Frequently Asked Questions

Per the strategic plan, WKU is looking to revise the performance management system for the following three reasons:

1. The current system lacks consistency and ability to accurately differentiate employees for varying levels of performance/contribution
2. The current process does not effectively contribute to employee development.
3. The current attributes of the system do not contribute to the desired WKU culture of growth and development.

Performance Management typically is a structured system that involves goal setting, feedback, and annual evaluations, supported by forms and/or technology.

Performance Development is a clear, continuous and engaging process that helps employees and supervisors succeed at accomplishing the mission of the institution. It focuses on building a trusting relationship between employees and supervisors that enables growth and recognition through continuous feedback . It is generally supported by technology. 

Faculty who supervise staff will be involved in the program as evaluators, but the method by which faculty are evaluated will not change.

The Compensation Study work stream is focused on developing a fair, market-based and internally equitable salary program (see Compensation Study Project page). The new performance development system will focus on promoting conversations between employees and supervisors, goals alignment, continuous feedback, and growth and development opportunities. The relationship between compensation and performance is unknown at this time, but will be determined as part of the initiative.

While we anticipate continued budget constraints for the foreseeable future, employees benefit from recognition and development in many forms in addition to monetary rewards. The new performance development system aims to provide career and professional development opportunities for all employees as well as other forms of benefits (i.e., positive feedback, goal achievement, peer support, training, mentor opportunities).

WKU leadership endorses the strategic plan which includes a goal to design and implement a consistent, university-wide performance development system. President Caboni in a recent video encouraged supervisors and staff to contribute to the re-design of this process. As President Caboni said, “Together, we are building a growth and development-oriented culture for all employees, and this process must support that.”

Volunteers were accepted from the Supervisor Input Session and the Non-Supervisory Employee Input Sessions.  Additionally, Staff Senate and the Strategic Plan Implementation committees each nominated a member of their groups to serve.

Human Resources is committed to keeping the WKU community informed throughout this initiative via emails from the Director of Human Resources at key project milestones. In addition, updates to the project website will be posted regularly, including updated FAQs (found here) based on questions submitted to human.resources@wku.edu.  You may submit questions to human.resources@wku.edu at any time.

There will be required training of all employees and supervisors, however, we will be learning through our Pilot Program participants which modules will be required and which will be optional.  Further details to come!

In order to tailor the Performance Development program specifically to the WKU environment, input from WKU stakeholders (in addition to effective practices in Higher Education and in general industry) will serve as the foundation for the design.

The Pilot Program consists of the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning, Counseling & Testing, University Libraries, and Parking & Transportation, Communications.  Volunteers for the Pilot Program were taken from the Supervisor Input Sessions hosted in May 2019.  The program participants include 23 supervisors and 75 employees.

Human Resources is committed to keeping the WKU community informed throughout this initiative via emails from the Director of Human Resources at key project milestones. In addition, updates to the project website will be posted regularly, including updated FAQs (found here) based on questions submitted to human.resources@wku.edu.  You may submit questions to human.resources@wku.edu at any time.