Performance Management
Annual Performance Evaluations
Evaluations measure the performance progress towards defined goals that support the unit, college, and university initiatives. In the College of Science, Human Resources and Faculty Affairs work together to compile resources and guidelines to support our community during the annual review process.
Annual reviews for Research Staff and Postdocs are happening now!**
Reviews for Instructional, Research, and Administrative Faculty, and Classified Staff take place in the spring. Information for the new performance cycle will be updated in Spring 2026.
**Research Staff and Postdocs~ Now Open!
Research Staff and Postdocs follow the required process in the College of Science.
Period of Review: June 1, 2024 - May 31, 2025
College of Science Annual Performance Evaluation Timelines and Information
Participants
- All Research Staff and Postdocs hired before December 31, 2024
- Supervisors and indirect managers (reviewers) of participating employees
Forms
Evaluation Process
- October 14, 2025: Self-evaluation forms due to LAU chairs/directors
- October 28–31, 2025: Results and rationale for the evaluation are due in writing to the Research Staff and Postdocs from the LAU chair/director. Meetings should be scheduled and conducted during this timeframe.
- November 5, 2025: Completed evaluation forms from LAU chairs/directors due to COS Faculty Affairs at cosofa@gmu.edu
Criteria
- Postdoctoral Research Fellows are employees governed by University Policy 4018 and are not covered by the provisions of the Faculty Handbook.
- Research Staff are employees governed by University Policy 2234 and are not covered by the provisions of the Faculty Handbook.
- Consult your LAU’s standing rules or by-laws to ensure you understand your unit’s evaluation process, including the review criteria and requirements for which employees will be evaluated.
Please contact Andre Z. Clayborne and Myisha Washington with all questions and concerns.
Administrative/Professional Faculty
Administrative/Professional Faculty complete their evaluations in the spring through Mason LEAPS.
Period of Review: April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025
Participants
- All A/P faculty and classified staff hired before December 31, 2024
- Supervisors and indirect managers (reviewers) of participating A/P Faculty
Evaluation Launch
- The next performance evaluation period to be evaluated is April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025. The process is anticipated to launch February 17, 2025.
Evaluation Process
- Self-evaluations are required and will be open for two (2) weeks. If the self-evaluation is not submitted by the deadline, it will advance to the supervisor.
- Supervisor evaluations are required and will be open for three (3) weeks.
- Supervisors should hold one-on-one meetings with employees to provide feedback, answer questions, or address items noted by the employee. Regular one-on-one meetings allow managers to provide performance feedback,build a trusted relationship, and encourage employee growth and development.
- Following the one-on-one meeting, supervisors will need to complete an additionalsign-off stepin MasonLEAPS. The employee will not be able to complete the employee sign-off step until after the supervisor sign-off is complete.
- Employees will be able to see their completed evaluation in LEAPS after the supervisor sign-off step is completed, or if that step is not completed by the communicated due date, on May 1, 2025.
- All steps must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2025.
Due Dates
| Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action | Evaluation Launch Date | Self-Eval* | Supervisor Evaluation** | Unit HR Review (pilot) | Reviewer Review & Sign-Off | 1:1 Performance Evaluation Meeting | Supervisor Sign-Off | Employee Sign-Off |
| Due Date | 2/17/2025 | 3/2/2025 | 3/24/2025 | 3/31/2025 | 4/13/2025 | 4/14/2025 – 4/25/2025 | 4/28/2025 | 4/30/2025 |
All employees eligible to participate in the 2025 annual performance evaluation will receive an email from MasonLEAPS inviting them to start the process by completing their self-evaluation. Email notifications and reminders are sent automatically at each step in the process. We recommend that a copy of the self-evaluation and the supervisor evaluation be saved before each step is submitted.
Added Awards and Recognition Section
- In support of the strategic priority to enhance employee reward and recognition, this section will carryover from the Midcycle Check-in and be included in annual evaluations.
- Employees will be prompted to list any work-related awards, commendations, or kudos received during the evaluation year to-date.
Additional guidance on A/P Faculty evaluations can be found here.
Classified Staff
Classified Staff complete their evaluations in the spring through Mason LEAPS.
Period of Review: April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025
Participants
- All Classified Staff hired before December 31, 2024
- Supervisors and indirect managers (reviewers) of participating Classified Staff
Evaluation Launch
- The next performance evaluation period to be evaluated is April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025. The process is anticipated to launch February 17, 2025.
Evaluation Process
- Self-evaluations are required and will be open for two (2) weeks. If the self-evaluation is not submitted by the deadline, it will advance to the supervisor.
- Supervisor evaluations are required and will be open for three (3) weeks.
- Supervisors should hold one-on-one meetings with employees to provide feedback, answer questions, or address items noted by the employee. Regular one-on-one meetings allow managers to provide performance feedback,build a trusted relationship, and encourage employee growth and development.
- Following the one-on-one meeting, supervisors will need to complete an additionalsign-off stepin MasonLEAPS. The employee will not be able to complete the employee sign-off step until after the supervisor sign-off is complete.
- Employees will be able to see their completed evaluation in LEAPS after the supervisor sign-off step is completed, or if that step is not completed by the communicated due date, on May 1, 2025.
