<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by GeorgeJensen:
It is common practice, in academics, for confidential files to be prepared prior to deciding if a faculty member should be granted tenure and/or promoted. These files typically contain letters of evaluation written by students, alums, and other faculty at the institution. What are the rights of the person being evaluated (the candidate for tenure or promotion) with respect to having access to the contents of such files. If the candidate is granted access to these files, does the candidate have the right to know who wrote each letter of evaluation?
Are these matters covered in the Buckley Amendment of 1974? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
My response:
You have the right to see, and have copies of, all items your employer has included in your personnel file. However, confidential personnel files at a person's place of employment are within a zone of privacy. [Board of Trustees v. Sup.Ct. (1981) 119 Cal.App.3d 516, 528-530, 174 Cal.Rptr. 160, 166-167]; e.g., the privacy protected may be that of some third person, rather than that of the employee. For example, the personnel file may contain confidential letters regarding the employee written by outsiders. Disclosure would impair the confidentiality they expected would be accorded to their communications. [Board of Trustees v. Sup.Ct., supra--outsiders' communications to university committee investigating faculty member]
Good luck and I hope you get the promotion!
IAAL
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