Identity: Updating Personal Information (Students)

The Personal Details section displays core identity information associated with your student record,  including legal name, chosen first name, demographic information, and pronoun preferences. Most fields in this section are view‑only, though some may be editable depending on system configuration.

Students may update the following items:

• Chosen First Name
• Personal Pronouns
• Marital Status (for record keeping purposes only)
• Gender Identification (if applicable)

The following information is view‑only and cannot be updated directly in MyNova:

• Legal name
• Date of birth
• Legal sex

The Email section displays your Villanova email address and personal email information. Students are expected to have both a Villanova (VU) email address and a personal email address on file.

• Your Campus Email Address (Preferred) is your official Villanova email address.

  • The VU email address is created by University Technology Services (UTS) at the time of admission.
  • Students will receive an email message to their personal email address provided at time of admission with notice of student record creation.
  • This address is not updateable by students.
  • If you change your name, a ticket must be submitted to UTS to update your Villanova email address.
  • If your Villanova email address appears incorrect or missing, contact Office of the Registrar for assistance.

• Your Permanent (Home) Email Address, also referred to as your Alternative Email Address, is a personal email address maintained in MyNova.

  • Students should ensure a personal email address is on file.
  • This address can be added or updated by the employee.
  • It is not used as the primary Villanova contact but may be used for backup or account‑related communication.

 Instructions for updating your Alternative Email Address 

• You may see an option to Add New email addresses, including emergency contact email types.

The Phone Numbers section displays multiple phone number types. While many options may appear, most students only need to review or update a limited set of phone numbers.

Students should focus only on the phone number types listed below.

• Permanent (Primary) Phone Number
  This represents your primary personal phone number. Students may view and update their Permanent (Primary) Phone number via myNOVA.

• Cell Phone (Primary) Number
  Used for direct or urgent contact when needed. Students may add or update this number.

  Note: For many students, the Permanent and Cell Phone numbers may be the same. If this applies to you, it is acceptable for both fields to contain the same number.

You may see additional phone number options when selecting Add New, such as fax, guardian, local off‑campus, or other legacy phone types. 

To update a phone number, select the Edit (pencil) icon next to the Permanent or Cell Phone entry. Use Add New only if you are adding one of the supported phone number types listed above.

If you are unable to update your phone number or believe the information listed is incorrect, contact the Office of the Registrar for assistance.

The Address section displays several address types. While multiple options may appear, students generally only need to review and maintain specific address information.

• Permanent Home Address
  This is your primary, long‑term home address and should be kept up to date. Students may view their permanent home address. Students cannot update their permanent home address via myNOVA.  Please complete the Change of Address form to have the Office of the Registrar update your Permanent Home Address. 

• Villanova (Campus) Address
  This reflects your Villanova campus address if you live in University housing while attending Villanova and is separate from your permanent home address.
  Students cannot update their Campus Address as it is assigned by Residence Life.

• Local (Off Campus) Address
  While you attend Villanova University and do not reside at your Permanent (Home) Address, nor in University housing, please provide a Local (Off Campus) Address.  Students can view and update the Local (Off Campus) Address via myNOVA.   This address typically pertains students who have a permanent residence maintained by a parent or legal guardian.  To add a Local Address,  select the Add New option and select the Local Off Campus type of Address.  Use the Edit (pencil) icon below the Local Off Campus Address to make changes.

he Emergency Contact Information section allows students to identify individual(s) who should be contacted in the event of an emergency.

• Students should keep at least one emergency contact on file at all times.
• The emergency contact should be someone other than the student who can be reached if needed.
• Students may add, edit, or update emergency contact information directly in MyNova.

Emergency contact details may include name, relationship, phone number, and email address. Students should ensure this information is accurate and current.

If you are unable to update your emergency contact information or experience issues saving changes, contact the Office of the Registrar for assistance.

The Additional Details section allows students to voluntarily self‑identify certain demographic information that the University uses for institutional reporting and compliance purposes.

Information in this section may include:

• Race and ethnicity
• Veteran classification
• Disability status

Providing or updating information in this section is optional.    Students may choose to update these fields at any time, 

Updating Veteran Classification and Disability Status in MyNova is separate from the Veteran Certification process and ADA accommodation process. Changes made in this section do not initiate, document, or replace a request for an accommodation or VA benefits. Veteran Students certifying their benefits with the DVA should contact Villanova University's Certifying Official.  Students who need an ADA accommodation should contact the Office for Access and Disability Services directly to begin the ADA accommodation process.

If you have questions about this section or how the information is used, contact the Office of the Registrar for guidance.