If you request a recommendation from a CU Boulder faculty or staff member听as a current or former student, they are under no obligation to provide one. However, if they do, please be aware of the following guidelines.
-
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) allows for oral or written recommendations to be released听without written consent听if the communication contains only authorized directory information or other personal observations, or if it's addressed to an听educational institution where the student seeks or intends to enroll, including professional school admission services.
-
If your intended use or your recommender's intended content is other than that outlined in item 1 (e.g., you're sending the recommendation letter to a prospective or current employer),听you must provide听express, written permission to allow your recommender to access your听educational records听and disclose your confidential information to a third party.
If your request falls under item 2, we recommend that you complete听a听CU Boulder Release for Letters of Recommendation听for your signed consent. If听you choose to use another听form of release, you must sign and date it听and it must include a description of the information your recommender may disclose, the purpose of the disclosure, to whom they may disclose it, and听whether you waive your听rights to review a copy of the letter or know the contents of the oral communication.听Your faculty or staff recommender should retain听such documents of authorization for a mutually agreed-upon听period of time.