A reference type describes the relationship between an applicant and the person providing a reference, such as Academic, Professional, or Personal. Reference types are shared across every award in your account, so they are not tied to one award. On the application process, you require a reference, choose its type, and set how many references applicants must provide. For the form and emails a reference uses after the request is sent, see Reference Processes and Their Emails. When you set a number of references on the application process, all of them are required. You cannot require one reference while letting the applicant add extra optional references of the same or another type.
Where to Find It
Go to Setup › References › Types to view your organization’s reference types. Select Create Reference Type to add one.
Prerequisites
You need the Awards administrator permission to manage reference types. Staff without that permission can still see and choose reference types in other places, such as the Add a Reference dialog on an application and the application process editor.
Creating and Naming a Type
Enter a name. Rhythm uses the name to create a permanent identifier, which can include only letters, digits, underscores, colons, vertical bars, and hyphens. Rhythm refuses any other character.
The identifier must be unique across your account, but two reference types can have the same name. Reference types apply to every award, and you cannot limit a type to one award.
Renaming a Type
Open the type and change its name. Renaming a type does not affect references that already use it, because the identifier stays the same. If you need a different identifier, create a new reference type.
If someone else saves the type while you are editing it, Rhythm refuses your save and tells you the record has changed since you retrieved it. Reopen the type, then make your change again.
Tip
After you rename a type, some screens can briefly show the old name until the change catches up everywhere.
Switching a Type Off
When you turn off a type’s active switch, Rhythm stops offering that type for new reference requirements on an application process. The type stays where it is already used, so existing requirements keep it, and the Add a Reference dialog on an application still offers it. Rhythm does not warn you when a type is still required somewhere before you switch it off.
Deleting a Type
Reference types do not have a display order. Rhythm always lists them by name, so there is nothing to reorder.
Rhythm refuses to delete a type while any reference, named referee, or application process requirement still uses it. Deleting a type removes only the type itself and never removes any other record. You cannot undo a delete from the Console.
Change Impact and How to Revert
A rename or active-switch change takes effect immediately. It changes how Rhythm offers the type going forward, but it never changes a reference already on file. You cannot reverse a delete from the Console, so confirm that nothing still needs the type before you remove it.
Permissions
You need the Awards administrator permission to open reference type setup. Staff without that permission can still use reference types day to day, such as picking one in the Add a Reference dialog or choosing one for an application process’s reference requirement. They cannot create, rename, or delete the reference type list.
Validation and Errors
| What you see | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The Console warns the identifier already exists | Another reference type in your account already uses that identifier | Choose a different name, or accept the identifier Rhythm suggests |
| The save is refused for an invalid identifier | The identifier includes a character other than letters, digits, underscores, colons, vertical bars, or hyphens | Use only those characters |
| "This record has changed since you retrieved it" | Someone else saved the type while you had it open | Reopen the type and make your change again |
| The Console shows a generic delete failure | A reference, named referee, or application process requirement still uses the type | Remove the dependent record first, or leave the type in place |