Career Advising at EOU

 

Eastern Teacher Candidates 

Career Advising is moving toward the elimination of candidate file service.  This phase out process began in January 2001 and.will occur over several years until file service ceases on December 31, 2004.  Our immediate goals are to: 
     · Inform alumni of the changes occurring in the teacher job search process 
     · Assist graduates & alumni in securing employment using a self-managed candidate file 
 

The Evolution of Candidate File Service
The teacher application process is undergoing rapid change in response to employment law and technological advances.  Many school districts are modifying application procedures and that in turn streamlines the process for applicants.  The trend in Oregon is for districts to ask for a placement/candidate file - or - three letters of reference as a component of the application.  This means that candidates can collect their own non-confidential references, copy and send them along with other application materials.  It enables the candidate to have complete control over the application process and eliminates Career Advising from being the 'keeper of documents' and collecting fees for a service. 

Eastern will continue to offer file service (until December 31, 2004) but we strongly recommend self-management.  Alumni may continue to use the service but it is imperative that your contact information is kept current so we can inform you about future changes. 

 

If you are reading this page, we would appreciate an e-mail or phone call to update your file or complete the Update and Release form.

 

If you established a confidential file, it can be transformed into a non-confidential file by completing the Consent and Authorization form.  Confidential letters will remain so but newly added letters would be open to your inspection. 

 

General advice
It is the responsibility of the file holder to keep current letters of reference in their file. A reference that is more than a few years old does not speak to current skills and accomplishments. Therefore, unless you have kept in touch with the writer, the relevance and appropriateness of the reference is highly questionable. In many cases, employers wish to talk with persons submitting references; outdated contact information on references over five years old can make this difficult. 

 

Options available regarding non-confidential files
To begin self-managing your own references, you may request that original non-confidential documents be released to you by completing the File Release Form.   This must be done via U.S. mail, as your signature is required. 

 

Oregon University System policy requires that we keep candidate files for five years after the last date of activity.  If you have not sent your file or updated your file with current address and new letters before July 1, 2002 the file will be purged from our system.  Please complete the file update and release form at your earliest convenience and let us know your intentions.  Beginning January 1, 2002 it will be our policy to purge files after five years of inactivity.

 

Options available regarding confidential files
It is important to know that most schools no longer request confidential letters. If there is any question, a call to the school administration office is always appropriate. 

Confidential documents cannot be released to candidates in order to maintain the confidentiality assured to the letter writer when the file was established. 

Oregon University System policy requires that we keep candidate files for five years after the last date of activity.  If you have not sent your file or updated your file with current address and new letters before July 1, 2002 the file will be purged from our system.  Please complete the file update and release form at your earliest convenience and let us know your intentions.  Beginning January 1, 2002 it will be our policy to purge files after five years of inactivity.

Options for confidential files holders: 
1. Gather new, non-confidential references that reflect your current teaching skills, knowledge and abilities.  Self manage those references.  Giving letter writers a current resume will allow them to comment on your recent activities and accomplishments. 

2. Alumni graduating in 1998 or after may request confidential letters be returned to the author for the purpose of pursuing a non-confidential version.  Upon receipt of a written request, Career Advising will make every effort to contact the letter writer.  Alumni are responsible for providing a current mailing address for those references. 

3. Establish an account with www.ReferenceNow.com or www.eAcadem.com to store and transmit confidential letters of recommendation. 

If a person cannot or will not write a non-confidential reference, you can ask if the person would be willing to forward a confidential letter of reference directly to the school, as needed.  (Word processors make this more convenient than it used to be.) 

For further guidance on the management of your reference materials, please call Career Advising (541) 962-3711 or e-mail.

Important Dates	Activity
January 1, 2002	New policy begins--Purge files after five years of no activity
July 1, 2002	Begin purging files for those alumni who have not had file activity in the last five years.
December 31, 2004	File service ceases

Candidate File Update/Release Form

Consent and Authorization Form

Tips For Self-Managing Your Own Candidate File

Locating Teaching Openings

Requesting Your File to be Sent to a School District