Letter of reference: who to ask?

In My Humble Opinion
1

There is a full-time college math instructor position I want to apply for. One of the items I need to turn in with my application is “three letters of reference, one of which must address teaching.”

I’ve taught part-time at a local community college since January of last year. My first quarter didn’t go so great, as I had had no previous experience. I’ve been steadily improving since then, and the student evaluations reflect this (for the most part; there are always students who won’t like you no matter what).

Also, at the end of my first quarter there was an incident… without going into a huge amount of detail, basically I caught a couple of students cheating during the final, so I gave them both zeros. They complained to the department, and apparently I hadn’t followed procedures correctly (which I had not been made aware of beforehand). The point is, ever since this episode, and combined with the poor evals that first quarter, I’ve felt that I’m not the department chair’s favorite person.

Anyway, I’ve seen the department chair maybe three times in the past year, in passing. Since my student evaluations have improved considerably, I was hopeful that he would provide me with a letter of reference. I emailed him three days ago, and haven’t gotten a response.*

Now, my understanding is there is a difference between a Letter of Reference and a Letter of Recommendation. A Letter of Reference would only need to say something like “yes, GESancMan works here, and his evaluations state that he is a competent teacher.” Or perhaps I am totally wrong.

My question is, who else might I ask for such a letter? I was evaluated by a full-time teacher, also during that first quarter, and he gave me a good review (better than I deserved, IMO). I’ve been in touch with him from time to time, but I don’t feel we know each other well enough – and besides, he observed me one time, that’s it.

I’ve started working at another local college, just this quarter. They don’t even know me yet. I’ve had a faculty evaluation already, and the instructor who conducted the evaluation says I did well, but I just met him last week – when he showed up in my class. I don’t think it would be appropriate to ask him.

There are several professors at my university, where I just completed my MS this past December, who would give me a recommendation – but I never taught there, so they aren’t qualified to address my teaching. I’ve got the other two letters covered, at least…

Is anyone here in a position where you hire instructors? What might you recommend?

*ETA: when I’ve emailed him in the past, he’s usually quick to respond.

2

I don’t have a whole lot to offer you, except that Wikipedia says that a letter of recommendation and a letter of reference are largely the same thing, just that a letter of reference is more general/vague (although the impression I got from the admittedly short article was that a letter of reference is not general/vague enough to just be an endorsement of the fact that you worked there).

Some thoughts: Was there anyone at your old school who was above you but below the department chair? Anyone else who might have seen your evals? If not, I would go with the faculty member at the new place who just evaluated you. Does sound like a rough spot you’re in though, sorry. I hope you get the job anyway!

3

Yeah. I also think that a letter of recommendation might also be a letter of reference. I also had to acquire three recommendation/reference letters recently. Fortunately, it was indicated that I have to get one from a former professor/teacher in college, one from my immediate head/employer, and one from a person eminent in my profession.
Can’t you go to your department chair personally?

4

Yes, I could, and probably should. But… would you rather be rejected via email, or in person?

If it comes down to it, I suppose I’ll have to. I’d rather come up with an alternative if I can.

5

Your department chair might find you harder to turn down in person. Especially if you come prepared with as much background material as possible, so that the letter can talk about your teaching philosophy and other things.

Failing that, ask the teacher who observed you.

Or even anyone who is kinda, sorta like a buddy as well as a co-worker.

The important thing to remember is this: you are at a stage in your career where finding someone who really knows you and your teaching well is hard to get. This may or may not be true of your competitors for the position, but doesn’t make you weird, just pretty darn new at teaching.

6

If someone is not immediately enthusiastic about (or at least amenable to) writing you a letter of recommendation, I would not press the issue in person. You might get your department chair to agree to do it if you ask in person, but he then might write a “damning with faint praise” kind of letter.

I’d go with the person who observed you.

7

I use “letter of recommendation” and “letter of reference” completely synonymously (academic setting). I also agree with the sentiment that resistance to writing a letter is usually a sign that you should ask someone else. It’s annoying in this case that the feedback is indirect (that is, your chair didn’t say, “I don’t have time right now” or anything), but if he’s usually responsive, that might be evidence enough. You’d have to make the call based on what you know of him. You could give him a chance to opt-out in a follow-up email, with something like (paraphrased) “I’m writing to follow-up about the letter of reference. Let me know if you don’t think you’ll have time to write one in the coming couple of weeks, and I’ll ask someone else.”

8

Ok, thanks everyone for setting me straight on the non-difference between reference and recommendation.

I got a reply from the chair this afternoon: “Yes, you can use me as a reference. However, my evaluation of you will be that you’re an okay instructor, so the recommendation will not be glowing. I would love to talk to you about this in person.”

I’m meeting with him next week. We’ll see what comes of it.

9

I think it’s very encouraging that he told you his recommendation would not be glowing and that he wants to discuss it with you. Many times “damning with faint praise” letters go out with no indication to the requestor that this is the case. At least he was open with you. That’s good. Good luck in your meeting, and with the job.

10

Well chairs/heads are like that. They are usually not that enthusiastic to write a recommendation letter for someone. In my experience of course. I asked for a recommendation letter from our college dean once. She told me that I should write the letter myself and that she’s just going to sign it if its okay. Well good luck to you.

11

I think you need to make sure your other letters of reference are as glowing as humanly possible given that this one won’t be.

Also, come as prepared as you can be to show that you have improved since then.

And consider asking the other full-time teacher for a letter as well–although I bet his letter won’t be glowing either.