Annual Performance Management Evaluations

Annual Performance Evaluation
Training Opportunities
Job Aids and Resources
Mid-Year Review
Frequently Asked Questions
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2026 Annual Performance Evaluation

The Annual Performance Evaluation process is an opportunity for managers and employees to recognize challenges and celebrate accomplishments from the prior year, discuss departmental and individual goals, and plan for professional development in the year ahead. This process occurs once annually in the spring and covers the prior performance period of March 1 – February 28/29.

Core Components of the Annual Review

Performance Competencies
Rating Scale
Goals

2026 Performance Review Key Deadlines

Phase
Date
Evaluations launched in GMS  for eligible Staff
Thursday, February 12
Self-Evaluation Due in GMS
Thursday, March 5
Manager Evaluation Due in GMS
Thursday, April 2
Manager’s Manager Approval Due in GMS
Thursday, April 16
Performance Review Meetings Completed (Outside of GMS)
Thursday, May 28

Performance Management Training and Resources

The Learning and Development team offers performance management training for all employees who are eligible for the Annual Evaluation process in various formats to support your learning. Please click the link to visit the material and review the training descriptions carefully. The learning format may be listed as “Self-Directed Course” (a self-paced video), “Job Aid” (a technical guide), or a “Hybrid Course” (a live, interactive workshop). You can view all available courses offered to staff within the Learning application in GMS.

Getting Started as a Georgetown University Employee

Annual Employee Self-Evaluation Program (Self-Directed): This series of brief, e-learning videos will support all eligible employees in preparing for and completing the Annual Self-Evaluation in order to accurately and holistically reflect your performance success.

Annual Performance Evaluation in GMS – Employee (Video): This self-paced video training walks employees through the technical business process of submitting the Annual Evaluation in GMS (as self).

Crafting Meaningful Performance Evaluations – Workshop (Live on Zoom): This live, interactive workshop offers an engaging opportunity for employees to learn best practices for writing fair reviews, and how to appropriately utilize the rating scale through case scenarios. Employees must review the self-evaluation Terms and Tools first.

Getting Started as a Georgetown University Manager 

Annual Manager Evaluation Overview (Self-Directed Video): This video training covers all of the need-to-know components of the Annual Manager Evaluation including the rating system and best practices for writing fair, accurate, and meaningful justifications. New managers seeking a collection of all key learning videos should explore Annual Manager Evaluation Program.

Annual Performance Evaluation in GMS – Manager (Self-Directed Video): This video training walks Managers through the technical business process of submitting the Manager Evaluation of an employee in GMS.

Annual Performance Evaluation in GMS – Manager’s Manager (Self-Directed Video): This video training walks Managers of Managers through the technical business process of reviewing and approving Manager evaluations submitted to you in GMS.

GMS Office Hours

Get personalized support for navigating performance management tasks in GMS. Available Thursdays, 2:00pm – 3:00pm, weekly. Click here to book your 15-minute appointment.

Handouts, Templates, and GMS Job Aids

Employees
Managers
Performance Competencies and Ratings Guide
Performance Competencies and Ratings Guide
Annual Self-Evaluation – planning worksheet
Annual Manager Evaluation – planning worksheet
Completing the Employee Self-Evaluation in GMS
Completing the Manager Evaluation of an Employee in GMS
Completing the Manager’s Manager Approval in GMS
Creating SMART Goals
Leading the Performance Meeting – Sample Agenda

Performance Review FAQs 

Performance Review Frequently Asked Questions

Annual Review: Regular/Term Staff and AAP employees (non-union) hired prior to February 28/29, who have successfully completed their applicable probationary period which can be found in your offer letter.

Mid-Year Review: Regular/Term Staff and AAP employees (non-union)  who have completed their probationary period may participate in the Mid-Year Review process in GMS.

Annual Review: Eligible employees, their direct Managers, and their Manager’s Manager. 

Mid-Year Review: Eligible employees and their direct Managers.

Union represented employees are not required to participate in this GMS process. Union represented employees should connect with their direct supervisor with  any questions.

Please reach out to your assigned HR Business Partner (HRBP) for more information regarding performance reviews for union-supported employees.

Speak with your direct supervisor to confirm your probationary status. Review the probationary period policy for more information.

The self-evaluation is a fully electronic process that will become available in your GMS (workday) inbox (date to be announced to the community by email). Employees will submit a self-evaluation first, which will be routed to their Manager who will conduct a Manager Evaluation. Then, these evaluations will be routed to the Manager’s Manager for approval. For a detailed explanation of this process, please attend our Performance Management: Self-Evaluations training.

After an employee completes their self-evaluation in GMS, it will route to the manager’s GMS inbox and generate an email notification to the manager.  The manager will then complete the manager evaluation in GMS. Annual Reviews are also routed to the manager’s manager for approval.  Once the manager’s manager approves the evaluation, the manager will release the evaluation to the employee and prepare for a one-on-one performance evaluation meeting with their employee.

Please contact your HR Business Partner (HRBP) to confirm you are eligible for this year’s performance review process.

Please email help@georgetown.edu to submit a help ticket.

Training is available (top of page) for all eligible employees to learn more about the process. Please email your HR Business Partner (HRBP) for support navigating challenging cases or designing performance improvement plans.

Employees and their managers can view past performance evaluations in GMS by navigating to the employee profile in GMS and click “Performance” for the menu on the left side of the page. Additionally, users can type “My Reviews” into the search bar in GMS and click on the available report which will display all available Performance Evaluations.

Optional Mid-Year Performance Review

The Mid-Year Performance Review is a brief 5-question assessment conducted in GMS to encourage reflection and foster developmental conversations between employees and managers. Managers and employees should also use this process to discuss departmental and individual goals, recognize challenges and accomplishments from the review period, and to plan for professional development in the future.

The Mid-Year Review begins with an Employee Self-Review followed by a Manager Review. After the manager completes their review, the manager and employee will meet to discuss the Mid-Year Review and set future performance goals. The process is finalized in GMS with the employee acknowledging receipt of the review. The Mid-Year Review must be completed in GMS by November 7, 2025.

  1. Employee Self-Review
  2. Manager Review
  3. Mid-Year Review Meeting (Outside GMS)
  4. Employee Acknowledgement
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The short Mid-Year Review format in GMS includes five questions followed by a chance to review, update, or add new professional goals.

  1. Accomplishments during this period (March ‘25 to September ‘25)
  2. Areas where I am doing well 
  3. Areas where I need improvement
  4. What are future opportunities for professional development?
  5. What do I need to achieve my goals? 
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How To Initiate a Mid-Year Review

The Mid-Year Review can be initiated in GMS by managers or by your area-specific HR Business Partner. A job aid is available to guide managers through the process of initiating the Mid-Year Review in GMS. Initiate a Mid-Year Review in GMS (Job Aid).

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