DOCUMENT 3A
STANDARD LETTER TO BE USED TO REQUEST REFERENCES
It may be necessary to refer to special circumstances which may have resulted in a lack of opportunity to perform to full potential (Appendix I 3.2 – 3.3 and 7.27). Advice on how this should be handled in relation to the request for a reference should be sought from the relevant HR Business Manager in the Human Resources Division. Private and confidential Dear [Name ] in the Faculty/Department of …………………………… has applied for promotion under the University’s annual senior academic promotions scheme to the office of Professor/Reader/University Senior Lecturer. I am accordingly writing to ask if you would be willing to provide a confidential report giving a full and frank appraisal of his/her suitability for promotion. The case for promotion is assessed in relation to the criteria for the office on the basis of the evidence contained in all the relevant documentation. Attached to this letter is the guidance on criteria and evaluative standards used in the assessment of applications for promotion to Professorship/Readership/University Senior Lectureship. In so far as you are familiar with the applicant’s research, teaching and general contribution, it would be especially helpful if you could address the promotion criteria specifically in adducing evidence of suitability for promotion to a Professorship/Readership/University Senior Lectureship. If [ ’s] application meets the criteria for promotion to the office in the area of his/her work with which you are familiar , would you please indicate this in your statement. It would also be helpful if you were able to comment on the size and importance of the applicant‘s field and indicate where the applicant stands in comparison with others working in the same field. If you have personal knowledge of [Name] and of [his/her] work would you please specify the nature of this knowledge, and indicate whether you have had significant collaboration in research. Please have regard, where applicable, to evidence of achievement and contribution since any previous promotion. Committees would expect to see a rising research trajectory, particularly for promotion to Readerships and Professorships. Please note that work in progress or work completed but not yet published cannot be taken into account as part of the evidence for promotion and your comments therefore should avoid any reference to such work. Enclosed for your information is a copy of the documents which constitute […………………’s] application, i.e. the curriculum vitae plus Annexes on research, teaching and general contribution and [__________________’ s] personal statement. If the applicant has ticked the interdisciplinary box on Document 2, it would be helpful if you would indicate the areas of his/her work you are most familiar with. I realise that this request may be an imposition on you, as I am sure you face increasing demands on your time, but we would greatly value your comments on […………………….’s] application. With regard to the confidentiality of your comments and the UK Data Protection Act, 1998, please see the attached slip. Please note that if you do not tick either of the boxes, it will be assumed that, if a request for disclosure of your reference is made, you do not object to your statement being released. It would be particularly helpful if you were able to reply by …………………………………… If you have any queries please contact me at the address above. Yours sincerely
Chair of the Promotions Committee for the Faculty of________________________________ Enclosures: ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
Data Protection disclosure slip (attached to pro-forma letter) Criteria and Evaluative Standards (attached to pro-forma letter) Curriculum vitae and Annexes (Document 1):to be attached: Personal Statement (Document 2): to be attached:
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Enclosure: 3A
CRITERIA AND EVALUATIVE STANDARDS Promotion to a Professorship
Promotion is determined in terms of the criteria on the basis of the evidence contained in all the relevant documentation. A. Criteria
Research/Scholarship: Account may be taken of evidence in relation to research/scholarship regardless of where it has been undertaken. Teaching: Account may be taken of evidence from previous academic employment in the University and/or College(s) in relation to teaching, but not from institutions external to the University. General Contribution: Evidence of contribution to the applicant’s subject other than in teaching and research may include contributions made outside the University. Research/Scholarship There must be clear evidence of established international leadership in the relevant subject with reference to: • originality • contribution to the advancement of knowledge • reputation Teaching * There must be evidence of an effective contribution to undergraduate and/or postgraduate teaching.
*The criterion does not apply to those whose duties do not include teaching or who have been dispensed from discharging teaching duties for a period of at least three years prior to the closing date for the submission of applications.
General Contribution There must be evidence of effective contribution to the subject other than in teaching and research. This may include administration and, where appropriate, management of research groups and the creation and management of multi- institutional/national/international research facilities. It may also include contributions, other than teaching and research, to the subject more widely, for example, widening participation activity and the design and delivery of outreach programmes; also editorial work, and clinical work (if applicable). B. Evaluative Standards
The standards relating to evidence explained below indicate the minimum threshold to be attained if promotion to a Professorship is to be achieved. The number of promotions in any particular year will be determined by the General Board.
Clear evidence Satisfactory evidence Doubt (C) (S) (D)
‘C’, ‘S’ and ‘D’ are to be regarded as a convenient notation for summarising description of achievement in relation to the criteria. ‘C’s in each of the research/scholarship criteria. A ‘C’ in relation to one of the criteria relating to teaching and general contribution and an ‘S’ in the other.*
* A ‘C’ in general contribution for those whose duties do not involve teaching or who have been dispensed from discharging duties for a period of at least three years prior to the closing date for the submission of applications.
