ERIC Number: EJ1056887
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2153-7615
EISSN: N/A
Reference Letters and the Uninformed Business Educator: A U.S. Legal Perspective
Compton, Nina; Albinsson, Pia A.
Administrative Issues Journal: Education, Practice, and Research, v3 n1 p7-19 2013
While providing references to students, business professors have to meet dual demands of giving sincere references to prospective employers while avoiding any potential litigation claims of "defamation" and "violation of privacy" from the students. While the approach of providing bare minimum information may seem to mitigate the risk of litigation claims of defamation from former students, it might serve as a potential pitfall for facing "intentional misrepresentation" liability from the prospective employer. This paper addresses these concerns, together with other legal issues U.S. business educators face in this area of potential liability. Suggestions are offered to those who provide references for the purpose of minimizing the possibility of litigation exposure, either from the student or from his future employer.
Descriptors: Letters (Correspondence), Job Applicants, Business Administration Education, College Faculty, College Students, Legal Responsibility, Legal Problems, Court Litigation, Libel and Slander, Privacy
Southwestern Oklahoma State University. 100 Campus Drive PAX 208, Weatherford, OK 73096. Tel: 580-774-7175; Fax: 580-774-7020; e-mail: aij@swosu.edu; Web site: http::www.swosu.edu/academics/aij/index.asps
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A