In 2007, the University of California changed its confidentiality rules regarding letters from outside referees. A statement of those new confidentiality rules follows below.

 Although a candidate may request to see the contents of letters of evaluation, your identity will be held in confidence.  The material made available will exclude the letterhead, the signature block, and material below the signature block.  Therefore, material that would identify you, particularly information about your relationship to the candidate, should be placed below the signature block.  In any legal proceeding or other situation in which the source of confidential information is sought, the University does its utmost to protect the identity of such sources.

If, under these new rules, you wish to retain confidentiality, you should write the main body of the letter in such a way that your name, affiliation, and personal associations with the candidate are not revealed. Under the new confidentiality rules, the candidate for appointment/promotion is allowed to have a copy of a "redacted version" of your letter. Redaction is defined as the removal of identifying information (including name, title, institutional affiliation, and relationship to the candidate) contained either at the top of the letterhead or within and below the signature block of the letter of evaluation. We hope that you will still feel free to give us an assessment of the candidate's research under these restrictions.

Please indicate in your letter of reference cover page, either hard copy or email that you have reviewed the above University of California Statement of Confidentiality Rules.