POLICY

In 1975, the Family Educational Right and Privacy Act of 1974 ("FERPA"; the 
"Buckley Amendment") was passed allowing students to access records.  From this 
time on, students had to establish a placement file as whether it is a 
confidential or non-confidential file.  Students either waived their right to 
review letters (closed) or retained their right to view letters written on 
their behalf (open).

    PURPOSE

    PROCEDURES

If a student had established a "closed" file (previous to Fall 1989), they may 
now change that status.  The procedures for changing the confidential or non- 
confidential status of a file are as follows:

The candidate must provide the Career Services Office with addressed stamped 
envelopes addressed to Career Services for each person who has written a 
confidential or non-confidential recommendation for their file.  The original 
recommendation will then be sent back to the writer along with waiver asking 
them to either sign the waiver opening the recommendation up, or rewrite the 
recommendation as non-confidential.

After September 1989, students may have both confidential and non-confidential 
letters in their files.  They indicate with a signature on each letter as to the 
status of the letter.  To change the status of an individual letter, the student 
must follow the procedure outlined above.

Under no circumstances will letters be changed regarding confidentiality with 
the consent of the writer.

    AUTHORITY

    APPROVAL

Career Services