Re: Letters of Reccomendation -Reply

["MULLIN ANNE" <MULLANNE@AD.isu.edu>]

I'm so glad this thread came up -- it's very useful and timely for me 
right now as I'm on a search committee and have just arranged to have 
our new placement director come talk to my tutors about various kinds 
of writing for job applications. Anyway -- I guess I feel the way 
Sara Kimball does -- I enjoy writing letters for my tutors, but 
I do try to explain clearly what kinds of things I know they have done 
(limiting the liability, as it were).  To refresh my memory (hmmmm-- 
more necessary every semester!!!!) I draw from  the 
self-evaluation forms they fill out at the end of each semester, plus 
any notes I or their fellow tutors have made during observations. 

But, it's sure harder to do this for students who have not been my 
tutors -- and Jeanne's wisdom on that score is right on -- we "just say 
no" --???? (or let the candidate take the consequences that we'll be 
honest about problems).