Villanova’s performance management, evaluation and development program for staff is called the Staff Development Program or SDP.  The SDP is a process for enhancing job performance and increasing communication between the supervisor and the staff member. Staff members participate in the Staff Development Program on an annual basis.

Performance evaluation is an opportunity to guide staff development.  Done effectively, performance evaluation builds communication between supervisors and staff.  The SDP process creates a link between individual and institutional goals, and serves as a guide for continuous improvement and continuous learning.  Although one of the benefits of the SDP is to guide salary decisions, it is by no means the only, or even the most important, benefits of this process. The following describes the specific benefits the Staff Development Program provides to staff, supervisors, and to the University overall.

For staff, the University’s performance evaluation process offers opportunities for:

• increasing job satisfaction;
• learning recognition;
• increasing a sense of ownership and self-direction; and,
• improving job performance

For supervisors, effective performance evaluations of staff can:

• yield better teamwork and cooperation;
• set clearer expectations;
• produce better departmental performance;
• clarify roles as supervisor and mentor;
• signal that the supervisor cares and is making an investment in his/her staff; and,
• develop the supervisor as a leader.

For the University, effective performance evaluations contribute to:

• better service to students and other members of our community;
• staff alignment with strategic goals;
• enhancement of a climate that values all employees;
• an overall improvement in work performance; and,
• more consistent goal achievement.

More information on the SDP process, as well as the applicable forms, is available from the Human Resources office, or from the HR website.