Name Problems with Graduation RSVP
From: artscigrad [mailto:artscigrad@utk.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:05 PM
To: 'College of Arts and Sciences Graduates'
Subject: Name Problems with Graduation RSVP
Dear Graduating Student,
The following e-mail is for three groups of graduating students:
- those who have found problems with their major as listed on the online RSVP page
- those who have found problems with their name as listed on the online RSVP page
- those who have yet to RSVP (The deadline is Monday, March 31st, so go to www.artsci.utk.edu soon!)
Even if you have spoken with me by phone or e-mail or if you have received a response from the Office of the Registrar--keep reading. New info below!
MAJOR
If your major is listed incorrectly, you may correct it on the RSVP form. The field is editable. (Your major is not called as you cross the stage nor does it appear on your diploma, so it really does not matter what is listed in this field!)
NAME
For those of you whose names are misspelled (Kelly instead of Kelley), capitalized incorrectly (Larue instead of LaRue) or punctuated incorrectly (ONeill instead of O'Neill), or if your middle name is listed as an initial (John D. Smith):
You may be wondering why your name is listed incorrectly. In all but a small number of cases thus far, the above problems occurred due to incorrect data input from a University employer (e.g., any time you have been paid by the University). (A good test to see if this is the case for you is to check the online people directory. In most cases involving the employer, the same misspelling, incorrect punctuation, etc. will occur there as well!) To overwrite the incorrect information with correct data, please follow the below steps:
Step 1: Send the incorrect and correct information to my attention at hcockrum@utk.edu. (This is only for my records. Please proceed immediately to Step 2.)
Step 2: Go to the person who handles payroll at your present (or former) University employer. Ask how your name was entered into the IRIS system. (Some of you will need to be very specific in your request, especially if the error involves punctuation.) If the error is in the IRIS system, only the University employer can correct it. (If your name is correct in IRIS, see end of this e-mail.) Please request a "personal data form" from payroll for the purpose of correcting your name and be willing to complete it if the person in payroll asks. I do not know how long the change will take to process once payroll submits the form, so I would recommend you contact your employer ASAP to allow ample time. The person helping you may have a time frame.
Step 3: To find out if your name has been corrected, log back into the RSVP page at www.artsci.utk.edu. If the change has processed, your name should appear in correct form, and you should click "Submit" to overwrite the incorrect information previously submitted from your original RSVP. (Don't worry--it will not result in your submitting multiple RSVPs.) If the incorrect information is still listed when you log in, please contact the payroll person to make sure the personal data form was submitted and that ample time has passed.
Important! Seniors, I very seriously ask you to go to the employer's payroll person ASAP. Though this correction is important to you, it will probably provide busywork for already very busy people for whom this detail is not a priority. Go NOW so they have ample time to get the correction processed, and please be very gracious and patient, offering to help the process in whatever way you can.
For those few who may find their name correct in IRIS: send me an e-mail with the incorrect name from the RSVP page and how it should be listed. Also note that your name was correctly listed in IRIS. You will hear from me shortly after I receive it.
Thank you!
Heather
Heather Cockrum
Assistant to the Dean
College of Arts and Sciences
University of Tennessee
26 Alumni Memorial Building
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1320
865-974-4377
artscigrad@utk.edu