Letters of Recommendation
Requesting a Letter of Recommendation From Dr. Harrison
I know how important letters of recommendation are, and I am always honored to have the opportunity to contribute in this way. Due to the many requests that I get each semester along with the amount of time it takes to write a thoughtful, thorough, personalized letter, I have specific criteria that you must meet before I will agree to write a letter of recommendation for you.
Required Criteria
Please read the following criteria very carefully before requesting a letter of recommendation from me:
You have completed at least two of my 3 unit courses at CCSF or you have completed one course, and you are currently close to finishing the second. If you are currently enrolled in your first class with me, I will not be able to write a letter for you. I recommend that you, instead, request a letter from a professor who knows you better at this time and/or think of me again in the future.
In the 3 unit courses you have completed with me, you earned the final letter grade "A."
You have had individual contact with me which has allowed me to get to know you beyond your grades, such as office hour visits, at least several emails discussing course material (or other course related or personal issues, such as academic and career goals), talking to me before or after class, participating substantially in class discussions, etc. In other words, you have distinguished yourself and established a connection with me by interacting with me, allowing me to get to know you. In order for me to write a letter for you, I need to know you beyond that you were a student in my class. In short, if you came to class, but never interacted with me, I will not be able to write a letter for you.
The deadline for your letter is in three weeks or more. If your letter is due in less than three weeks from the time I receive and read your request, I will not be able to write the letter. You must give me at least three weeks to write it. Because of my schedule and work load, I cannot consider any other requests.
You have a complete list of letter recipients. This means that you have finished making your decisions about the schools, scholarships, etc. to which you are applying, and you can send me the complete list of recipients in one email (see below). If you are still deciding upon schools or scholarships and are planning on sending me recipients one at a time as you decide, I cannot agree to write you a letter of recommendation. The piecemeal approach to requesting letters from me has led to problems and doesn't work for me. If I write you a letter now, and then you decide you would like another letter from me next year, however, that is fine.
The last time you were a student in one of my courses was within the past 5 years.
You do not need the letter during a school break. This means that the three weeks I need to get your letter ready fall outside school vacation breaks, which are spring break, summer break, and winter break. For various reasons, I am unavailable and unreliable during school breaks. If you need your letter during a break, I am not able to write it for you.
Required Information
If you meet the above criteria and would like to request a letter of recommendation, send an email to lharriso@ccsf.edu. In the subject line type "Letter of Recommendation."
In your email message, describe clearly what the letter is for (i.e., school, job, scholarship, etc.). Then list the following information:
Your full name. If I know you by a nickname or a chosen name, let me know whether I should use that name or your given name when I refer to you in the letter.
Courses taken with me, the semester and year you took the courses, and final grades.
Letter due date (again, must be 3 weeks or more from date of request). If you are applying to multiple schools, include each due date next to each school in your completed list of recipients. Please list schools in order of letter due date; the school with the soonest due date should be listed first. The same applies to scholarships.
Addressee or recipient of the letter (specific name and address, please). If the letter is for a common application system, you may skip this. Otherwise, I think it is important to address the letter to the specific institution or party.
If applicable, volunteer work, internships, and/or jobs you have had.
Any information about you that I might not know or remember that you would want me to mention (e.g., you are the first in your family to attend college, you are an honors student, etc.).
An email address you check regularly in case I have questions for you and so that I can contact you when the letter is complete.
Specific instructions from the school, job scholarship committee, etc. about what should be included in or the focus of the letter.
Letter Submission
Please be very clear about how the letter(s) should be submitted. Most letter recipients want letters emailed or uploaded into a special online system they use. If that's the case, then the recipient will send me an email letting me know where to upload the letter. If the recipient requires that a hard copy be mailed via USPS, I will need pre-addressed stamped envelopes for each letter.
Sometimes a special form is required. If so, you will need to email me the form. Be sure to fill out your section of the form before sending it to me.
When I receive your email request I will promptly respond via email once I determine that I can write the letter for you. If you meet the above outlined criteria and provide me with the requested information, I will be happy to write you a letter!