The 2026–27 UCOP Staff Talent Evaluation Process (STEP) performance year is underway, and the first quarterly Check-in deadline is coming up. Employees and managers should complete their Check-in conversations by Friday, Aug. 28.

Below is a quick reminder of what employees, managers and new hires need to do before the deadline. If you’d like a refresher on STEP, watch the five-minute overview video.

Employee to-dos

Before your Check-in conversation:

• Review your goals and competencies in ePerformance and update them as needed. Then, answer the four discussion questions in the Feedback tab.
• If you’re new to UCOP, complete the STEP Fundamentals e-course.

By Friday, Aug. 28: Complete your Check-in conversation with your manager. Plan to use this conversation to discuss your goals and competencies, exchange feedback, talk through any concerns and identify any support or resources you may need.

Live employee trainings

STEP: Goals and Competencies
Optional course | August 14, 9 – 10 a.m.
Take a closer look at the Define Criteria stage of the Staff Talent Evaluation Process (STEP). You’ll practice writing effective goals and learn how to connect them with UCOP competencies. The course is designed for new employees as well as anyone who would like a refresher.

People manager to-dos

Before Check-in conversations begin:

• Complete the Define Criteria stage for each employee as soon as possible. Employees can’t update their comments or access the Feedback tab until this step is complete. For help, watch the short “Define Criteria for Managers” and “Check-ins for Managers” videos.
• If you’re new to UCOP or a new people manager, complete the following required trainings:
  • STEP Fundamentals (e-course)
  • Manager and Employee Conversations Part 1: Feedback and Coaching Employees (live virtual course)
  • Manager and Employee Conversations Part 2: Feedback for Employee Accountability (live virtual course)

By Friday, Aug. 28: Meet with each employee to complete their Check-in conversation. Review goals, competencies and feedback responses and provide coaching and feedback during the discussion.

Live people managers training

Manager and Employee Conversations Part 2: Feedback for Employee Accountability
Required | August 25, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
What should you do when coaching isn’t improving performance? In the second part of this required series, managers will practice providing critical feedback, managing emotions, documenting performance and holding accountability conversations using the UCOP GROW Plus framework.

People Leader Forum: Coaching as a Manager — What’s Different and What Works
Optional | August 28, 1 – 2 p.m.
Deepak Patil, an organization development consultant with UCOP Organizational Development, will explore how managers can use coaching as a practical, everyday leadership tool. Through simple models and interactive exercises, participants will learn how manager-led coaching differs from professional coaching and how to choose the right approach for employee conversations.

Manager & Employee Conversations Pt. 3: Coaching Emotional Regulation Through Feedback
Optional | September 1, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
In the third course in the Manager and Employee Conversations series, we explore how to provide meaningful, actionable feedback that supports the development of social-emotional skills. Many managers find it challenging to guide growth in areas like building positive relationships, navigating emotions and strengthening emotional awareness. This session challenges the belief that these skills are fixed, showing instead that they can be learned and developed over time. Through practical tools, real-world scenarios and concrete strategies, managers will build confidence in coaching and giving feedback that helps individuals grow.

Additional resources

• STEP website: A one-stop shop for all STEP resources, including a library of training videos and the ePerformance User Guide.
• LinkedIn Learning Collection: Helpful on-demand videos provide more insight into the performance appraisal process for managers and employees.

For questions, contact your manager, HR business partner or step@ucop.edu.

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