May 21, 2025

Dear Colleague,

On behalf of the entire University of Delaware, we want to express our sincere appreciation for the hard work and unwavering commitment of all our dedicated staff over the past year. Together, we persevered through significant challenges, and we will continue to do so with a focus on supporting the personal and institutional success of the whole UD community.

Over the past two years, we have worked to simplify and enhance UD’s Performance Management and Merit Pay Program. As part of that process, we are implementing the following changes to bring the appraisal cycle into alignment with the University’s fiscal calendar:

• This year, each college and administrative unit will allocate a funding pool to distribute to staff based on meritorious performance, with raises effective September 1, 2025. As you know, the merit program rewards exceptional employee performance and the achievement of goals and objectives established by each college or unit leader.
• Future annual staff appraisals will be based on performance from July 1 through June 30, and appraisals will be conducted over the summer. This becomes effective in Fiscal Year 2026, which runs July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
• Future merit raises will be effective in September each year.

Please note, those in soft-funded positions may not be eligible for a merit increase.

As always, we are grateful for your talent and contributions. Thank you for all that you do, and please accept our best wishes for a wonderful summer as we prepare for a new academic year to commence in just a few short months.

Warmest regards,

Dennis Assanis, President

Melissa Bard, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer