FERPA Release for Faculty/Staff Letter of Recommendation or Reference
Instructions: Students/Alumni, please read and fill out the appropriate sections of this form before delivering it to the
Dickinson College faculty or staff member(s) whom you are asking to write a letter of recommendation or serve as a
reference for you. A separate form must be submitted for each faculty or staff member request.
This form's permission to release information applies, but is not limited to, electronic forms, phone calls, employment
forms, internship referrals or graduate school applications. If your permission was already provided as part of an
application process (for example: on a graduate school or employment application), the Dickinson College FERPA
Release form does not need to be completed, as it would be duplicative.
Non-directory information from student education records may not be included in a letter of recommendation without
the student’s written consent. Examples of non-directory information include GPA, grades/academic performance,
performance in work/study positions or internships, etc.
In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), I, the undersigned student, hereby
authorize ____________________________________ (faculty/staff name) to write a letter of recommendation or
otherwise serve as a reference in which the faculty/staff member may discuss information contained in my student
education records (such as performance in classrooms, student activities, work/study employment, and internships).
The purpose of the information to be released (select all that apply):
Employment
Admission to an educational institution
Other (please specify) _________________________________________________________
The information should be released directly to: (name and address of receiving party provided by student):
To: _______________________________________ Phone: _________________________________
__________________________________________ Fax:____________________________________
__________________________________________ Email: __________________________________
I understand further that (1) I have the right not to consent to the release of information from my student education
records; (2) I have a right to receive a copy of the faculty/staff member’s letter of recommendation upon request unless
I waive that right (note that the entity receiving the letter may require, by virtue of your participation in their process,
that you agree to waive the right to review the recommendation letter); (3) and this consent shall remain in effect until
revoked by me, in writing, and delivered to the faculty/staff member, but any such revocation shall not affect
disclosures made by the faculty/staff member prior to the receipt of any such written revocation.
I waive my right to review a copy of the letter of recommendation.
I do not waive my right to review a copy of the letter of recommendation.
___________________ __________________________ _________________________ ________
Student/Alum Banner ID# Student/Alum name (please print) Student/Alum’s signature Date
Upon completion of this form, the student should submit it to the faculty/staff member.
This information is released subject to the confidentiality provisions of FERPA and other applicable laws. Any further
disclosure of this information is prohibited without the specific written consent of the person to whom it pertains, or as
otherwise permitted by such laws.
FERPA Release for Recommendation Letters
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a federal law protecting the confidentiality of student
education records. Generally, Dickinson faculty and staff may not disclose personally identifiable information from student
education records without the student’s written consent. An exception to this is “directory information” as defined below,
which can be disclosed without the student’s consent, unless the student has directed that such information not be disclosed
by having a FERPA restriction placed on their student record.
Directory Information: "Directory information" means the student's name, college and permanent home address and
telephone number, email address, a photograph, date of birth, dates of attendance, class, major field(s) of study, previous
institutions attended, awards and honors (including honor roll), degrees conferred (including dates), and participation in
officially recognized sports and activities, and height and weight of members of athletic teams.
Any requests for letters of recommendation to include information beyond what is defined as directory information, or can be
deemed as general statements that do not disclose protected data, must be requested in writing by the student.
Recommendation Letter Frequently Asked Questions
What may I release in a letter of recommendation?
If you do not have a signed Letters of Recommendation or Reference Release Form, then you may only release directory
information for the student, and even then you must verify that the student has not requested a FERPA restriction to be
placed on the student’s account.
Do I need to have a signed release?
If you are going to release any information beyond very generalized statements and what is included in directory information,
yes. Please have the student complete the Letters of Recommendation or Reference Release Form.
Can the student request a letter of recommendation electronically?
Yes, per legal counsel, the student may submit a signed Letters of Recommendation or Reference Release Form as an
attachment to an email message as long as the message was sent from the student’s Dickinson email. If in doubt, you should
contact the student by phone to verify.
Can I send the letter of recommendation directly to a graduate school or employer?
Yes, if the student has completed the FERPA Release form indicating that information from student education records can be
released directly to the graduate school/employer.
Why can the student see my letter of recommendation?
Students have the right under FERPA to inspect their own records. Students may waive that right for letters of
recommendation and should indicate any such waiver on the Letters of Recommendation or Reference Release Form.
What if the student declines to waive the right to review my letter of recommendation?
You have the right to inform the student that it is not your practice to provide letters of recommendation unless the letters
are confidential and you are able to candidly assess the student’s strengths as well as weaknesses.
What if the student declines to submit a Letters of Recommendation or Reference Release Form? Must I still provide a
recommendation or reference?
No, you may share with the student that you cannot provide a meaningful recommendation, or serve as a reference, if
directory information and generalized statements are the only information you are permitted to disclose.
What if I am asked for a reference and the student has not signed a Letters of Recommendation or Reference Release
Form?
If the student has not signed a Letters of Recommendation or Reference Release Form, any requests for information about the
student, even directory information, should be referred to The Registrar’s Office.
