as part of one’s personality rights [1].

Since February 2025, the Inclusive Name Change project has enabled members of the EPFL community to use a preferred/chosen (first) name based on legitimate grounds, as outlined in the framework of the project. This initiative was a response to specific needs expressed by the EPFL community, notably through the open letters from Safe Space (April 2022) and PlanQueer (May 2022).

The project was led by an internal working group, coordinated by the Equal Opportunity Office (formerly VPT-EGA, now VPH-WINC-DEI), with the active involvement of members of Safe Space. Its objectives were as follows:

  • Identify needs specific to EPFL and review best practices from other institutions ✓

  • Map all relevant databases and systems ✓

  • Document existing solutions addressing the identified issues ✓

  • Submit a Digitalisation IT project [2] (September 2022), also exploring the inclusion of gender diversity ✓

  • Establish a simple and standardised administrative procedure detailing the application process and legitimate grounds ✓

  • Adapt job titles, functions and roles across the various institutional directories ✓

For a full overview of the project’s implementation, please consult the page [“Using a Preferred (First) Name at EPFL”].

[1] Articles 13 Cst. féd, 29 CC et 8 CEDH dans Arrêt du Tribunal fédéral 5A_113/2016 du 27 octobre 2016 ; BUCHER, p. 170 ; RECHER, p. 126 N. 47

[2] The Digitalisation IT projects originate from the VPO and are designed to centralise all requests from the Schools and Vice Presidencies for projects that require work to be carried out by the teams within the Information Systems domain (DSI).