This page will help you understand the ways in which you can indicate your pronouns within various UW systems. You can read about proper pronoun usage on the Pronoun Basics & Best Practices page.
Your Pronouns, Your Choice
We want every member of the UW community to be addressed in ways that align with their identities and values, and we also acknowledge that people have different levels of comfort sharing their pronouns depending on the setting.
For some people, adding pronouns may feel easy and obvious. If you used the same pronouns your whole life, if your pronouns don’t identify you as being different, or if you feel secure in your identity and well-supported in your community, then the decision to include your pronouns may feel empowering or it may not feel like a big deal. That’s great!
For others, pronouns may not feel easy or safe to share. Some of us may not be sure what pronouns are right for us right now. We may use different pronouns across different settings and want to control which pronouns we share when. Some of us have valid concerns about privacy, safety and trust and may choose not to share our pronouns with everyone in our lives. At the UW, we support every person to be their own best advocate and to share only what feels right for them right now.
We all deserve to feel safe and respected, no matter our identities or self-expression. Unfortunately, we don’t exist in a world that guarantees safety and respect. Deciding with whom to share your pronouns is an act of self-awareness and self-protection.
Where to share your pronouns
The UW provides multiple online systems and platforms for students and employees to indicate their pronouns.
Identity.UW: For sharing your pronouns with UW faculty, academic personnel and support staff (counselors, advisors, etc). Learn more about setting your pronouns in Identity.UW. UW pronoun support is a work-in-progress; only a few interfaces currently consume pronoun information from Identity.UW. We are working on growing pronoun support to increase awareness among faculty, academic personnel and support staff, but it will take time and patience. If you have feedback, please let us know by sending an email to help@uw.edu.
Zoom: For displaying your pronouns during Zoom meetings. Learn more about sharing your pronouns in Zoom. Zoom pronoun support is not controlled by the UW. If you have feedback or recommendations, send an email to help@uw.edu with the subject of “Zoom feedback” and the UW Zoom service team will advocate on your behalf.
Canvas: For sharing with classmates, instructors and TAs in Canvas. Learn more about sharing your pronouns in Canvas as a student and as an instructor. Canvas pronoun support is not controlled by UW. If you have feedback or recommendations, you can contact the company directly. When you reference that you are from the UW, the UW Canvas service team will be alerted to help advocate on your behalf.
Microsoft 365, Teams and Outlook: For sharing your pronouns across the entire UW Microsoft 365 Suite. Only share your pronouns in Microsoft if you are comfortable with everyone at UW being able to see your pronouns. M365 is a very complicated system and Microsoft pronoun support is not controlled by UW. Since we aren’t in control of what happens when you add pronouns, we want you to be as informed as possible. Please refer to UW-IT’s M365 documentation to understand how pronouns are currently shared within this suite of tools. If you have questions, please send them to help@uw.edu.
At UW, we support every person being their own best advocate and only sharing what feels right for them right now. If you are not certain about which pronouns to use in which systems, then we encourage you to use the “ask me” option or skip adding your pronouns through one or more of the platforms listed. Remember: You can always decide to share your pronouns privately and/or add them to your profile at another time.
Considerations when sharing your pronouns
Pronouns are social and humans make mistakes
Remember that once we share our pronouns with someone, we can’t control what they do with it. UW faculty, academic personnel and support staff are dedicated to supporting you and your needs and rights, but we also have to acknowledge that we are all human and may make mistakes.
For example, if you only want certain pronouns used in selective spaces, no matter how clearly you make your request, there is a risk someone may mistakenly use private pronouns in other contexts. We ask that you consider this risk when sharing your pronouns in any context.
Other considerations
The UW might be required to share pronoun information in public records requests or in other situations when required by law. In some instances, a person’s pronouns may be considered an education record and protected from disclosure by FERPA.
In addition, remember that when working in public spaces (such as when logging into a campus computer or when others are walking by in public spaces), there is a chance of others seeing your screen and information.
Ask for help
If you have questions or want to talk through sharing your pronouns or identity at the UW, please refer to the resources at your campus:
- Seattle campus: Contact the Q Center
- Bothell campus: Contact the Bothell Student Diversity Center
- Tacoma campus: Schedule an appointment with Student Advocacy and Support by filling out the form and choosing the “referral to Student Advocacy and Support” option
How do I respond to harassment or discrimination?
Harassment and discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression have no place at the UW or in Washington. Please visit the Pronoun Basics & Best Practices page for information on how to respond to harassment or discrimination.
If you need immediate support, crisis services are available.