Language for Peer Review Letters

Review Initiator letters and other higher level review letters (AULs, ULs) should be written to clearly indicate whether a standard merit or promotion is recommended, or whether a greater or less than standard increase is recommended. The following are examples of the types of language that would be helpful to include in a review letter.

• Standard Merit

  • “I recommend a standard merit increase based on this positive review."
    
    

• Merit with Exceptional Performance

  • “I recommend a Merit with Exceptional Performance based on this positive review and the exceptional performance during this review period.”

• Standard Merit / Promotion  (If a merit or promotion is recommended)

  • “I recommend a Promotion with Standard Merit increase based on this positive review.”
    
    

• Promotion with Exceptional Performance

  • “I recommend a Promotion with Exceptional Performance based on this positive review and the exceptional performance during this review period.”

• No Action without Prejudice

  • “I recommend no action without prejudice based on the candidate’s positive review and current placement at the top of the salary scale.”

• No Action with Prejudice

  • “I recommend a no action with prejudice based on this less than positive review”

Available Actions for Recommendation:

• Standard merit increase

• Merit Increase with Exceptional Performance

• Standard promotion

• Promotion with Exceptional Performance

• Career status

• No action without prejudice

• No action with Prejudice

• No action with Prejudice with salary increase

• Termination