Understanding the Preferred Name fields in ADAM

The Preferred First Name and Preferred Last Name fields found on the Rostering | Users page replace the information found in the First Name and Last Name field where ever names are displayed in ADAM.

The reason this option exists is so the primary name information (first name and last name) can be maintained on the record...perhaps it is the legal name provided from an official source. While allowing the ADAM displayed name to show the preferred name.

We might see this used when a student's official state record shows their legal first name of Robert, but the student prefers and is always referred to as Bobby. Making an update to the student's record to set the Preferred First Name to Bobby allows the test tickets and proctor dashboard name to show up as Bobby without having to change the legal name.

Role Based Permission

This is a role based permission. When the 'Preferred Names' setting is On...if a user can see the Rostering | User page, they will also be able to see the Preferred First Name and Preferred Last Name fields. 

No matter what the role permission for 'Preferred Names' is set to...if a user record has a Preferred Name...the preferred name(s) will be used in ADAM to display this person's name.

Here are a few places where displayed/exported names use preferred name(s) if they exist:

• Logged in User Name
• User search results
• Administration session names
• Administration proctor dashboard names
• Administration print cards
• Student list in classes (on the list and during add process)
• Alias Upload student lists
• Reporting exports and onscreen display of students and/or teachers

Updating a Student Preferred Name (timing)

If you update a student preferred name, the name within an existing Administration is not updated immediately upon the save of the user record. Expect a delay of up to an hour for the information to be updated. This would affect the session list, the print card and the proctor dashboard name. If the student has already started the test...the name cannot be updated.

How do I not use the Preferred Name?

If a preferred name exists...it will be used to display the name in ADAM. If you don't want to use a preferred name, then the preferred name fields on the user's record need to be removed.

If you don't have the ability to modify names or cannot see the preferred name fields on the user's record. Contact your ADAM administrator to determine the best way to display the information you need.