What should a faculty member do if a student asks for a reference to be provided to an employer or to another institution?
The faculty member will need a release from the student if the faculty member is going to give an oral or written reference on behalf of a student that includes information derived from education records protected by FERPA. Material that is often addressed in letters of recommendations (e.g., GPA, courses, class performance) are considered part of a students educational records. In such cases, written consent from the student should be obtained before providing a reference. If the faculty member provides a generic written reference directly to the student for the student to disseminate, no release is required.
A. The faculty member will need a release from the student if the faculty member is going to give an oral or written reference on behalf of a student that includes education records protected by FERPA. Of course, if the faculty member provides a written reference directly to the student, no release is required.
Related Questions
- What should a faculty member do if a student asks for a reference to be provided to an employer or to another institution?
- Are there legal ramifications if a faculty or staff member refers a particular student or students to an employer?
- Are any of the services provided by the Student Wellness Team available to faculty and staff?
