Nationally, institutions have discontinued their reference letter services due to changing technologies and niche application services. UM is one of the last large institutions to host its Reference Letter Service.
2012 – 2017
- The University Career Center (UCC) devises a 5-year plan to phase out RLS (vetted by key stakeholders on the Ann Arbor campus)
- File holders are informed of the June 30, 2018 closure
FALL 2017
- File renewal is no longer possible after November 1
- Interfolio* is selected as the recommended reference letter service for the UM community
- Monthly reminders are sent to file holders regarding the June 2018 closure and informing them of Interfolio
- File holders may request to have their RLS letters sent to Interfolio
- UCC informs UM faculty and staff letter writers (last 3 years) of the RLS closure and the Interfolio option
- Deadline for letter writers to submit letters to RLS is June 30, 2018
JANUARY 1 – JUNE 30, 2018
- No new RLS files are opened effective January 1
- RLS continues to support active file holders currently applying to graduate, professional school, and employment
- Students requesting to open RLS files are directed to Interfolio
- Staff working directly with students needing reference letters are informed of timelines, processes and options
- Ads appear in alumni publications reminding readers of the June 2018 RLS closure and introducing Interfolio
- Monthly reminders are sent to file holders with follow up instructions
- The RLS officially closes on June 30
*Interfolio https://www.interfolio.com/ - Service to manage digital records of credentials including reference letters, writing samples, resumes/CVs and more