Evaluating Student Employees and Developing Performance Improvement Plans
As we are approaching the end of the semester, please take time to complete performance
evaluations for all your student employees.
Formal evaluation of a student employee’s work provides supervisors the opportunity to offer
student employees meaningful feedback about their knowledge, skills and attributes. Student
employees benefit from receiving constructive feedback on their strengths and weaknesses
demonstrated in the workplace. Performance evaluations for student employees are also a good
time to ask if they have ideas or suggestions of how to improve processes and communication
within the workplace.
While the "it’s just a job" attitude exists among some on-campus student employees, many
students treat their campus employment as more than a convenient way to make spending
money. Student employment is often viewed as an opportunity to enhance learning and develop
skills. Supervisors can overcome the "just a job" attitude and contribute to student learning by
developing thoughtful and thorough evaluation processes. Just as students learn and develop
from academic evaluation, they also can benefit from constructive feedback in their employment
experience. Identifying strengths and areas for improvement, establishing a plan of action, and
following-up systematically provide the "grading system" whereby students can continue
learning outside of the classroom and supervisors can ensure that more meaningful and efficient
work occurs.
1. Student evaluation starts with a clear understanding of what is expected. How are the
student’s responsibilities expected to contribute to the mission of the office? How is the
supervisor expected to assist the student in succeeding? Such expectations should be
discussed and agreed upon when a student is hired. Communicating expectations early
and continuously can prevent comments like, "Why isn’t that getting done?" and, "I
didn’t know you wanted me to do that."
2. Evaluation should be a joint effort. Supervisors must be willing to spend time with a
student, discussing strengths and weaknesses, inquiring about student concerns,
developing goals, and agreeing on an action plan. If formal evaluation forms are required,
supervisors should complete them with the student present, or at least be willing to
examine and explain each comment in person. If specific forms are not used, the
supervisor and student should document the discussion and agree on what is written by
signing the evaluation. The student should be encouraged to participate in the
conversation, instead of playing the "sit and listen" role.
3. A Sample Process - Performance Evaluation and Improvement Plans
The following process can be used to evaluate students and assist them in improving their
performance, developing skills, and enhancing learning.
1. Identify Current Strengths
Start with what the student does well. Supervisors should offer their perspective
about the student’s strengths AND ask the student to comment on his/her own
perceived strengths.
2. Identify Areas for Improvement
Explain why improvement in specific areas will benefit the student and the office.
As often as possible, use examples that document the need for improvement. Ask
the student to share about areas he/she would like to improve or explore, skills
he/she would like to develop, or new responsibilities he/she would like to assume.
3. Develop an Action Plan
4. Determine two or three objectives that the student will work on in a given time
period (next semester).
5. Develop a list of attainable goals that the supervisor will work on during the same
time period to assist the student in developing skills, improving work
performance, and enhancing learning.
6. Establish the importance of success and the consequence of failure.
4. Follow-up and Evaluate Progress
Check with the student periodically to determine progress toward established goals.
Revise the action plan if necessary. Set a date to meet together in order to evaluate the
previous plan and begin developing a new one.
5. The Next Level
Supervisors can complement the student evaluation process by asking students to
evaluate their job description, their supervisor, and/or office practices. Learning and
improvement can occur at many levels as a result of the evaluation process!