Preparing a Dossier

Dossiers for successful nominees differ, but all dossiers should contain:

• a nomination letter that

  • explains clearly and succinctly the nature, significance, and impact of the nominee’s scholarship or creative work in language appropriate for review by colleagues who are not skilled in the nominee’s discipline, and

  • provides an overview of the dossier;

• an up-to-date curriculum vita;

• copies of the nominee’s major publications or other evidence of creative activity (e.g., museum catalogs, exhibit guides); and

• reference letters

Reference Letters

One of the most important components of successful nomination dossiers are evaluations by peers, especially recognized leaders in the discipline. The Committee expects six to ten reference letters, but the number of letters is not as important as their quality, specificity, and the qualifications of the references. The Committee recommends that:

• referees should be at top-ranked institutions and highly regarded in the nominee’s field

• one or more letters should come from outside of the United States

• there should be a summary statement reflecting the expertise of each referee

• the letters should articulate the importance and impact of the nominee’s scholarly and creative work

• the letters should address the national and international reputation of the nominee and the nominee’s standing in his or her discipline

• in no event should the letters merely restate facts from the curriculum vita or focus on the nominee’s teaching or service

• letters from colleagues in related disciplines should be included if they help make clear that the distinction is important to more than one field

• a limited number of letters from within the University can be helpful if they come from the nominee’s chair or dean, or from highly regarded colleagues in the nominee’s field

• as a general matter, letters should not be solicited from anyone whose work is currently supervised by the nominee or who has published extensively with the nominee

Presentation Format

The dossier should be clearly organized so that the various components are easy to locate and review.