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[synecdoche]

I'm an adjunct, in my second year of teaching, and less than a year removed from defending. In one of the classes I teach this semester, a student approached me asking for a reference letter. It isn't for anything like law, medical, or graduate school; it is just for an exchange program my university has.

I told her then that I couldn't say yes or no yet—the term paper for the course, another significant assignment, and the final exam, were still to come. I received her final assignment this week, and graded it last night. It's not great. It's not awful—I've seen worse—but in the high C / low B range a grade that, looking back on the semester, is fairy consistent for her.

I'm now wondering what to do about her request for a reference letter. I told her initially to contact me again after the class was over and I would be better able to judge. Right now, the fact is, she's just not a stand-out student. She's a nice enough person, and attends class diligently, but her assignments just aren't great. Nor did she spend a lot of time talking to me during office hours or anything like that about how to get better. So, I'm a bit wary of giving her a strong reference letter. Nevertheless, it is just an exchange program and for all I know it might be an experience that really helps her grow as a student. I don't know if I want to deny her that opportunity.

Any advice? I've been asked for a couple of reference letters before, and—after pointing out to the students that because I'm just an adjunct my letter might not mean much to some evaluating committees—I have been happy to provide them. But, so far only students who are doing quite well in my class have bothered to ask. This is the first time I've really considered saying no, but I'm still torn.

[zharkov]

Tell the student that you always mention performance in class and that reporting a grade of B- (say) would not be in her best interest in a reference letter.  Give her a letter under those conditions while suggesting she should seek another letter writer.

[spinnaker]

/

[polly_mer]

I told her initially to contact me again after the class was over and I would be better able to judge. Right now, the fact is, she's just not a stand-out student. She's a nice enough person, and attends class diligently, but her assignments just aren't great. Nor did she spend a lot of time talking to me during office hours or anything like that about how to get better. So, I'm a bit wary of giving her a strong reference letter. Nevertheless, it is just an exchange program and for all I know it might be an experience that really helps her grow as a student. I don't know if I want to deny her that opportunity.

Tell your student this.  You are willing to write the letter, but it's not going to be a strong letter since you don't know her well enough to speak to intangible qualities and the tangible qualities you've seen are that she's a middling student.

If it makes you feel better, I have written letters of recommendation as a non-TT person for middling students, who then were selected for the program or whatever.  However, those students had shown themselves to be strong in intangibles like enthusiasm for other endeavors, which I knew by extensive conversations during student hours and discussions during class, so that I could write a strong letter of recommendation. 

If the best you can do for this student is "She seems like a nice person and exchange programs are wonderful opportunities", then tell the student that and let her decide that you aren't a good choice.

[wet_blanket]

Since it's an exchange program and not grad/professional school, is the grade a big deal?  If she's getting high C's/low B's because she's a slacker, then she's not a good candidate for an exchange.  But if she struggles with your subject and works really hard for that  grade, or she's taking the "C's get degrees" approach so she can run a non-profit on the side, then she might be a great exchange student.

Of course, if as Polly_Mer says, if you don't know her well enough to speak to anything other than her performance in class, then she probably should find someone else.

[zuzu_]

If I were approached to write a letter like this, I would do it--so long is the student is pleasant and of average (or better) academic aptitude.

Reference letters like this are entirely different than reference letters for grad school or academic jobs. The decision to accept the student is unlikely to hinge on recommendation letters, and the kinds of qualities the decision makers are seeking are not necessarily the same kinds of qualities that make top-notch scholars and colleagues.

I would say things like the student attended class regularly, completed all assignments satisfactorily, was attentive and respectful in class, seemed friendly and sociable to other students, seems mature, etc. etc.

When writing letters like this, I would also give a copy to the student.  If the student finds the letter to be too lukewarm, s/he can always decide not to use it.

[hegemony]

I'd say do it.  I'm one of the decisions people for an exchange like this.  It's a little bit competitive but not very -- that is, B students stand quite a good chance.  What you want to do is to put her grades in context: is she a responsible student who tries hard (even if maybe she's not a crackerjack intellect), or is she a slacker who always tries to get away with stuff?  The exchange will really want to know if she'll apply herself and take her studies seriously, not if she's the brightest student you've ever had. 

