Policy

It is the University of Puget Sound policy to verify employment and respond to reference requests regarding current and former faculty, staff, and students to outside organizations who request such information for credit or employment purposes. Accordingly, the following procedures may be followed when responding to such requests:

Written Verification Requests

All written requests for verifications of earnings information from lending institutions that have been authorized in writing by current or former faculty, staff, and students should be forwarded to Payroll. Payroll completes the request forms and forwards copies (for current or former faculty members and staff members) to the Human Resources Department, where they may be retained for confirmation purposes.
 

Written Reference Requests

All written requests for references on current or former faculty members or staff members should be forwarded to the Human Resources Department. Those for current or former student staff members should be forwarded to the Career & Employment Services. The university's response to a written reference request may depend on whether the faculty, staff member or student has authorized the request with their signature. If not, the university usually verifies employment, dates of employment, and job title or responsibilities. If the individual has authorized the request, then such additional information as salary, reason for leaving the position, and performance appraisal data may be provided. The university also may provide such additional information without prior authorization from a former faculty member, staff member, or student staff member. The university believes a prospective employer needs to be aware of relevant job-related information concerning the individual. Copies of written reference requests may be retained in the Human Resources Department or Career & Employment Services for confirmation purposes.
 

Telephone Verification and Reference Requests

Telephone calls received from organizations requesting reference or credit information on a current or former faculty member, or staff member should be transferred to the Human Resources Department; requests for information on current or former student staff members should be transferred to the Career & Employment Services. The university may request the name of the calling organization, and, if the organization is appropriate (financial institution, credit institution, prospective employer, prospective landlord, etc.), the university will verify employment or former employment, provide the dates of employment and the faculty member's, staff member's or student staff member's job title or responsibilities. Salary information, addresses, telephone numbers, performance appraisal information, etc., are usually not given out or verified over the telephone unless the Human Resources staff or Career & Employment Services staff have personal knowledge of the caller and their relationship to the calling organization.
 

Origination Date: 4/1996, Revised: 6/2016

Owner: Human Resources
Contact: Director of Human Resources