Model Language
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."
- “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 standard promotion increase based on this positive review.”
- “I recommend a standard promotion 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
- “I recommend a no action based on this less than positive review”
- “I recommend a no action based on this less than positive review”
No Action with Salary Increase
- “While this was a less than positive review, I recommend a no action with salary increase based on the exceptional circumstances described in this review.”
- “While this review was not uniformly positive, I recommend a no action with salary increase based on the exceptional circumstances described in this review.”
Available Actions for Recommendation:
- Standard merit increase
- Merit Increase with Exceptional Performance
- Standard promotion
- Promotion with Exceptional Performance
- Career status
- No action
- No action with salary increase
- Termination