New Guidelines on Letters of Recommendation

MLA President Margaret Ferguson and the Executive Council have released new guidelines for writers, readers, and requesters of letters of recommendation. Shaped by comments received from MLA members during a comment period on MLA Commons, the guidelines urge job seekers and letter writers to communicate early about deadlines, necessary background materials, and the logistics of transmitting letters. The document also suggests limiting the number of recommendation letters requested for most positions and requiring letters only at a later stage of the selection process. We encourage you to read the guidelines and to share them with your students and colleagues.