Update on 2026 Career Conversations Process

Tuesday
To: Staff and Supervisors of Staff
From: Human Resources
Subject: Update on 2026 Career Conversations Process
Date: Jun 02, 2026

The university is evolving Career Conversations, the annual career growth and planning cycle for staff. We are implementing changes to support more meaningful conversations about performance and professional growth and to make the process easier for staff and supervisors.

What is changing in 2026
  • Staff and supervisors will use EDGE Learning, the university’s learning management system, to complete Career Conversations, replacing the current process of uploading a document to UAccess.
     
  • As part of their Career Conversations self-reflection, staff will enter an overall performance rating. This rating, along with other Career Conversations categories, will be discussed and reviewed with supervisors.
     
  • Career Conversations will take place August through October with specific actions required each month in the EDGE Learning dashboard:
     
    • Aug. 3-31: Staff conduct self-reflection by completing each Career Conversations category.
    • Sept. 1-30: Supervisors review staff entries, including performance ratings, and enter comments.
    • Oct. 5-30: Supervisors meet with staff to discuss and finalize entries before submitting their Career Conversations.
       
  • The university will require 100% completion of Career Conversations for all staff across colleges and divisions. Alongside the Faculty Affairs Annual Review Process for faculty, this supports the university’s expectation that all employees receive annual performance feedback.
Training and support

Human Resources will release EDGE Learning modules beginning June 15. Staff members and supervisors should complete these modules by July 31.

In addition, Human Resources will host live trainings and office hours from July through October for staff and supervisors regarding the new performance rating.

Your Human Resources team will be in contact with unit leadership and is available to support you and your teams ahead of the Aug. 3 kickoff and throughout the Career Conversations cycle. 

Moving forward

The process will continue to evolve in the coming years as the university collects feedback from the campus community and conducts industry research and benchmarking.

Over time, changes to Career Conversations will enhance staff members’ ability to receive clear and transparent feedback about their performance, strengths and growth opportunities.

Visit the Career Conversations page for full details about 2026 changes, including registration links and dates for training options once they are posted. Please contact your Human Resources team for support.