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Enclosure: 3A
CRITERIA AND EVALUATIVE STANDARDS Promotion to a Readership
Promotion is determined in terms of the criteria on the basis of the evidence contained in all the relevant documentation. A. Criteria
Research/Scholarship: Account may be taken of evidence in relation to research/scholarship regardless of where it has been undertaken. Teaching: Account may be taken of evidence from previous academic employment in the University and/or College(s) in relation to teaching, but not from institutions external to the University. General Contribution: Evidence of contribution to the applicant’s subject other than in teaching and research may include contributions made outside the University. Research/Scholarship There must be clear evidence of international recognition in the relevant subject with reference to: • originality • contribution to the advancement of knowledge • reputation Teaching * There must be evidence of an effective contribution to undergraduate and/or postgraduate teaching.
*The criterion does not apply to those whose duties do not include teaching or who have been dispensed from discharging teaching duties for a period of at least three years prior to the closing date for the submission of applications.
General Contribution There must be evidence of effective contribution to the subject other than in teaching and research. This may include administration and, where appropriate, management of research groups and the creation and management of multi- institutional/national/international research facilities. It may also include contributions, other than teaching and research, to the subject more widely, for example, widening participation activity and the design and delivery of outreach programmes; also editorial work, and clinical work (if applicable). B. Evaluative Standards
The standards relating to evidence explained below indicate the minimum threshold to be attained if promotion to a Readership is to be achieved. The number of promotions in any particular year will be determined by the General Board.
Clear evidence Satisfactory evidence Doubt
(C) (S) (D)
‘C’, ‘S’ and ‘D’ are to be regarded as a convenient notation for summarising description of achievement in relation to the criteria. ‘C’s in each of the research/scholarship criteria. A ‘C’ in relation to one of the criteria relating to teaching and general contribution and an ‘S’ in the other.*
* A ‘C’ in general contribution for those whose duties do not involve teaching or who have been dispensed from discharging duties for a period of at least three years prior to the closing date for the submission of applications.
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Enclosure: 3A
CRITERIA AND EVALUATIVE STANDARDS Promotion to a University Senior Lectureship
Promotion is determined in terms of the criteria on the basis of the evidence contained in all the relevant documentation.
A.
Criteria
Research/Scholarship: Account may be taken of evidence in relation to research/scholarship regardless of where it has been undertaken. Teaching: Account may be taken of evidence from previous academic employment in the University and/or College(s) in relation to teaching, but not from institutions external to the University. General Contribution: Evidence of contribution to the applicant’s subject other than in teaching and research may include contributions made outside the University.
Research/Scholarship
There must be evidence of achievement in research/scholarship that allows the Faculty or Department to count the applicant as research-active at a level where the work is considered to have an impact of at least a national level of excellence. Teaching There must be evidence of sustained excellence in teaching with reference to: course development and innovation; and the delivery of teaching including, as appropriate, lecturing, conducting seminars, supervising undergraduate and graduate students, and directing studies (if applicable). ‘Sustained excellence in teaching’ may be interpreted as consistently excellent performance across a range of teaching and teaching-related activity. General Contribution There must be evidence of effective contribution to the subject other than in teaching and research. This may include administration and, where appropriate, management of research groups and the creation and management of multi- institutional/national/international research facilities. It may also include contributions, other than teaching and research, to the subject more widely, for example, widening participation activity and the design and delivery of outreach programmes; also editorial work, and clinical work (if applicable).
B.
Evaluative Standards
The standards relating to evidence explained below indicate the minimum threshold to be attained if promotion to a University Senior Lectureship is to be achieved. The number of promotions in any particular year will be determined by the General Board.
Clear evidence Satisfactory evidence Doubt
(C) (S) (D)
Two ‘C’s and one ‘S’.
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Enclosure: 3A (Data Protection Act, 1998)
Slip referred to in letters to referees. [Applicant’s Name]
You are asked to indicate by ticking the appropriate box whether you agree or do not agree to this reference being released to the person in respect of whom the reference is being written. If you do not complete this declaration, it will be assumed that you agree to the release of your reference should the applicant concerned seek disclosure. If you indicate that you do not agree to disclosure, please note that the University will treat your reference in strict confidence in so far as the law permits. However, there may be circumstances, as required by law, under which the University would be required to make a disclosure irrespective of your wishes.
• •
I agree to the release of this reference if the applicant concerned seeks disclosure.
This reference is provided in confidence and I do not agree to the release of this reference if the applicant concerned seeks disclosure.
Signed……………………………………………….. [Referee’s Name]
Date __________________________________
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