Credential Files

Since August 2002, the Office of Career Services has partnered with Interfolio, Inc., the premier web-based credential file management service, in order to offer credential file holders and recommendation writers a more comprehensive service. This partnership will offer you online access to your credentials data, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Career Services will continue to provide the counseling and guidance we have always provided on how to obtain reference letters and prepare effective applications, but will no longer manage this process in the.  The office solely refers students to use the online tool known at www.interfolio.com.

Interfolio, the premier application portfolio management service, is now available to TC students and alumni. Interfolio is the easiest and most affordable way for a prospective teacher to apply for a teaching position, a PhD to send academic credentials to a search committee, or an undergraduate to send application materials to graduate and professional schools.

• Confidential and non-confidential letters of recommendation
• Resumes
• Curriculum Vitae
• Statement(s) of purpose
• Writing samples
• Teaching Portfolio documents
• Supervising teacher evaluations
• Student & peer evaluations
• Dissertation abstracts
• Unofficial transcripts

Benefits of using Interfolio

• Build a portfolio
  Build a portfolio of all your important documents. Ask writers for letters of recommendation or add non-confidential documents yourself. Up to 250 MB of storage is included.
• Comprehensive deliveries
  Interfolio allows you to deliver every document needed for each application in one complete, professional package.
• Fast, customized deliveries
  Fast, customized deliveries to job opportunities, and further study anywhere in the world. You can specify the order in which your materials are packaged so your presentation is powerful and persuasive.
• Self managed files
  With Interfolio you have control of your portfolio. You don't have to rely on others to make the decisions about what documents are delivered on your behalf.
• Lightning-fast delivery
  We send every delivery- paper or electronic- within one business day of your request. If you need to meet a deadline, we can send express deliveries the same day (as long as you make the request by 2 PM EST).
• 24/7 access
  With our web-based system you can manage your portfolio whenever and wherever you want.
• Low Cost
  Since you need only send one delivery to each position, you save money and headaches; it's more affordable to send a 30 page delivery through Interfolio than to go to Kinko's and the US Post Office.

To Create an Account
It takes just two minutes to create an Interfolio account and begin building your portfolio immediately. To sign up for Interfolio's Credentials and Portfolio Service, please see https://www.interfolio.com/index.cfm?event=signup.fullaccount

For a complete list of delivery and account fees, please see https://www.interfolio.com/candidates/

Help
If you need help using Interfolio, please visit our Help Center for Fileholders or our Help Center for Letter Writers for answers to most questions. If you need additional support related to your Interfolio Fileholder or Writer account, please contact us at help@interfolio.com or call (877) 77-FOLIO (877-773-6546) or (202) 223-3358.

Mailing Address for Document

Submission: Interfolio, Inc.
Paper Processing Center
1900 L Street NW
Suite #603
Washington, DC 20036

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will my file stay at Interfolio.com?
Once a file is transferred to Interfolio, Inc., the file is kept in their electronic database for 5 years. Once the account expires, file holders should purchase additional years of activity or to reactivate a dormant account years after the last file activity.

What if I don't want to use this service?
We recognize that some file holders no longer have a need for their reference files, or may not desire to have their file managed by Interfolio, Inc. If you decide not to use Interfolio, Inc., you have the following options. You may:

• Close your Teachers College credentials file and have the contents destroyed. Contact Career Services to sign a consent form authorizing us to destroy your file if it is no longer needed.
• Contact your professors and reference writers directly and have them send individual letters to the institutions that you specify.
• Obtain non-confidential letters and personally manage these documents.
• Open a reference file account with a previous academic institution.

What kind of security exists through Interfolio, Inc.?
The privacy and security of credential files is Interfolio’s highest priority. Robust technological safeguards, including multiple levels of encryption keep stored documents protected, secure, and private. The first component of Interfolio security is the technology that protects the data on our systems, both while in transit and in storage. All systems are protected by hardware firewalls that guard against internet-based security threats. Each user also needs a unique username and password to access the Interfolio system. Teachers College also places great importance on safeguarding the privacy of all student and alumni information To that end, closed letters of recommendation are kept confidential with a comprehensive rights management system. To further ensure privacy and security, Interfolio employs a rigorous quality control process, digital offsite backups, and a strict policy of never giving out private information to third parties.  For more information the security of Interfolio, go to http://www.interfolio.com/about/security/index.cfm

What will this service cost?
Compared to the former service offered through Career Services, the new Interfolio, Inc. partnership will bring students and alumni a significant reduction in fees. Interfolio charges $19.00/year, $39.90/3 years, or $57.00/5 years with a variety of delivery options.  For specific information on pricing and delivery options, go to http://www.interfolio.com/demo/pricing.cfm

Tips
Tips For Collecting and Submitting Letters of Recommendation