Performance Evaluations

2025–2026 Performance Evaluations 

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Participants 

• All A/P Faculty and Classified Staff hired before December 31, 2025
• Supervisors and indirect managers (reviewers) of participating A/P Faculty and Classified Staff

 

What A/P Faculty, Classified Staff, and Supervisors Need to Know

Evaluation Launch

• • The next performance evaluation period to be evaluated is April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026. The process is anticipated to launch February 16, 2026.

Evaluation Process

• • Self-evaluations are required and will be open for fourteen (14) calendar days. If not submitted by the deadline, the self-evaluation will lock and automatically advance to the supervisor; however, the employee is still expected to complete the self-evaluation unless they are on continuous leave.  
  • Supervisor evaluations are required and will be open for three (3) weeks.
  • The indirect manager (or assigned reviewer) will receive the evaluation once it has been submitted by the supervisor.
  • All subsequent steps will become available upon completion of the prior step (i.e., the supervisor sign-off step will open as soon as the reviewer review is submitted).
  • Most units will participate in an HR review step that will be completed by the unit HR leader. This review will ensure that ratings are supported by supervisor comments and that rating requirements are followed.
  • 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 additional sign-off step in MasonLEAPS. This must be completed so that the employee can access and complete the employee sign-off step.
  • All steps must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2026. 
  • Employees will be able to see their completed evaluation in LEAPS after the supervisor sign-off step is completed, or the next business day following conclusion of the performance evaluation process- May 1, 2026.
  • Employees who disagree with an evaluation rating or comments and cannot resolve the disagreement with your supervisor should follow the appeal process outlined below:
    • Classified Staff may appeal to the reviewer in writing within 10 workdays after receiving the evaluation from their supervisor or when it becomes visible in the performance evaluation system, which is typically the next business day after the annual evaluation process concludes. The reviewer should provide the employee with a written response within five (5) workdays of receipt. Classified Staff may also file a grievance by notifying Employee Relations at emprel@gmu.edu if they feel the evaluation is arbitrary or capricious.
    • Administrative/Professional Faculty may appeal to the reviewer in writing within 10 workdays of receiving the evaluation. The reviewer has 10 workdays to review the appeal, meet with the employee, and provide a written response to let it stand or be revised as the reviewer, in their sole discretion, determines to be appropriate. The performance evaluation cannot be the subject of a grievance.

Due Dates

Participating A/P Faculty, Classified Staff, and their supervisors are expected to adhere to the due dates below and communicate with their supervisors and the Performance Management team (leaps@gmu.edu) if they are unable to comply with the published deadlines.

		Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4	Step 5	Step 6	Step 7
Action	Evaluation Launch Date	Self-Eval*	Supervisor Evaluation**	Unit HR Review	Reviewer Review & Sign-Off***	1:1 Performance Evaluation Meeting	Supervisor Sign-Off	Employee Sign-Off
Due Date	2/16/2026	3/2/2026	3/23/2026	3/30/2026	4/13/2026	4/14/2026 – 4/24/2026	4/28/2026	4/30/2026

*The employee self-evaluation step can be reopened by the supervisor. 
**The supervisor evaluation step can be reopened by the reviewer.
***The reviewer evaluation step can be reopened by contacting leaps@gmu.edu. 

 

Performance Evaluation Initiation 

All employees eligible to participate in the 2026 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.   

Rating Requirements

• Employees will enter a self-evaluation rating for each performance capability but will not provide an overall evaluation rating.  
• Supervisors will enter a rating for each performance capability and provide an overall evaluation rating. 
• Classified Staff cannot be rated overall Unsatisfactory on the annual evaluation unless they’ve received a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) or Written Notice.
• A/P Faculty should not be rated overall Unsatisfactory without consulting Employee Relations.
• For a non-supervising employee to qualify for an overall Outstanding rating, they must be rated Outstanding in at least two of the three rated performance capability areas.
• For a supervisor to qualify for an overall Outstanding rating, they must be rated Outstanding in at least three of the five rated performance capability areas.  
• The Outstanding rating represents (1) consistent and documented superior achievement that (2) has had a significant and positive impact on the performance and engagement of the unit or the institution, and (3) materially advances the mission of the organization in line with strategic priorities. If an employee’s performance does not demonstrate all three characteristics, then the individual or overall performance rating likely aligns to Successful or High-Performing. 

Awards and Recognition Section

• In support of the strategic priority to enhance employee reward and recognition, this section is 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 performance evaluation is required. In certain cases, the annual evaluation may also fulfill the requirement for a Probationary Progress Review- specifically 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, both the annual evaluation and the Probationary Progress Review Form must also be submitted.

Questions about documenting performance or extending the probationary period should be directed to Employee Relations at emprel@gmu.edu.

  

Exemptions 

HR may allow certain exemptions to the published annual performance evaluation process due to extenuating circumstances. Please email requests to leaps@gmu.edu.

 

Resources

The Performance Evaluation hub is available to help you navigate the process and stay up to date on the latest announcements. Access to the hub requires either a campus network or VPN connection. 

Additional job aids are available for your convenience under the How-To Guides section of the MasonLEAPS homepage. If you have questions, please contact leaps@gmu.edu.