Learn more about how to align individual success with the university’s mission by setting clear expectations and objectives for the year ahead. Through thoughtful planning, employees gain clarity on their responsibilities, ensuring they are equipped to meet both personal and organizational goals. The performance planning overview provides a text description of this process.

Learn how to align your success with K-State’s mission by setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) core responsibilities and objectives. Through clear and structured planning, employees gain a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities, ensuring they are equipped to meet both personal and organizational goals effectively.

Throughout the performance period, your core responsibilities serve as a reference for tracking progress, recognizing accomplishments, and identifying opportunities for growth. They also provide a foundation for meaningful conversations with your manager and help guide the performance evaluation process.

In this video, we’ll walk you through how to create and submit your core responsibilities in ADP Talent, so you can clearly document your expectations and set yourself up for success throughout the performance period.

• How to add core responsibilities guide (pdf)

Learn more about how to support ongoing success by checking in at mid-period to reflect on progress, realign priorities, and address any challenges. Through open conversation and feedback, employees and supervisors can adjust goals, clarify expectations, and ensure continued progress toward both individual and university objectives.

• Mid-period review guide for supervisors (pdf)
• Mid-period review guide for employees (pdf)

View steps for initiating and processing employee touchpoints.

• On-demand touchpoints for supervisors (pdf)

• On-demand touchpoints for staff (pdf)

End-of-year performance evaluations will open in the system on November 1. To prepare, we encourage supervisors and staff to work together now to transfer the information outlined in the planning document into ADP Talent.

• Core Responsibilities/Objectives: This short video walks you through how to create a goal on the Core Responsibilities/Objectives tab in ADP Talent. Core responsibilities/Objectives added after November 1st can be manually imported into the end-of-year evaluation form.
• Professional Development Interests and Plans: Please transfer these items to the Professional Development tab in ADP Talent before November 1. Professional development activities saved before November 1 will automatically import into the end-of-year evaluation; activities saved after November 1 cannot be imported into the evaluation.

Having this information in the system before November 1 will make the end-of-year conversation smoother and ensure evaluations reflect the expectations set at the start of the year.

A few reminders as you prepare:

• The system works with any modern browser. There is no special software required.
• You'll log in using your standard K-State eID and password.
• Supervisors: if you notice any direct reports missing from your team, please email talentappsadmin@ksu.edu.
• Additional resources, including job aids and training opportunities, are available on the HR webpage.

Deadline: To give supervisors and staff adequate time to learn the new system, the deadline for submitting an overall rating on end-of-year evaluations has been extended to February 28, 2027. Beginning with the 2027 performance cycle, end-of-year evaluations will return to our normal timeline, with a deadline of January 31.

Training: Virtual training sessions will be available via Zoom for all staff and supervisors. Please register for a virtual session or in-person session which will take place in October, November, December, and January. Dates and locations for the in-person sessions will be shared once finalized.

The first 15 minutes of each session will cover how to complete a self-evaluation in the new performance management system. The remaining time will focus on helping supervisors conduct effective year-end reviews.