[glowdart]

I'd say do it.  I'm one of the decisions people for an exchange like this.  It's a little bit competitive but not very -- that is, B students stand quite a good chance.  What you want to do is to put her grades in context: is she a responsible student who tries hard (even if maybe she's not a crackerjack intellect), or is she a slacker who always tries to get away with stuff?  The exchange will really want to know if she'll apply herself and take her studies seriously, not if she's the brightest student you've ever had. 

This is my experience with these letters as well.  Will she be running wild in the streets of Paris all day everyday making offensive comments about fur'ners and freedom fries while paying someone to take her classes for her?  That might be all they want to know.

[larryc]

I'd write the letter. The program could well be a turning point for her.

[spinnaker]

I usually write the letter for anyone doing acceptable work. If the letter sounds perfunctory more than full of enthusiasm, the reader will pick up on it. I knew a prof who said "I don't do letters of recommendation" when asked by someone he wouldn't recommend. I knew another who would write a letter of dis-recommendation - brutal!

[burnie]

In my experience, exchange programs aren't concerned with academic excellence as much as ensuring that they aren't unleashing demented, lazy, party students on a foreign city.  In other words, it's often more of a character reference than an academic one.  Does your campus have a study abroad site that explains the requirements and expectations?  If so, I'd suggest reading it to see if your student demonstrates good qualities you can honestly speak to in a letter.  If not, then tell her no, and don't feel bad about it.  But it could be that a very honest letter from you would still help her to go, but would make the staff more aware of her abilities and needs which would help them to better help her.    Sometimes those programs have a form rather than a letter, which I find to be helpful.

[tuxedo_cat]

In my experience, exchange programs aren't concerned with academic excellence as much as ensuring that they aren't unleashing demented, lazy, party students on a foreign city.  In other words, it's often more of a character reference than an academic one.  Does your campus have a study abroad site that explains the requirements and expectations?  If so, I'd suggest reading it to see if your student demonstrates good qualities you can honestly speak to in a letter.  If not, then tell her no, and don't feel bad about it.  But it could be that a very honest letter from you would still help her to go, but would make the staff more aware of her abilities and needs which would help them to better help her.    Sometimes those programs have a form rather than a letter, which I find to be helpful.

+1.   Ask to see the student's own application materials, which usually include some kind of essay about why she has chosen to go to that country / school / program and what she hopes to get out of it.  I often end up commenting on these sorts of things:

* how well I know the student (how many classes, how much conversation outside of class)
* skills of social interaction (student's ability to ask strangers for assistance, e.g.)
* ability to adapt to new circumstances and challenges of living abroad
* maturity and seriousness as student
* other experiences with travel (perhaps mentioned in her own essay)
* having a positive attitude
* openness to new ideas, and thus perhaps new cultural experiences
* evaluation of the student's own expressed plans

This doesn't have to be a long letter, like a recommendation letter for grad school.  I agree with others that this experience could be a transformative one for this student, so I would encourage you to support her unless she really does seem terribly irresponsible or immature. 

And once you've written this sort of letter, the next time another student asks you for a similar letter of support for study abroad or an exchange program (which will happen), you've got a template on hand which can be adapted easily.

[lasquires]

I've written many of these letters as a graduate student instructor. These programs generally want someone who has worked with the student somewhat closely, and for many freshmen and sophomores at big universities, the best option is the adjunct or PhD student who teaches their comp section.

You might also have a line in there about how the student would be a good representative of the program/university.

[penultimate24]

I understand being torn. I usually ask the student for a resume and/or to chat with me as to why they want to visit another country. If I get a sense that they excel in other areas, have enthusiasm, and have done reasonably well with me in my class, I write the letter.

Now, I write a fair letter (to other poster's points), which may be mediocre, esp. when discussing their work in my class.

However, did they participate a lot? Did they have a good attendance record? I would try to balance the 'ugly truths' with some positives--if possible.

If few to no positives are available...then...perhaps decline the letter. It isn't fair to write a letter which is mostly negative. I would direct them to another prof who's class they have done better in. If you can explain that aside from grades, they are being declined on other factors (i.e. attendance which was poor) they may accept and understand your refusal.