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Performance Review Information
Welcome, and thank you for checking out these resources on the performance review system here at Central Michigan University. Check out the tutorial videos and the FAQs section below for more information.
Here are some quick links to guide you:
Frequently asked questions
The performance review process in general for all employees:
Does every employee need to complete a performance review?
Yes! The Performance review process is required of all staff employees on campus. This includes staff who work for faculty chairs/supervisors in academic colleges.
When do performance reviews open for the year?
September 1st. There was an adjustment in 2026 to have only one year open at a time due to a lot of confusion when two reviews were open at the same time.
What is the deadline for submitting a performance review?
Performance Reviews are due August 31st. Please note: This deadline is "hard-wired" into the review system. Therefore, you will not be able to make any edits to the online reviews after this date.
I missed the deadline of August 31 to complete my performance review; can it still be submitted?
The online review system has a hard stop of August 31st, so no reviews can be submitted through the system after this date.
If you would still like to complete one as an employee or supervisor, you can download and complete a digital Word copy (Performance Review Template), which can be added to an employee’s personnel file. This document can be shared between an employee and supervisor (outside of the performance review system) for comments before manual submission to Human Resources
Can I see what the performance review looks like ahead of time, or work on a draft?
Yes, you can download the Performance Review Template to view the review or use as a draft. Please note you will still need to complete the online form as this will not submit for you.
Should I start my review, or my supervisor?
The performance review can be initiated by either the supervisor or the employee. You will each also need to provide comments before final submission to Human Resources, which is completed by the supervisor.
Who submits the final review, myself as the employee or my supervisor?
Once the performance review has been viewed and has comments from both the employee and supervisor (and the employee has seen the supervisor's comments), the review should be sent back to the supervisor for submission to Human Resources.
I moved to a new position, why do I still see the review for my previous position?
You will see a review for any position you have held on campus in the last year, between July 1st of the previous year and August 31st of the current year. Please work with your previous supervisor to finalize your review.
If you have moved to a new role within the same office, please communicate with your supervisor to finalize the previous review, but the majority of your information and goals can go into your new review, if applicable.
How is the performance review form to be used throughout the year?
August-September: Start the process by having a conversation with your employees about the upcoming year. Once discussed, you can begin setting and documenting expectations and goals for the coming year in the areas of "Goals, projects, initiatives" and "Style and Behavior." The review may be started by either the employee or the supervisor after September 1st.
August-December: While not required, it may be used as often as desired to record any major points of discussion, progress, and any changes in the originally set goals and expectations.
December-January: It is strongly recommended that you use it as a mid-year check-in to document progress on the goals and expectations set at the beginning of the year, and to clarify specific objectives and targets for the end of the year. You should have had a lot of conversations throughout the last 6 months, and you can use this form as an opportunity to formally record progress at the mid-year point. Anytime we put things in writing is an opportunity to clarify communication.
January-June: Again, it is not required, but it may be used as often as desired to record major points of conversation, changes, progress, etc.
June-August: Complete the End-of-the-year review, which should simply be a summary of the conversations that have been taking place throughout the year. A face-to-face meeting is held to discuss the final review; any edits can be made, and then the review is submitted to Human Resources by the supervisor using the online system.
Who can see my performance reviews?
Performance reviews are a part of your personnel file, which can be viewed by your current supervisor and viewed by future supervisors if you apply for or move to a new role. They can also be viewed by levels of supervision you report to indirectly in your division. Human Resources also has access to your reviews.
How can I view my past reviews?
On the dashboard for the performance review page, click My Reviews, and you can view all previously completed reviews for your current and previous roles on campus.
I still have questions, who can I call?
For questions, please call Professional Development Programs at 989-774-1073.
Using the online performance review system
Thanks again for visiting. If you have further questions about the review process or would like confidential coaching on its use for particular conversations, please feel free to contact Professional Development Programs directly at 989) 774-1073, or pdp@cmich.edu.
To access the online Performance Review functionality for staff positions, go to https://apps.cmich.edu/PerformanceReview/
Where do I go to log in to the system?
- You can use this direct link to the Performance Review System.
- You can find this link to the Performance Review System on the Favorites list using the star icon at the top of the page on CentralLink. While here, you can add Performance Reviews to your top five favorites to pin it to the bar so you can access it with one click in the future.
- Go to the "My Account" link (upper right on CentralLink), and you will find the Performance Reviews link under My Work Day.
- There is a direct link to it in a golden box on this page. You can either enter "Performance Review Information" in the search box on cmich.edu and it will be listed as the first link, or you can follow the thread: HR/Professional Development Programs/Performance Review Information.
