For Letter Writers

September 2009

Dear Smith faculty and staff,

I am pleased to announce the CDO’s new partnership with Interfolio for the online management of credentials and letters of recommendation.  Interfolio simplifies the letter writing and sending process for everyone.  The process of writing letters on behalf of students won’t change for you.  The only aspect that does change is where you send them. 

Interfolio is well established as the premier online credentials management service for candidates applying for graduate study or academic positions. Interfolio’s service allows students and alumnae/i to create and manage a digital record of their credentials, including confidential and non-confidential letters of recommendation, teacher evaluations, writing samples, CVs, pre-health evaluations, and more.

Interfolio also makes the application process easier for recommendation writers:

Convenience and Ease of Use:

• Letter writers can upload their documents electronically into Interfolio’s safe and secure system, or mail letters directly to Interfolio.  If you are used to printing and sending recommendations, the process of writing letters on behalf of students doesn’t change.  The only aspect that does change is where you send them.   Once a printed letter is received, Interfolio scans them and notifies the letter requestor that your letter has been added to their account.
• Letter writers retain access to uploaded documents. An optional free Interfolio writer's account gives access to all uploaded documents, so writers can check the status or easily make updates to documents they’ve written.
• Students/alumnae/i request Interfolio to mail or electronically transfer documents as part of their application process.

Reliability and Security:

• Interfolio manually reviews every letter once upon receipt and again prior to delivery to ensure accuracy and legitimacy.
• Letter writers can personally verify the authenticity of documents they upload electronically through writer accounts.
• Interfolio is FERPA compliant and uses multiple layers of technological security to ensure that confidential documents stay that way.  Students cannot read closed or confidential letters.
• Robust technological safeguards, including SSL encryption, keep stored documents secure, and private. Digital backups are stored at a secure, off-site location to further protect important documents.

I am confident you will be very pleased with our partnership with Interfolio and the convenience it affords both students and letter writers.

To learn more, or to open a free writer’s account, please visit www.interfolio.com/recommendationwriters and be sure to read the helpful Interfolio Letter Writer User's Guide.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.  Best wishes for a good year.

Sincerely,

Stacie Hagenbaugh
Director
Career Development Office