The UCOP Staff Talent Evaluation Process (STEP) is an iterative process that provides an opportunity for open dialogue and expectation-setting between employees and managers through a regular cadence of performance-related conversations. Each quarter, employees and managers meet to review employees’ goals and help ensure that they have the resources and feedback they need to be successful.

The 2025-26 fiscal year performance appraisal process began on April 1, 2025, and the deadline for our first STEP Check-in conversation is this Friday. Read on for what you need to do. For a quick overview of STEP, including timelines, watch a five-minute overview video. (New to UCOP? Start at the New Employees section.)

All employees

Complete the first two steps prior to meeting with your manager, and then meet.

1. Review and comment on your goals and competencies in ePerformance
   STEP’s flexibility allows you to refresh goals and competencies throughout the year. Before your Check-in conversation, make any needed updates and prepare to discuss them with your manager.
2. Answer the feedback questions
   In ePerformance, answer the four discussion questions in the Feedback tab. Be prepared to discuss your answers during your Check-in.
3. Complete your Check-in conversation with your manager by August 29
   Check-in conversations give you and your manager an opportunity to discuss the status of your goals and competencies, give and receive feedback, address concerns and discuss any needed support.

People managers

1. Make sure the Define Criteria stage is complete for your employees as soon as possible
   Employees cannot update their comments or access their feedback questions until you have approved the Define Criteria stage. For help, watch the short video Define Criteria for Managers.
2. Complete your Check-in conversations with your employees by August 29
   Review and provide comments on each of your employee’s goals, competencies and feedback questions. Complete the Check-in conversation with all your employees.

New employees

• Individual contributors
  Complete the required ecourses:
  — STEP Fundamentals for Employees
  — GROWing your Check-ins Conversations for all Employees (20 minutes)
• People managers
  Complete the required e-courses and live training:
  — STEP Fundamentals for Managers (ecourse)
  — GROWing your Check-ins Conversations for all Employees (e-course; 20 minutes)
  — GROWing your Check-ins for Managers (live course; 2 hours)

Optional training and additional resources

• Define Criteria for New Employees (live course, 1 hour)
• GROWing your Check-in for Employees (live course, 2 hours)
• ePerformance demo video: Check-ins for Employees or Check-in for Managers (4 minutes)
• STEP guide, GROW Resource Guide, UC Core Competency Development Guide, technical difficulties FAQ

Upcoming live STEP training

All classes take place virtually, via Zoom, and reflect Pacific Time.

GROW Plus: Accountability Conversation for Managers
Sept. 4, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
In the second part of our required live training series for managers, we’ll answer the question: “What do I do when my coaching is not improving performance?” In this highly interactive workshop, we will cover providing productive critical feedback, managing emotions, creating efficient documentation and holding effective accountability conversations, using the UCOP GROW Plus framework.

GROWing Your Check-in Conversations for Managers
Sept. 23, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
GROW is a popular coaching framework used worldwide for problem solving, goal setting and performance improvement. This interactive session allows managers to discuss and practice using the GROW framework as a strategy and tool to support engaging STEP checkpoint conversations. Note: The e-course “GROWing your Checkpoint Conversations” must be taken before this class.

Additional resources can be found on the STEP website. For questions, contact your manager, HR business partner or step@ucop.edu.

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