Dear HR Partners,
It is now the designated period for the completion of the 2025/2026 performance appraisals. This annual appraisal cycle covers the performance period spanning from April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026. All managers and employees are required to actively participate in this critical process, which is designed to formally appraise employee performance, foster professional development, and align individual contributions with departmental and organizational goals.
Timely completion of all performance management steps is essential to ensure a smooth transition into the next performance cycle.
Background
The University of California’s PPSM-23: Performance Management policy informs campus locations that the performance of each employee shall be appraised at least annually in writing by the employee’s immediate supervisor, or more frequently in accordance with UCR local procedures and bargaining agreements.
An annual performance appraisal is an opportunity for supervisors and employees to review whether previously discussed:
- performance expectations and goals have been met,
- to discuss professional development opportunities, and
- to identify options for acquisition of additional skills and knowledge to foster performance improvement and career growth.
As the campus prepares for the performance appraisal period, it is important to understand that performance development is an ongoing process of communication between a supervisor and an employee that occurs throughout the year. The communication should include:
- setting objectives,
- identifying goals,
- providing feedback,
- and evaluating results, which would be captured in the overall appraisal.
Appraisal Information and Timeline
2025/2026 Performance Development forms are now available on the HR Performance Management Forms and Documents website. The available forms include:
- Performance Appraisal Form
- Performance Appraisal Addendum
- Supplemental Performance Feedback Form
- Goal Agreement Form
For the 2025/2026 performance period, each organizational unit must certify to Central Human Resources by Friday, June 26, 2026, that all staff have received an annual appraisal for the 12-month performance period ending on March 31, 2026. Please visit the HR Performance Management website for further resources including a proposed timeline.
|
Activity |
Proposed Timeframe/Deadline |
|---|---|
|
Supervisor asks employee to complete self-assessment. |
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 |
|
Employee submits self-assessment to supervisor. |
Friday, April 10, 2026 |
|
Supervisor completes draft performance appraisal for each direct report. |
Monday, April 13 - Friday, April 24, 2026 |
|
Internal calibration activities and finalization of performance appraisals. |
Monday, April 27 - Friday, May 1, 2026 |
|
In-person performance appraisal sessions with employees. |
Monday, May 4 - Friday, May 15, 2026 |
|
Goal Agreement form is finalized for the next review period. |
Friday, June 26, 2026 |
|
Organizational units certify performance appraisal ratings and send the Performance Appraisal Certification Letter to Central Human Resources. |
Friday, June 26, 2026* |
*Extended to ensure timely receipt of certifications and ratings by the deadline. Organizational units are encouraged to collect the final certification and ratings prior to June 26, 2026.
UC Required Training
The current performance appraisal review cycle will end on March 31, 2026. As a reminder, completion of, or failure to complete the following UC-required training must be reflected in the completed Performance Appraisal form and will impact eligibility for any university salary programs:
- Safety Orientation
- UC Abusive Conduct in the Workplace
- UC Cybersecurity Awareness Fundamentals
- UC Ethics and Compliance Briefing
- UC Sexual Violence and Harassment, Anti-Discrimination, Prevention and Education (SHAPE) Training for Non-Supervisors
- UC Workplace Violence Prevention
Mandatory trainings are available in the UC Learning Center (UCLC). The Manager Guide on UCLC has two resources:
- Team Compliance Dashboard - which offers canned reports on assigned training
- Advanced Reporting - which offers customizable report templates.
ePER
Specific information and instructions for ePerformance appraisals will be sent to participants using ePerformance.
Questions
Questions on the Performance Management process or performance concerns may be directed to the Performance Management designated email address: performancemanagement@ucr.edu.