The purpose of feedback is to provide an unsuccessful applicant with a clear sense of what they would need to do in order to raise the level of their achievement to the standard required to obtain promotion in a future exercise. Every attempt should be made to provide feedback that is helpful and constructive. See the Timetable for the provision of feedback and the lodging of Appeals.
After the General Board (GB) has met and agreed the outcome of each application, Heads of Institution will be informed of the outcomes of applications in their institution. Details of the feedback process will be provided to those with unsuccessful applicants in their institution.
Unsuccessful applicants must be offered the following as part of the feedback process:
- Written feedback: a copy of the feedback statement prepared by the relevant SC for the applicant. Applicants must also be informed that they can also request a copy of their Assessment Record completed by the FC and SC, along with a copy of the Institutional Statement, and copies of References where referees have agreed to the release in line with data protection legislation. Applicants can request this by contacting the ACP Team (acp@admin.cam.ac.uk);
- Verbal feedback (feedback meeting): a meeting in person, so that the Head of Institution can provide constructive, verbal feedback. Please see below for guidance on how to prepare for these meetings.
Note: there may be circumstances in which it is appropriate for someone other than the Head of Institution to provide feedback to an unsuccessful applicant, for example the Head of School, or a senior colleague who previously provided mentoring or other support to the applicant.
Prior to the feedback meeting
In order to prepare for a feedback meeting, Heads of Institution must meet with the relevant Chairs of the FC and SC to discuss the reasons for unsuccessful applications. Heads of Institution may also wish to discuss the feedback with the Head of School prior to meeting with the unsuccessful applicant.
All parties are asked to be mindful of the sensitivities involved in providing feedback and to allow reasonable time for the feedback process to enable the applicants concerned to fully consider the information provided.
Information provided to the Head of Institution includes:
- specific comments relating to the unsuccessful applicant's application;
- Statistical data to help convey a sense of the standard that must be reached in future exercises; and
- The applicant's overall score, score breakdown and ranking.
The applicant should be reminded that each ACP R&T round, and therefore, the associated score, is an in-year process only.