P&T Follow-up: Promotion Evaluation of Tenured Associate Professor

DATE

NAME
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE, ZIP

Dear NAME:

I want to thank you for agreeing to assist us by providing an assessment of the work of [NAME OF FACULTY], a candidate for Promotion to Full Professor in [UNIT¹].

Enclosed you will find a copy of [NAME OF FACULTY's] current vitae and a statement in which the candidate describes the impact and significance of their contributions. I have also provided a link to a secure SharePoint folder containing [BRIEFLY LIST CONTENTS; YOU CAN ALSO INCLUDE THE LINK HERE]. Let us know if you have any trouble accessing the contents of this folder. I can also send you hard copies if that is what you prefer.

I have attached a copy of a signed waiver form. [NAME OF FACULTY's] signature indicates that they have [SUMMARIZE THE WAIVERS, IF ANY, THAT THE CANDIDATE HAS SIGNED]. We shall consider your reply to be confidential to the extent permitted by law and the signed waiver. Your letter will become part of [NAME OF FACULTY's] promotion file. This file will be evaluated by a faculty review committee within our department [ALTER THIS PHRASE IF JOINTLY APPOINTED], the College Promotion and Tenure Committee and Dean, the Executive Vice Chancellor, and the Chancellor.

Our promotion and tenure guidelines provide the following criteria for promotion to the rank of professor: "the candidate should be an accomplished teacher, where teaching is an assigned responsibility, and have a significant record of scholarly and creative work in teaching, research, and service in keeping with the individual's job responsibilities." The candidate's appointment at UNL includes the following apportionment of duties: XX% research, XX% teaching, XX% service XX% extension, and/or XX% administration². As an R1 research institution, the achieved quality and trajectory of our faculty research is very important, and we are looking for your expert evaluation of the candidate's scholarly accomplishments and potential for further scholarly growth and achievement.

In particular, we seek an independent evaluation of:

• The quality, significance, and impact of [CANDIDATE's] research and creative activity to date. The assessment can consider the entire career but should place emphasis on the period since promotion to associate professor.
• The candidate's trajectory and prospects for scholarly growth and achievement.
• The candidate's national or international reputation, if appropriate to the subject of their work.
• Other factors you believe may be of importance in evaluating the candidate's capabilities, accomplishments, and reputation.

Please begin your review by identifying your current rank and institutional affiliation and the relationship, if any, that you have with [NAME OF FACULTY] (e.g., dissertation or postdoc advisor, current or past collaborator, or former colleague). If at all possible, we would like to receive your assessment of [NAME OF FACULTY's] work by [AN APPROPRIATE DATE GIVEN THE UNL AND COLLEGE PROMOTION AND TENURE SCHEDULE]. You may send the review to me by e-mail [E-MAIL ADDRESS] or by FAX to [FAX NUMBER].

We know that these reviews are time consuming and we thank you for your help with this very important evaluation. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

[NAME]
[TITLE, e.g., “Professor and Chair"]

Cc: (if candidate is jointly appointed) [CHAIR OR DIRECTOR OF SECOND UNIT] OR DIRECTOR OF SECOND UNIT IF JOINT APPOINTMENT]