ABSTRACT
Most students fail to realize that the dispensing of grades can be the second most powerful influence that faculty have on students’ educational and career advancement. Letters of recommendation can make-and even more easily break-a student’s success in obtaining additional training or employment. As a result, many students fail to realize that missed exams, coming to class late and misbehavior in class may come back to haunt them later. However, whereas instructors have considerable latitude in choosing whom to support and what to include in the letter, ethical conflicts often arise. Often enough we have to make an agonizing choice between being completely honest or glossing over shortcomings of otherwise worthy students, knowing full well that complete candor will likely foreclose on our students’ quests for graduate school or a job.
