Performance Reviews

January 9, 2006

TO: Deans, Directors, and Department Heads
FROM: Loren W. Crabtree, Chancellor, and Alan Chesney, Executive Director of Human Resources
SUBJECT: Performance Reviews

The university is committed to a process of fair and consistent performance reviews for all UT employees. Performance reviews are intended to promote effective interactions between employees and their supervisors and improve individual and institutional performance. At a minimum they must include a self-evaluation by the employee, a candid discussion of performance between the employee and the supervisor, agreement regarding objectives for the coming year, and a written evaluation. The evaluation should cover the calendar year 2005 and must be filed with Human Resources by March 1, 2006.

More information about the university's performance review system, including the forms for staff, can be found on the HR Web site.

Annual evaluation of faculty is governed by the Faculty Handbook and the Manual for Faculty Evaluation (as well as relevant collegiate and departmental bylaws). The form to be used for annual evaluation (Faculty Annual Evaluation Report Form) is included in the Manual for Faculty Evaluation and can be found in the on-line version of that document and is also available separately.

We encourage you to review this information and to take advantage of the performance review training offered by Employee and Organizational Development. The training program emphasizes communication skills and methods of defining measurable outcomes. It can be tailored to your unique needs. To learn more about these training opportunities, contact Dr. Linda Francisco at (865) 974-8361 or franci00@tennessee.edu.

To ensure that senior administrators are able to identify important issues and opportunities in their areas, each vice chancellor will review the completed Performance Review Summary Form for each employee in her/his area. Human Resources will compile a comprehensive report on compliance with the performance review process.

Thanks, in advance, for your cooperation with this important project.