A Simpler Way to See Names Across CSU

If you’ve ever paused mid-email or meeting trying to figure out who someone is because of how their name appears, good news is on the way.

Beginning June 1, 2026, users across the CSU System will start seeing a simple but meaningful improvement across Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, and other Microsoft tools: display names will appear as “Firstname Lastname” instead of “Lastname, Firstname.”

It’s a small shift with a big impact on clarity, inclusion, and everyday collaboration.

What’s changing?

Today, names across Microsoft 365 appear in a last-name-first format. This summer, names will transition to a more familiar and natural format that mirrors how people introduce themselves and sign emails.

This change applies to all CSU System Microsoft 365 accounts for students, faculty, staff, and associates. The updated display will roll out broadly across the CSU System starting June 1.

No action is required. Once the update is made, names will sync automatically across Microsoft 365 tools. You may notice the change appear gradually, as it can take up to a few days for all Microsoft apps to fully refresh.

Where you’ll see it

• Outlook — Email headers, From/To fields, address book, and calendar invitations
• Microsoft Teams — Chat messages, channel posts, meeting rosters, profile cards, and video tiles
• OneDrive & SharePoint — File ownership, sharing invitations, and activity lists
• Microsoft 365 profiles — People search results, organization views, and profile cards

Microsoft 365 profile card

Outlook email view

Why this matters

This update is rooted directly in user feedback and has IT Governance approval. Across CSU’s campuses, people shared that the current format can be confusing or inconsistent with how they interact professionally.

Moving to a first-name-first display brings several benefits:

• Easier recognition in chats, meetings, shared documents, and searches
• More inclusive global naming support and less confusion for names that can be interpreted multiple ways
• Improved readability for users whose names are currently truncated in some tools
• A more consistent professional presence aligned with email signatures, business cards, and external platforms

Names matter. How we see them, and how easily we recognize one another, shapes our daily interactions.

This update reflects the CSU System’s commitment to creating digital spaces that are clear, respectful, and welcoming for our entire community.