Rev. 04/18 – Records | waive_access.doc
Office of the Registrar
503-725-3220
503-725-5525 fax
www.pdx.edu/registration
STUDENT WAIVER OF ACCESS
TO LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Students may be asked to provide a waiver of access to letters of recommendation when letters are:
written by PSU faculty or staff member on behalf of a student for such things as a job application,
program admission, scholarship, or other award application
received by a PSU department as part of an admission or scholarship/award application process
Letters of recommendation that are on file in a university office become part of the student’s education
record. Unless students sign a voluntary waiver of their rights to access these letters, they have the right to
review them at any time.
For Students
Those wishing to voluntarily waive their rights to access and review letters of recommendation written on
their behalf should sign this form on the reverse and submit it to the person writing the recommendation.
For Individuals Writing Letters of Recommendation
When PSU faculty or staff write a letter and maintain a copy in their files, the letter becomes part of the
student’s education records and can be reviewed by the student unless he or she completes the waiver form
on the back. You are not required to keep a copy of the letter. However, if you keep a copy of the letter and
desire to keep it confidential, a waiver of access form should be filed with the letter of recommendation.
Anyone writing a letter as part of an admission or scholarship application to an institution of higher education
should submit a copy of the waiver form along with the letter so that the letter will remain confidential once
received by the institution.
For PSU Departments Receiving Letters of Recommendation
Departments that do not wish to release letters written in confidence about students should:
retain the waiver of access form in the student’s file along with the letter, or,
in the absence of a waiver, return the confidential letter to the writer or request that the writer
resubmit the letter under the condition that it may be released to the student.
(over)
Waiver of Access to Letters of Recommendation
To Be Completed by the Student. Note: Waivers of access to letters of recommendation are optional and
voluntary. PSU departments may request waivers, but may not deny admission, awards, employment, or any
service or other benefit to students who fail to supply waivers. However, individual recommenders may
choose to make the recommendation conditional on a signed waiver of access.
If you are applying to an academic program or for a scholarship at PSU, complete the following:
Term of application: Fall 20__ Winter 20 __ Spring 20___ Summer 20__
Name of Proposed Department: ___________________________________________________________
Degree Program: _______________________________________________________________________
Name of Scholarship: ___________________________________________________________________
Name of Student/Applicant: ______________________________________________________________
Last First M.I.
Name of Recommender: _________________________________________________________________
By signing below, I agree to waive my right to access and examine, now or at any time in the future, the letter
of recommendation (or copies) written by the recommender named above.
Student Signature Date
Note for the Recommender
Please be sure that this waiver of access is included with your letter of recommendation.
Mail to the proposed Department or Office above,
Portland State University, PO Box 751, Portland, OR 97207-0751
