Asking for a Reference
Per the United States Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), I cannot release any information about a student without that student's written authorization. Therefore, in order to reply to a request for a recommendation or reference, I must first receive communication from you authorizing me to provide the recommendation or reference. If you list me as a reference or put me down for writing a recommendation letter, I cannot respond to the request due to federal law. I cannot even confirm or deny that you are (or were) a student at CCU. Therefore, the first rule of asking for a recommendation or reference letter is to ASK ME first!.
When requesting a letter of recommendation or a professional reference, please take a moment to consider whether or not I am the right professor to ask. Have you worked with me on a research project or other extended activity, or did you take one (or more) of my classes? While I can certainly provide a reference based on your class performance, the reference will duplicate whatever the prospective employer or graduate school would be able to see on your transcript. Such references or recommendations are not particularly strong, although some employers do ask for them. If you worked closely with another faculty member, then they would be able to provide a much stronger reference, since they would know more about your work habits.
Leave Enough Time
Although most industry references can be completed with a simple phone conversation, academic recommendation letters normally require time to prepare and proofread. It may not be possible for me to write a letter for you on short notice. Generally speaking, please try to give me at least 2 weeks to prepare recommendation letters.
Alumni Requests
Coastal Carolina University typically archives course information for 3 calendar years from the end of the course. If you ask for a reference more than 3 years after I have last interacted with you, then there is a good chance that the detailed records needed to provide a reference or recommendation will have been purged. Also, consider that old references are often stale references, since they don't reflect your most recent accomplishments. References from work colleagues and recent employers are normally stronger once you're a few years past graduation.