The letter should contain the Unit Head’s independent evaluation of the candidate’s teaching, scholarship, service, and/or leadership and administration, and should make a clear recommendation supported by the reasons for it.
The Unit Head’s letter is most useful when it places the performance of the candidate in the context of the Unit or discipline, and it comments on the AEP Review Committee’s report. While the letter may summarize the basic information about the case, it should provide an honest and balanced assessment in a clearly stated recommendation. The Unit Head should also attempt to explain reasons for negative faculty votes and abstentions when they are known. If the candidate filed an objection to an external evaluator who was subsequently chosen by the Unit, the Unit Head’s Letter should note this objection.