Writing References

Students will often ask faculty and staff to serve as references for jobs, internships and awards. This is just another way the university supports students in being successful. But if you are writing a reference for a student, ask the student what it is they want you to speak about, and be honest with the student about what you would say, or not say about them. If a portion of your reference would include the disclosure of an education record, such as a GPA, or how a student did in a class you taught, a Reference Request Form should be signed by the student and kept on file by the author of the reference.