Change Your Email Address

Owned by Former user (Deleted)
Last updated: Dec 04, 2018
2 min read

By default, the legal name used on your enrollment (via Admissions or Registrar) or hiring paperwork (via Human Resource Services) is used to create your Valpo email address, in the format firstname.lastname@valpo.edu. For example, the default email address for Thomas Jefferson would be Thomas.Jefferson@valpo.edu.

You can request a "preferred first name" for your email address. In Thomas Jefferson's example, a preferred first name of "Tom" would update the email address to Tom.Jefferson@valpo.edu.

If you request a preferred first name, both email addresses (based on your legal name and your preferred name) will be directed to your Valpo email account, so you don't need to worry about missing messages.


Common Names

Individuals with more common names may have a number appended to the end of their email address to make it unique.

Change Your Preferred First Name - Students

To make a change to the first name in your default email address:

  1. Login to DataVU at https://datavu.valpo.edu.
  2. Students: select the blue Students menu; in the Personal Information Updates section, click the "Preferred First Name Request" link.
  3. Read the Preferred First Name Policy and click "Submit" to indicate your agreement.
  4. Complete the field indicating your preferred name and click "Submit."
  5. Registrar staff will process the change and your email address will automatically update.
  6. You may need to change the name in your email signature so that it displays your new address.
  7. You may also need to use the updated email address when logging into Google sites and apps; however, both email addresses should work to allow you to login.

Change Your Last Name - Students

To make a change to the last name in your email address, contact the Office of the Registrar to initiate the process. Documentation is required for any legal name changes in order to proceed. Once Registrar staff enter it in the system on their end, your Valpo email address will be automatically updated.

Change Your Name - Employees

Employees should contact Human Resource Services to request either a preferred first name change or a change to your legal last name. They require documentation of any legal name changes in order to proceed. Once HR staff enter it in the system on their end, your Valpo email address will be automatically updated.

Change Your Name - Alumni

To make a change to either the first or last name in your email address, contact the Office of the Registrar to initiate the process. Documentation is not required for a preferred first name change, but you may need to acknowledge the Preferred First Name Policy. Documentation is required for any legal name changes in order to proceed. Once Registrar staff enter it in the system on their end, your Valpo email address will be automatically updated.


Still need help?

For additional assistance, contact the IT Help Desk.