In most tenure processes in the United States, candidates for promotion with tenure are asked to recommend three to four potential letter writers.
Candidates receive scant guidance on whom to pick, other than the letter writer should:
1. Know your research,
2. Be of some stature in the field,
3. Work at a peer or better institution; and,
4. Be willing to say yes.
While these seem simple, they can be challenging to adhere to.
You never know if someone is aware of your work, you do not know if someone has ‘stature’ in the field as defined by your institution, you may not know whom your Dean considers a peer institution, and it’s hard to know if they will say yes.
I recall agonizing over who to ask for as letter writers & having conversations about whom to pick with my senior faculty.
Now, more than a decade later, I have a better understanding of the process and a few tips for minimizing uncertainty and making sound recommendations.
Tip one. Be visible in the field.
It’s hard to expect someone to know your work if you never attend a conference or workshop.
Tip two. Write reviews.
Senior editors tend to be people of substance in your discipline. If you have written good answers on time reviews, it’s easier to write a positive letter.
Tip three. Talk to your advisor.
Five years post-graduation, you may not interact with them much.
However, your #phdadvisor should know the landscape of the field & who might find your work interesting.
They should also know who your peer schools are.
Tip four. Ask your advisor or a senior person for help.
I’ve had my students and other people ask for suggestions for #externalletterwriters.
The smart students will ask me to confirm they can write a letter.
What does that mean? Usually, I ask for a short call or send a CV to the person and ask if they think the record merits tenure.
Tip five. Ask who is known for writing bad letters.
A bad letter does not consider your record or it does not show up at all.
If asked, people at your school often will share who failed to submit letters to your school in the past.
Tip six. Plan.
Clearly, this takes time to suss out. Often many senior people will only write a letter or two a year. You need to lay the groundwork well in advance or your preferred letter writers may be booked up.
Pro tip. Many letter requests go out in the Spring of the year before you are eligible for promotion. So make your asks early.
Tip seven. Be prepared.
Some letter writers will want a short statement of what you have done well. You will need this in your tenure application.
Prepare your #tenure materials now & refine them. Sloppy materials are hard to assess & send signals that perhaps, you don’t merit tenure.
If you engage with the field, solicit #seniorfaculty advice, and prepare your requests & materials in advance, you’ll find the #tenureprocess less stressful.
Best of luck!
Comments