The Career Center’s Reference Letter Service Policies Agreement

Welcome to The Career Center’s Reference Letter Service (RLS). Please read this page in its entirety. It contains important information that will help you as you begin to develop your reference letter file. Your signature below will indicate your understanding of and commitment to abide by the relevant federal guidelines and University policies related to opening, utilizing, and maintaining your reference letter file.

File Longevity:
Your initial $25 fee will enable your reference letter file to remain active for five years from the opening date, after which it will be destroyed. If desired, before the end of the five years, you can extend the longevity of your file by an additional five years for another $25 fee.

Confidential/ Non-Confidential Status:
Under the terms of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), you have the right to access your reference letters unless you choose to waive that right. As you consider your choice, please be advised that if you elect to have a confidential letter written on your behalf, you permanently waive your right to access the contents of that letter. Given the permanence of your decision, prior to making your choice, you are encouraged to discuss the following with your letter writer:

• The intended purpose of the letter (e.g., graduate or professional school application vs. employment);
• The writer’s ability to speak positively on your behalf;
• Your permission to the writer to include personal information or special circumstances in the reference letter, if applicable.

If you do not indicate a confidential or non-confidential preference for a particular letter, or if The Career Center’s Reference Letter Service receives the letter without the appropriate accompanying evaluation form, the letter will be handled as non-confidential for as long as it will be kept in your file.

Adhering to Federal Guidelines:
Please note that The Career Center’s Reference Letter Service (RLS) must follow federal guidelines and University policies designed to protect students and letter writers as well. For that reason, the RLS is unable to send letters to certain locations, including but not limited to, your current or past employers, many third-party recruiting services, and residential addresses. If you have questions regarding the use of your reference letter file or addresses to which your letters are being sent, please ask the RLS staff before submitting your request. Requests that do not meet federal, University or RLS guidelines will not be processed.

PLEASE NOTE that any attempt to access a file and view confidential reference letters will be considered in violation of the University of Michigan’s Statement of Student Rights & Responsibilities and will be handled through the Office of Student Conflict Resolution and possibly through the Court system.

I understand and agree to follow the policies and procedures of The Career Center’s Reference Letter Service. I also understand that while I determine the contents of my reference letter file, the file becomes the property of the University of Michigan.

Last Name		First		Middle		Birthname
Signature: ___________________________________________________ Date: _________________________ UM Student ID: __________________________ or Last 4 digits of S.S. Number: ____________________________