"The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974", Public Law 93-380 as amended and signed into law by President Ford on December 31, 1974, states that enrollees have the right to examine confidential files. It also states that they may waive this right if they do so desire.

The law provides that references may be either confidential or non-confidential at the option of the registrant. The registrant has the option to inspect the references in a non-confidential file.

Confidential references are those which the registrant has waived the right to see.

Please consider the following in making a decision to have confidential or non-confidential references.

1. School officials prefer to see confidential references, believing the references are more open in such credentials. The limited number of studies which have been made of confidential vs. non-confidential references Indicate a preference of both hiring officials and college faculty for confidential or enclosed references.

2. Registrants should be most selective in asking persons to write references for them. The persons selected should know the registrant well and be able to state facts and competencies of the registrant.

3. Writers of references will be informed at the time of writing that the reference is confidential or that the registrant will be permitted to see the reference.