Credential Files

Featured Documents

Credential Forms

Career Services offers a credentials file service so that students and alumni may provide graduate schools and/or employers information about their background and qualifications. Most credential files contain written recommendations from professors, former employers, or supervisors who have been able to observe them closely in an educational or work setting. The file may not include:

• Transcripts - for these please contact the Office of the Registrar
• Graduate school examination scores

Between three and five letters are appropriate for most credential files. Graduate schools and employers are generally satisfied with three or four well-written letters.

Getting Started

• Submit a Credential Registration Form to the Career Services Office.
• Pay the one time $30 start-up fee. Please make checks payable to Ithaca College.

Getting Recommendations

• Obtain Recommendation Forms at the Career Services office, or download the PDF file here: Download Recommendation Form *
• Provide this form to your reference writer.

Please Note: Before you give a recommendation to a reference writer, you must sign and date the Recommendation Form and check whether you retain your right to read the letters. Reference writers may choose to use their own letterhead, however, these forms will be considered non-confidential unless a signed recommendation form is attached indicating your decision of confidentiality. Careful consideration should be given to your decision to waive your right to review a recommendation. If a letter is designated as confidential, you will never be able to view its contents. You may however, find out if the letter has been placed in your file and whether or not it is directed towards graduate school or employment.

You may wish to provide the reference writer with a stamped envelope addressed to the Career Services office to ensure delivery. Extra recommendation forms are available through the office.

Sending Out Your Credential File

• Complete a Credential File Request Form, which is available at our office or by download at: Download Credential File Request Form *
• Please provide us with information about where your file is to be sent and which materials you would like included. You are not required to send your entire file.
• Tip: Credentials should be sent when an employer or school expresses an interest in receiving recommendations. Credentials should not automatically be sent when you are making an initial inquiry.

Important Information About Confidentiality

If a letter is designated confidential, you will never be able to view its contents. You may find out if the letter has been placed in your file and whether or not it is directed toward graduate school or employment. All non-confidential letters may be viewed in our office during regular hours. No recommendations will be read over the phone, either to you or to a prospective employer or graduate school.

Although most employers will accept both confidential and non-confidential recommendations, some place a higher value on confidential recommendations. Graduate schools often prefer a confidential format, and some letter writers feel more comfortable with the confidential format.

Obtaining Personal Copies

Upon your written request, a copy of non-confidential material contained in your file can be forwarded to you.

Updating and Deleting Information

If you no longer wish to use a specific recommendation, you may inform us in writing, to place it in an inactive status in the back of your file. As you grow professionally, you should update your file to reflect your professional development. Letters from four or five years ago will probably not represent current levels of responsibility and achievement. You may want to add new letters of recommendation to replace old ones.

Active Status

Each credential file will be maintained for 10 years from the date in which it is opened. At the end of this 10-year period, all files will be destroyed unless you notify this office, in writing, that you wish to keep your file active. If your file is destroyed at the end of the 10-year active period, you may establish a new file at any time.