Guidance on Letters of Evaluation

                                     i.  For promotion candidates
               
          Please provide a list of 3-5 potential letter writers from each category when you submit your narrative and CV to DPAC 
          for a preliminary review. The list should include name, academic rank, institution and email address. It is not your 
          responsibiilty to solicit the letters; these requests will come from the department.

                                            1.   Below are basic descriptions of each category, see here for more detail from UMass-Chan:  

a.  Category 1 letter writers are attestations from colleagues or current/recent collaborators who know you well and want to support your promotion. These are usually one rank ahead of you, but not always.

b.  Category 2 letter writers provide an external letter of review, also known as "arm’s length” letter writers. Category 2 letter writers MUST attest that they have done no collaboration or shared work with you for at least 3 years, and may not know you personally at all. They should all be at least AT the rank you are applying for (ONE RANK  ahead of you). Click here to download a checklist to help you prepare Category 2 letters. Talk to your supervisor and mentors about who might meet these criteria, and please let DPAC know if you have trouble identifying category 2 letter writers. 

                                                        i. STFM also has a letter writers’ bureau. To access it, please visit the STFM website, log into the “quick consult” and choose "letters for promotion."

c.   Category 3 letters are optional. They are written by learners or mentees who can attest to your effectiveness in 
 educational activities. 

                                               
     ii.   For letter writers

  1.   Academic Promotion:
  a. Here is an article about Writing an External Letter of Review for Promotion 

        b. Here is a template for writing an external letter of review.

  2.   Academic appointment:
  a. Here is a template for writing a letter of recommendation for appointment