Professional Standards
for College & University Career Services
X. LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Career services professionals are knowledgeable about accepted and current professional practices and are responsive to those obligations and limitations imposed on the operation of their program areas by relevant civil and criminal laws, institutional policies, and any contractual commitments. Career services ensures that records are maintained following prevailing ethical and legal guidelines. The particular areas of the law that career services is aware of and seeks advice about from legal counsel are:
- Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, regarding disclosure of student information contained in education records;
- the privacy of data maintained in electronic form by the career center or by another entity acting at its request;
- defamation law, regarding references and recommendations on the behalf of students;
- equal employment opportunity laws, regarding employment referral practices of the career services office and others employed by the institution that refer students for employment;
- affirmative action regulations and law, regarding special programs for minority students;
- liability issues pertaining to experiential learning programs;
- work authorization practices in countries other than where the student holds citizenship;
- institutional policy regarding safety standards and practices for students traveling to work or participating in university-sponsored experiential activities;
- laws regarding contracts governing services provided by outside vendors;
- laws regarding grant applications;
- laws regarding eligibility to work in the United States; and
- any other state or federal employment or student-related statute.
Career services staff members use appropriate policies and practices to protect students and limit the liability exposure of the institution, its officers, employees, and agents. In this regard, the institution provides access to legal advice for professional staff as needed to carry out assigned responsibilities.
The institution must inform career services staff in a systematic and timely fashion about extraordinary or changing legal obligations and potential liabilities.
XI. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, ACCESS, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, AND DIVERSITY
Career services adheres to the spirit and intent of equal opportunity laws in all activities.
Career services’ operating policies and procedures do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, or veteran status.
Career services’ programs, services, events, and facilities are accessible to all students.
Career services’ hours of operation respond to the needs of all students.
Career services seeks to identify, prevent, and/or remedy any discriminatory practices associated with the delivery of its services.
Career services staff serve as advocates by bringing the needs of all students to the attention of the institution’s administration.
Career services ensures that employers using services and programs adhere to the word and spirit of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action.
Career services staff make every effort to educate faculty members about legal and ethical issues relating to student referrals and recommendations.
Career services works in conjunction with the institution’s special services and related organizations to enhance student and employer awareness and appreciation of cultural and ethnic differences.
Career services provides educational programs that help students from diverse backgrounds and individuals with special needs to identify and address their unique needs related to career development and employment.
Career services initiates partnerships and cooperative programming with other offices representing special populations to ensure appropriate service delivery.
