Portfolio Development - Invasion of Privacy?

[sheep overboard]

At my school (in New York State) - I am currently enrolled in in a class that I feel is invading my privacy. The class itself is Professional Procedures and Portfolio Development, and the purposes of the class is to get us soon-to-be-graduating students to create a resume/portfolio and be able to evaluate our strengths in order to sell them in an interview.

Second week of class, the head of career services walks in and tells us to fill out a whole bunch of paperwork. She said it was for statistical purposes, so that ITT can tell future students that "95% of students get a job in their field after graduation" or some bullshit like that. The paperwork also wanted to know our current place of employment, permission to contact our bosses (both now and one year from now.) We were told that in a year, they would also have our bosses evaluate us and would negotiate a raise.

Only three of us, including myself, in a class of 30 actually have in-field jobs. I do not feel comfortable with this process and refused to sign any paperwork. Let's face it - the economy does suck, and I'm not risking getting canned because my school wants to be nosy - a job that I found on my own outside of career services. I was told by the head of career services that if I do not sign the paperwork and thus allow them to invade my private (work) life that I would not be allowed in the future to use career services. Ever. This is not something I was told when I signed up almost two years ago, and I don't remember signing anything that backs up their point.

In the class, we are required to seek out ten job openings in our field, apply with a resume and follow up through an interview. Wait - now we HAVE to score interviews outside of our mock interviews? I thought this class was for personal growth. When I said this to career services they, 1) had the nerve to ask me if I liked my job and; 2) said that they would find out my employer's information and contact them regardless - by going through my financial aid paperwork. Whoa.

The bottom line is if I don't score ten interviews (with proof), if I don't give them my employer information and if I choose to block out my current employer information on the resume to go into my portfolio, I will fail the class. Again, not told this when I signed up for the school and it certainly isn't listed in the course description. (I know - giving up my school location information on this one, but here's our course catalog: http://www.itt-tech.edu/campus/download/094.pdf)


I post this because I am wondering if anyone else has gone through this at their schools, or if this is solely something pertaining to my career services department. I don't feel that I should be at risk of a diminished or failing grade because I choose to keep work and school separate. I know this isn't legal, I just don't know what parts are and what parts aren't - and if anyone can help me in my case I would be really grateful.

Thanks.

[aka name]

I was told by the head of career services that if I do not sign the paperwork and thus allow them to invade my private (work) life that I would not be allowed in the future to use career services. Ever.

That's messed-up. I've never heard of anything remotely similar to her demand, in college or otherwise. When I was at ITT I completed some mock interviews and submitted 10 copies of my resume. At the university, job search skill classes were completely voluntary.

Unless you can get some sort of waiver (test out?) you'll have to do the interviews. Maybe your boss will understand if he is informed of the class requirements.