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Career Development Center

110 Netzer Administration Building
(607) 436-2534
career@oneonta.edu

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:00pm

Establishing a Credential Folder


I.    What is a Credential Folder?
II.   Policies
III.  Fees
IV. Contents

V.  How to Request Your Credential Folder


I. What is a Credential Folder?

A credential folder contains materials, which support your application for jobs and admission to graduate school. Included are letters of recommendation, unofficial transcripts and other appropriate items that support your candidacy.  The folder is maintained by the Career Development Center and upon request, forwarded to potential employers or graduate schools. You may also authorize the Career Development Center to forward your folder at the request of an employer or graduate school.

Keep in mind that a credential folder is only supporting material, and for some persons the folder may never be requested. Research tells us those persons interested in education and human service careers are more likely to use this service than are those interested in business and science careers. There are exceptions, however, and graduates from all disciplines should seriously consider using the service.

As this is a voluntary service, it is your responsibility to establish and update your folder. We have made every effort to establish a system that works to your advantage. Instructions and policies follow.

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II. POLICIES

1. It is the candidate's responsibility to follow-up on references to make sure the folder is complete, and to update resumes as necessary. The Career Development Center is not able to provide typing service for candidates.

2. All original letters of reference need to be on letterhead with original signatures.

3. The Career Development Center will send a MAXIMUM OF 5 LETTERS OF REFERENCE along with other materials in the file. Candidates may be selective about which references are sent. Candidates with more than 5 letters should make arrangements with the Center as to which references will be used in the event of an employer or graduate school request.

4. All requests must be made in writing (fax is acceptable). Requests will be forwarded within 48 business hours from date of receipt.

5. Candidates may remove old resumes, transcripts and other material from the folder. Letters of reference will be removed and destroyed by Career Development Center personnel only upon written request.

6. The Career Development Center reserves the right to ask candidates to limit the size of credential folders.

7. Credential folders are made available only to legitimate employers or graduate schools, award committees, etc. Except transcripts requested by candidates, material from other college offices (e.g. Admissions, Dean of Students, Counseling Center, etc.) is not included in the folder.

8. Any student may establish a credential folder, although seniors are most likely to have need for the service. Juniors may wish to initiate a folder in their second semester to get a head start on the process. Freshmen, sophomores and juniors are encouraged to discuss their needs with a staff member before initiating a folder.

9. Credential folders are maintained for 20 years after graduation. Thereafter, contents of folders are destroyed unless otherwise requested by the registrant. Folders with material less than 10 years old are automatically saved. An announcement will be made in the college alumni magazine.

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III. FEES

Full-Time and Part-Time Undergraduate and Graduate Students :

  1. The first ten sets of credentials are sent free of charge until the end of the designated period:
    •  May graduates until September 1
    •  August graduates until December 1
    •  December graduates until May 1

    Each additional set carries a $3.00 prepaid fee. A volume discount of 10 sets for $20.00 is available and is good for one calendar year. However, we will not credit payments made for individual requests toward the volume discount.
     
  2. PLEASE SUBMIT ALL CREDENTIAL REQUESTS IN WRITING. (Remember to include the name, title, organization name and mailing address for each employer or graduate school.)

Alumni, Non-Degree Students :

  1. Alumni and non-degree students may choose to activate, establish and/or send their folder at any time.
     
  2. A $3.00 prepaid fee is charged for each request. A volume discount of 10 sets for $20.00 is available and will be good for one calendar year. However, we will not credit payments made for individual requests toward the volume discount.
     

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For more information about the above or any of the programs and services offered through the Career Development Center, contact the Center in 110 Netzer, phone: (607) 436-2534, e-mail: career@oneonta.edu.

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