On January 14, 2025, SMU added the Preferred Name display in my.SMU to aid users in selecting the proper individual when searching for a record. Search results will show both preferred and primary names in the result list for all my.SMU pages. In cases where multiple names might make identification more difficult—such as a primary name listed as Travis Jefferson Marshall and a preferred name as Jeff Marshall—this update helps users select the correct record more easily. You can click on either the primary or preferred name row to update the record.
By default preferred names will display first in the result list. However, as a reminder, you can always sort by an alternate item by clicking on the desired field in the header row.
Happy Searching!
Updated (February 13, 2025): Clarified instructions for selecting records when multiple names exist, such as primary and preferred names.
