Reference Letter Policy

Who qualifies for a reference from me?

The following may roughly be used to determine whether one qualifies for a reference letter. Those who score at least two points with the following scoring system:

• +1 for each course taken from me
• +1 for doing their final year project under my supervision
• +1 per year for graduate studies under my supervision

Exceptions to these rule may be granted in the case that you have done exceptionally well in one of the activities listed...

Please do not ask me for a reference letter after only one class!


I meet the requirements, should I ask for a letter?

DO NOT ASK ME FOR A REFERENCE LETTER IF...

• you often talk in class or use your phone when you should be listening
• you are often absent or late, without documented reasons
• you do not participate regularly in class
• you fail to submit assignments or submit them late
• you write careless email messages without a greeting or signature (eg. “i wasnt in class today did I miss anything”)
• you are not an engaged, attentive student who tries hard, is polite and treats the people around you with consideration

I AM HAPPY TO GIVE YOU A REFERENCE LETTER IF...

• you are always attentive in class, with your phone off and your ears open
• you attend class and are punctual, with very occasional exceptions
• you ask questions when you don’t understand things
• you always do your work and make an effort to respond to questions about it, whether or not you “get it right”
• you come to me for extra help when you need it, or you seek help from the TA
• you inform me in advance when you know you will miss a class or be late, and you make an effort to catch up on what you miss
• you are an engaged, attentive student who tries hard, is polite and treats the people around you with consideration. When writing you a reference letter, I do not care about your grades. I care about how hard you try and how much you learn.