Faculty Referrals
Faculty members may recommend a student for an award by emailing the Office of Prestigious Awards at prestigiousawards@miami.edu. Please include the student's name, year, and, if possible, C number in your recommendation. You do not have to have a specific award in mind, but you can recommend students of promise. The office will work to connect those students to award opportunities. A confirmation e-mail will be sent once your referral has been received.
Advice for Letters of Recommendation
Please consult the Faculty Guide on writing letters of recommendation for advice on how best to support your student’s application for a nationally competitive fellowships.
Invitation to Write
Because of the extremely competitive nature of national and international fellowships, strong letters of recommendation are vital to the success of the student’s application. Letters often tip the balance. We appreciate that composing a detailed recommendation letter requires a great deal of time and thought. If a student approaches you appropriately for a reference, but you believe that you do not know the student well enough to write a detailed letter, or if you prefer not to take the time to write a detailed letter, please decline the request. You might assist by helping the student think about alternative referees. Because much is at stake for the student, we encourage your acceptance of the invitation if you feel yourself to be a qualified referee.
A Note About Who Will See Your Letter
As your write, consider that your letter will be read by colleagues across the country, some of whom will be in your professional field. All letters submitted for competitions that require UM endorsement (like the Goldwater, Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright and Truman) will also be reviewed by your peers and colleagues at UM. If you have any question about the content of your letter or how it may be perceived, please contact the Office of Prestigious Awards and Fellowships for assistance.
For more information, please contact:
Erika Green Liberus, Director
Office of Prestigious Awards and Fellowships
Richter Library, Suite 224
1300 Memorial Drive
Ph: 305-284-5385
F: 305-284-5241
prestigiousawards@miami.edu
