Recommendations for Performance Appraisals of Campus Personnel

Working with the Board of Directors of NYSACAA, Ed Harwood, Extension Program Leader, compiled the following for NYSACAA to assist Extension Agents when requested to evaluate campus personnel.

Purpose:

The purpose of seeking off-campus staff experiences and opinions on a person's performance is generally two fold:

• To provide adequate feedback to substantiate need and ideas for the reviewed person's improved performance.

• To support the reviewed person's request for change in employment or position, e.g., reappointment, tenure and promotion.

The purpose of replying to the request is to supply honest evidence and evaluation that is directly relevant to the reviewed person's performance in a professional capacity.

Format (generally a paragraph for each will suffice):

1. Explain all recent significant professional relationship(s) to the individual, e.g. collaborations, committees, shared inservice.

2. Evaluate observed performance and describe your evidence.

3. Express any concerns that allow follow-up by the review requester.

4. Answer any specific questions expressed in the request, especially those for a recommendation.

Suggestions:

Consider that your feedback is important and that you should be able to read the finalized document and say that, "If it were about me, it is honest, straight-forward and to the point."

It is unsatisfactory to supply "Good job. Keep it up." This reply reflects on you the writer as well as the reviewed person. Very few of us are without faults, areas in which to improve and strengths. It is most valuable to document your input with specific examples.

If you have doubts about what was requested, be sure to confer with the review requester.

Be sure you know the potential readers of the document. As with any letter, it is important to begin with the reader in mind.

If you are unable to provide appropriate input, say so and decline to supply comments.

Your evaluation of scholarship is frequently requested. Scholarship is communicated by providing evidence for assessing the quality of:

• Discovering knowledge (research)

• Integrating, sharing and applying knowledge (Extension education)

Remember, as an Extension professional, one should reply with an assessment emphasizing the quality of Extension program developed and/or delivered.

The following items were included with the above and were intended to assist in the development of an evaluation response:

Criteria for Programs of High Impact and Quality - a checklist for review of your evaluation letter.

Two letters with commentary - one of good quality and one of poor quality.

To obtain "Responding to Performance Review Requests written for NYSACAA" in its entirety, contact your District Director or your state president.