- All steps must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2025.
Due Dates
| Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action | Evaluation Launch Date | Self-Eval* | Supervisor Evaluation** | Unit HR Review (pilot) | Reviewer Review & Sign-Off | 1:1 Performance Evaluation Meeting | Supervisor Sign-Off | Employee Sign-Off |
| Due Date | 2/17/2025 | 3/2/2025 | 3/24/2025 | 3/31/2025 | 4/13/2025 | 4/14/2025 – 4/25/2025 | 4/28/2025 | 4/30/2025 |
All employees eligible to participate in the 2025 annual performance evaluation will receive an email from MasonLEAPS inviting them to start the process by completing their self-evaluation. Email notifications and reminders are sent automatically at each step in the process. We recommend that a copy of the self-evaluation and the supervisor evaluation be saved before each step is submitted.
Added Awards and Recognition Section
- In support of the strategic priority to enhance employee reward and recognition, this section will carryover from the Midcycle Check-in and be included in annual evaluations.
- Employees will be prompted to list any work-related awards, commendations, or kudos received during the evaluation year to-date.
Probationary Progress Review vs. Annual Performance Review
The annual evaluation may take the place of a Probationary Progress Reviewform for new classified staff if it aligns with the 3- or 6-month review and if there are no performance concerns. If performance concerns are identified, resulting in a Below Contributor rating, the Probationary Progress Review Form must also be submitted to leaps@gmu.edu. Questions about documenting performance or extending the probationary period should be directed to Employee Relations at emprel@gmu.edu.
Additional guidance on Classified Staff evaluations can be found here.
Instructional Faculty
Instructional Faculty complete their evaluations in the spring and follow the required process in the College of Science.
Period of Review: January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024
College of Science Annual Performance Evaluation Timelines and Information
Participants
- All Instructional Faculty hired before December 31, 2024
- Supervisors and indirect managers (reviewers) of participating Instructional Faculty
Evaluation Process
- March 3, 2025:Self Evaluations due to LAU chairs.
- April 4 – April 25, 2025: Results and rationale for the evaluation are due in writing to the I/R faculty member from the LAU chair. Per section 2.6.1 of the Faculty Handbook (https://provost.gmu.edu/faculty/policies-and-guidelines), “the faculty member must be afforded the opportunity to discuss the results of the evaluation with the local unit administrator before it is sent to the dean". Meetings should be scheduled and conducted during this April timeframe.
- April 28, 2025: Completed evaluations from LAU chairs due to the COS Dean.
Future evaluation cycles will be for one year. Please consult your LAU’s standing rules or by-laws to ensure you understand your unit’s evaluation process including the review criteria and requirements for which faculty will be evaluated. In addition, all faculty and LAU chairs should be familiar with and adhere strictly to guidance provided in section 2.6.1 “Annual Review of Faculty” of the Faculty Handbook.
Additional guidance for the Annual Performance Evaluation will be provided to research faculty and research center heads in a separate email. Please contact Andre Z. Clayborne and Myisha Washington with all questions and concerns.
Research Faculty
Research Faculty complete their evaluations in the spring and follow the required process in the College of Science.
Period of Review: January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024
College of Science Annual Performance Evaluation Timelines and Information
Participants
- All Research Faculty hired before December 31, 2024
- Supervisors and indirect managers (reviewers) of participating Faculty
Evaluation Process
- March 3, 2025:Self Evaluations due to LAU chairs.
- April 4 – April 25, 2025: Results and rationale for the evaluation are due in writing to the I/R faculty member from the LAU chair. Per section 2.6.1 of the Faculty Handbook (https://provost.gmu.edu/faculty/policies-and-guidelines), “the faculty member must be afforded the opportunity to discuss the results of the evaluation with the local unit administrator before it is sent to the dean". Meetings should be scheduled and conducted during this April timeframe.
- April 28, 2025: Completed evaluations from LAU chairs due to the COS Dean.
Future evaluation cycles will be for one year. Please consult your LAU’s standing rules or by-laws to ensure you understand your unit’s evaluation process including the review criteria and requirements for which faculty will be evaluated. In addition, all faculty and LAU chairs should be familiar with and adhere strictly to guidance provided in section 2.6.1 “Annual Review of Faculty” of the Faculty Handbook.
Additional guidance for the Annual Performance Evaluation will be provided to research faculty and research center heads in a separate email. Please contact Andre Z. Clayborne and Myisha Washington with all questions and concerns.
Guidance for Supervisors
To be fair and objective, a performance evaluation must be based on actual performance and workplace behavior during the rated evaluation period, and not personal factors unrelated to the job. The evaluation should accurately reflect job objectives, measurement of outcomes, and achievement of any development goals established or adjusted during the evaluation year. It is important to be mindful that a recent concern or an incident that occurred early in the evaluation year does not influence the overall assessment and rating of the employee’s performance.
In-person and virtual training is available to learn more about performance management, best practices for observing and monitoring performance, rating practices, and the supervisor’s role in performance management.
Register today for training: Performance Management for Supervisors
--> View additional resources for supervisors.