Where can I find step by step instructions for how to use the online system?
At the bottom of this page, you will find three short video tutorials that will provide you with step-by-step instructions and best practices for having great conversations between supervisors and employees.
My job description is not correct, or I want to update my role; how do I do this?
The job description in your performance review pulls directly from SAP. If an employee or supervisor needs to make changes, please complete a personnel transaction.
How can I edit what I have already typed into a review, either mine or someone else's?
As long as the review is in your possession and you haven't sent it forward to anyone else, you may go back and edit any information which you have entered at any time. You are never allowed to edit what someone else has entered for obvious reasons.
IMPORTANT NOTE: However, once the review has been sent forward to the supervisor or employee, all the information which you have entered is "locked" and date-stamped. Therefore, if at a later date something changes, or you notice an error in something that has been previously entered, you simply need to make note of the desired change in the next box.
The positive side of this is that you have a record of original goals even if they get changed during the year due to shifting priorities.
The downside is, of course, that if you make a serious mistake and then send it forward, there is a permanent record of it, even though you can correct it in a later explanation.
In the event of a massive error, the entire review can be deleted and reset back to a blank review. However, we cannot delete just a particular section. Contact Professional Development Programs at (989) 774-1073, or pdp@cmich.edu if you need assistance.
If both the supervisor and employee have made comments in the review, they will both need to approve the reset of the review.
I currently cannot see my review, and neither can my supervisor. How can we fix this?
The review can only be viewed by one person at a time. Try refreshing your browser and cache, or try a new browser. If you still cannot view it, please contact Professional Development Programs directly at (989) 774-1073, or pdp@cmich.edu.
How do I submit a review to HR?
This option will appear at the end of the review on the UPDATE REVIEW STATUS page UNLESS:
- The review was never sent to the employee. The employee must have at least seen the review, entered basic information, and sent it to the supervisor for it to be able to be submitted.
- The review has an incomplete required field.
- You are trying to submit it before July 1st. The option to submit it to HR will only appear after this date. This is to prevent accidental submission at mid-year or other period, which officially closes the review. Simply wait until after July 1st, and then submit it.
- The review is still in the employee's possession. In this event, have the employee finish adding whatever they would like to the review and send it back to the supervisor.
Where can I access descriptions of the six Leadership Standards identified in Tab C?
These descriptions can be found by clicking on these titles in Tab C. You can also read more about the Leadership Standards Initiative by clicking the button below.
I still have questions, who can I call?
For questions, please call Professional Development Programs at 989-774-1073.
Information for supervisors
I am a faculty member who supervises staff positions (a chairperson). Do I use this system?
Yes. All supervisors of staff positions need to use this system to process staff reviews.
I currently cannot edit or view one of my employees reviews and neither can they. How can we fix this?
The review can only be viewed by one person at a time. Try refreshing your browser and cache, or try a new browser. If you still cannot view it, please contact Professional Development Programs directly at (989) 774-1073, or pdp@cmich.edu.
I would like to first work on a draft of the performance review, where can I find a copy?
Yes, you can download the Performance Review Template to view the review or use it as a draft. Please note that you will still need to complete the online form, as this will not submit it for you.
I am serving in an interim role, why can't I see all of my employees?
Interim Senior Officer assignments are noted in SAP, and therefore those reviews will be sent to the person serving in the interim role.
For all other interim assignments, performance reviews will likely not be available within the system. In these instances, it is recommended that the interim supervisor and employee complete the performance review using the digital Word version (Performance Review Template) that can be manually added to an employee’s personnel file.
If there is a current vacancy in a supervisory role, the reviews will be sent to the next supervisor in the reporting hierarchy.
I started a review for an employee, but I would like them to provide comments before I complete it. How can I send it back to them?
You can send a review back to an employee for comments (they cannot edit previous comments or yours), or if you have difficulty, please contact Professional Development Programs directly at x1073, or pdp@cmich.edu, and we can update the status of your review from supervisor to employee.
My employee list does not appear to be correct. What do I do?
This list is generated based on the organizational structure that is set up in SAP. The system will show all employees who currently report to you and anyone who has reported to you within the fiscal year you are currently in.
If employees are showing up on your list that should not be, or if people are missing, this is generally due to an internal change of reporting relationships during the year.
Please contact Professional Development Programs at (989) 774-1073 to review these issues. You can also complete a digital version of the review for individuals who are missing.
Why are employees showing twice on the My Employees list?
