Guidelines for Letters of Recommendation

General Guidelines
The recommendation should be on official letterhead and should be addressed to the HAPS Award & Scholarships Committee. 

Frequently Asked Questions regarding Faculty Letters of Recommendation

Q – What is meant by the term appropriate administrator? A – An appropriate administrator would include a Department Chair, an Assistant Dean, a Dean or any other supervisor who is above the applicant in rank and who has knowledge of the applicant’s teaching of anatomy and physiology and related academic work at the applicant’s current institution or a recent previous institution. 

Q – What is meant by the term colleague?  A – A colleague would include a fellow faculty member who has knowledge of the applicant’s teaching of anatomy and physiology and relevant additional academic activities at the institution. Current or previous students are not considered to be colleagues and cannot write a letter on the applicant’s behalf.

Q – What is meant by the term mentor? A – A mentor would include a past colleague, a graduate advisor, or another person of equal or higher rank who has interacted with the applicant significantly to help you in any aspect of the applicant’s academic role.  This individual should have knowledge of the applicant’s current or recent past teaching of anatomy and physiology and related additional academic activities.

Q – What information should be included in the letter of recommendation? A – Please include the following in a faculty recommendation letter: Comments regarding how the applicant will benefit from attending the HAPS Annual Conference, Comments on the applicant’s teaching methods related to Anatomy and Physiology, Mention of any innovative teaching techniques used by the applicant, Examples of the applicant’s interactions with students, and nformation about the applicant’s interactions with other faculty members, including mentoring.

Frequently Asked Questions regarding Student/Postdoc Letters of Recommendation

Q – What is meant by the term advisor? A – An advisor is the primary individual overseeing the research of an undergraduate or graduate student.  

Q – What is meant by the term faculty mentor? A – A faculty mentor is a faculty member other than the advisor, who has interacted with the applicant and has knowledge of his or her research and other academic activities related to Anatomy and Physiology.

Q – What is meant by the term employer?   A – An employer would include someone currently overseeing the work of a postdoctoral student.

Q – What information should be included in the letter of recommendation? A – Please include the following in a student or postdoc recommendation letter: Comments on the applicant’s undergraduate or graduate studies and research, For applicants who are teaching assistants, mention of any feedback the letter writer has received related to the applicant’s interactions with students in the anatomy and physiology classroom or laboratory, Examples of applicant’s interactions with other undergraduate or graduate students and with faculty, and comments regarding how the applicant will benefit from attending the HAPS Annual Conference