Legal implications of helping students find employment

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the legal exposure faced by faculty if they are involved in helping students find jobs when they graduate. Design/methodology/approach - The paper examines the current federal employment laws as they relate to activities that many faculty undertake in helping students find employment. Findings - The candidate referral activities that faculty frequently engage in could result in them being classified as an employment agency making them subject to federal employment discrimination laws also faced by employers. Practical implications - Universities should establish clear guidelines to instruct faculty on actions that can and those that should not be undertaken when helping students find employment. Originality/value - Most faculty have no idea that their actions in assisting students find employment could result in potential legal exposure for themselves and their university. This paper offers suggestions to reduce the potential risks.