If an employee changes positions within the fiscal year but remains within your same department, they will show up on your list twice. For every position an employee holds, a performance review should be completed. In this way an employee receives feedback for each position he or she was in. This needs to be done before the person leaves the position, treating it as you would an end of the year review. Make sure the review is completed to your satisfaction before the person leaves the position, and then you will be able to submit it to HR when the person has officially left the position.
One of my employees separated from CMU during the year, and we did not complete their performance review. Should I still complete it?
Ideally, the supervisor should complete the performance review before the person leaves the position and then submit it to HR once the separation is officially completed.
If the employee has already left the position and the review was not completed, you can indicate in the first section related to the job description that the employee has separated from employment and the performance review was not completed. The review can be submitted after July 1st. You can also contact Professional Development to have the review submitted for you prior to July 1st so it shows as completed.
You should not complete a performance review for an employee who has not had an opportunity to receive and review performance feedback.
When an employee separates from CMU, the employee will remain on your list; however, the name will be removed from your list when the next fiscal year list is populated. By completing either of the approaches above, the review will now appear as completed instead of incomplete.
If an employee separates from CMU, why are they still showing on the My Employees list?
Employees who separate are not automatically removed from your list. Ideally, the supervisor should complete the performance review before the person leaves the position, and then submit it to HR once the separation is officially completed.
If the employee has already left the position and the review was not completed, you can indicate in the first section related to the job description that the employee has separated from employment and the performance review was not completed. The review can be submitted after July 1st. You can also contact Professional Development to have the review submitted for you prior to July 1st so it shows as completed.
You should not complete a performance review for an employee who has not had an opportunity to receive and review performance feedback.
When an employee separates from CMU, the employee will remain on your list; however, the name will be removed from your list when the next fiscal year list is populated. By completing either of the approaches above, the review will now show as completed instead of incomplete.
One of my employees moved to another role on campus; should I still complete their performance review?
A performance review should be completed for each role an employee holds during the year. Please make your best effort to complete the review before they move to their new position. Employees and supervisors still have access to complete reviews from previous positions until August 31.
The name will be removed from your list when the next fiscal year list is populated.
I moved to another role on campus; why do I see previous employees on my performance reviews?
If you supervised an employee at any time between July 1st of the previous year and August 31st of the current year, you will see these employees on your list for the role you supervised them in. Please make your best effort to complete the review before your move to your new position. Employees and supervisors still have access to complete reviews from previous positions until August 31.
The name will be removed from your list when the next fiscal year list is populated.
Do I submit the final review to HR as a supervisor or does my employee?
Once the performance review has been viewed and has comments from both the employee and supervisor (and the employee has seen the supervisor's comments), the review should be sent back to the supervisor for final submission to Human Resources.
I am supervisor of a division, why am I seeing all of the performance reviews in my division?
As a supervisor of multiple offices in a division, you will see a divisional report of employees and their performance reviews for employees you supervise and their direct reports. You only need to complete the reviews for those employees who directly report to you. Supervisors who report to you will complete the reviews for their direct reports.
Also, if there is an empty role below you, any of those positions' direct reports will likely now show on your performance review list.
How can I see past reviews for my employees prior to my role as their supervisor?
Supervisors can contact Human Resources for access to previous reviews, which are a part of employees’ personnel files.
I would like to create some training for my office on goal setting, feedback or other topics to improve our review process, where can I find support?
Professional Development Programs would be happy to help support your office with any training or further information. Please email pdp@cmich.edu or call (989) 774-1073
I would like to get a report of my division or area to see what reviews have been completed, how can I do this?
On you dashboard you can review the progress percentage of reviews in your area. If you would like more detailed information, please call Professional Development Programs at 989-774-1073.
I still have questions for an issue that is not listed here, who can I call?
For questions, please call Professional Development Programs at 989-774-1073.
Performance review training
The three short videos below provide you with a quick overview of the performance review system, and best practices for using it for great conversations throughout the year.
Everyone should watch the first two videos (24 minutes total) and if you are a supervisor you should watch all three.
- Purpose and Intent of the Performance Review System (10 minute video): Covers how the four needs of employees are built into the performance review process and the cycle for how it is to be used throughout the year.
- Your Review (14 minute video): Focuses on how to use each of the four sections of the review form to have great conversations with your supervisor throughout the year.
- The Supervisor Review Form (14 minute video): Covers the mechanics of how to use the supervisor review form and shares some best practices for having great conversations with your direct reports.
In-person trainings
These two-hour trainings allow for greater depth and discussion on setting goals and expectations, and provide strategies for how to have the conversation, even difficult ones. They are conducted in September, January and June. Watch CMU Today for when these are offered.