diff --git a/app/controllers/conference_controller.rb b/app/controllers/conference_controller.rb
index 4fbd8369ea9..7791246fe6e 100644
--- a/app/controllers/conference_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/conference_controller.rb
@@ -51,10 +51,10 @@ def create
 
   def add_conference_user
     # check if user is already present with given username in system
-    existing_user = User.find_by(username: params[:user][:username])
+    existing_user = User.find_by(username: params[:user][:name])
     # if user exist then add user as participant to assignment else create account and then add as participant
     if existing_user.nil?
-      if !User.find_by(email: params[:user][:email]).nil? || (params[:user][:username].nil? || params[:user][:username].empty?)
+      if !User.find_by(email: params[:user][:email]).nil? || (params[:user][:name].nil? || params[:user][:name].empty?)
         flash[:error] = 'A user with username of this email already exists, Please provide a unique email to continue.'
         # redirect_to request.referrer
         return false
diff --git a/spec/controllers/conference_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/conference_controller_spec.rb
index b334258c6a0..59b0c9637a8 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/conference_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/conference_controller_spec.rb
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
     end
     it 'return error if user email already exist' do
       request_params = {
-        user: { username: 'lily',
+        user: { name: 'lily',
                 role_id: 2,
                 email: 'chenzy@gmail.com',
                 fullname: 'John Bumgardner',
diff --git a/spec/controllers/invitations_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/invitations_controller_spec.rb
index c955903360c..8e4ea76bb59 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/invitations_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/invitations_controller_spec.rb
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
       allow(AssignmentParticipant).to receive(:find).with('1').and_return(participant)
       allow(Assignment).to receive(:find).with(1).and_return(assignment)
       request_params = {
-        user: { name: 'student@gmail.com', email: 'student@gmail.com' },
+        user: { username: 'student@gmail.com', email: 'student@gmail.com' },
         student_id: 1
       }
       user_session = { user: student }