Reference Files

New Policy Alert!


Effective July 1, 2021, the Career and Professional Education Center (CAPE) at Buffalo State College will cease accepting letters of reference to create or house reference files for students and alumni. Students and alumni who currently have reference files housed in the CAPE can continue to use this service to send references to prospective employers and/or graduate schools.

Also, effective July 1, 2021, the Career and Professional Education Center will no longer charge a fee to send out reference files.

The CAPE will continue to maintain reference files for a period of six (6) years from the date of the last activity for that file. As per policy, reference files older than six (6) years will be destroyed.

Reference files and/or individual letters of recommendation that are non-confidential may be claimed by the student or alumnus only. Such requests must be made using the Official Request to Release Reference File form. Confidential letters of recommendation cannot be released to the student or alumnus, as per the Family Educational and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and will be held by the CAPE until the 6 year holding period expires, upon which the letters will be destroyed. As of July 1, 2027, reference files housed in the Career and Professional Education Center at Buffalo State will cease to exist.

The CAPE staff will remain available to answer questions about self-management of reference files. Any questions about this reference file policy may be directed to the Career and Professional Education Center.

A reference file contains "letters of reference." These are needed by potential employers or graduate/professional schools in order to learn about your qualifications. Many employers and most graduate schools require these letters before you can obtain employment or admission to graduate school.

As of July 1, 2021, The Career and Professional Education Center (CAPE) Reference File Service will maintain files created prior to that date and will continue to mail or upload references to requested recipients. Individuals who prefer to self-manage their reference files may request their non-confidential letters by submitting this form to the CAPE.

Those eligible to use the CAPE reference file service are individuals who created reference files prior to July 1, 2021 and include: matriculated BSC undergraduate and graduate students, BSC graduates, and those attending BSC to receive teaching/ administration certification only. No others may use the service.

Reference Links

Need official transcript information?

Career & Professional Education

Buffalo State University  •  1300 Elmwood Avenue  •  Cleveland Hall 306
Buffalo, New York 14222  •  Phone: (716) 878-5811  •  Fax: (716) 878-3152

careers@buffalostate.edu