Performance Management
Welcome to Cornerstone Conversations, Wayne State's new approach to performance management. Cornerstone Conversations is a transformative approach to helping our Warriors excel in their work and advance in their careers.
The result of initial and ongoing feedback and collaboration from across campus, Cornerstone Conversations provides you with tools to set and achieve meaningful goals, strengthen performance and career/professional development, align with WSU values, and build connections through great conversations. See We heard you section below for the most recent feedback received as input into changes for FY 2025.
Keep reading to learn more about Cornerstone Conversations and how it will benefit you and our campus. Or click on one of the buttons below to explore learning resources for Cornerstone Conversations, log into the Cornerstone system, or access legacy forms.
Resources Start your journey with our learning resources
Cornerstone loginUse your AccessID and password to log in
Key DatesFor Academic Administrators, Executives, Managers, Researchers, Non-Represented Staff, and Staff Association members
Manual PDFs (legacy)P&A staff members and new/transferred employees use our legacy forms
We heard you
FY25 Recommendations
- Simplify forms
- Keep goal weightings, career development and values
- Keep fiscal year timing but pre-populate goal dates
- Make it easy to see what is due and when
- Create dashboard to monitor/track results
Every good design process starts by listening to stakeholders and the Performance Management Redesign team took this to heart. With 21 members from across campus, our team gathered initial input from over 190 staff, managers, executives, administrators, union leadership, researchers, deans, and business affairs officers who shared their needs.
We are committed to continuously evolving and improving this experience with campus feedback. In January 2025, nearly 130 campus members shared input that will help us to improve our approach starting fiscal year 2025.
Learn more about the most recent campus feedback and a sneak peek of what’s new starting with the FY2025 Annual Performance Plan by attending a Town Hall or viewing this short video.
What's new
- Reduced pages to just two: Goals and Development.
- Enhanced performance goals
- Fiscal dates to pre-populate in default goal start and end dates
- End of the year ratings are listed for reference when defining goal success
- Goals are combined with WSU values to both what is achieved as well as how it is achieved
- Professional and career development were combined; goals will now carry forward into FY25 Mid-Year Check In and FY25 Annual Review
- Leader’s own FY25 Annual Performance Plan view will now include a list of submitted reviews for input/approval in the left menu
- Key performance management dates were added to the Cornerstone Conversations landing page, to the WSU Events Calendar, in bi-monthly OED email newsletters and will be reinforced via optional Outlook invitations (upon request to OED@wayne.edu)
- Leader dashboard to provide current completion status and list of leader tasks
Cornerstone Conversations: Connecting people, process, & technology
Cornerstone Conversations connects people, process, and technology to support achievement and growth for our people and our campus. As the name hints, great conversations are the spark that brings these connections to life. The process is organized around four phases, all centered around the discussions that will help you set and meet meaningful goals:
- Plan: Setting Goals during Annual Performance Planning
- Nurture: Providing Feedback, Coaching & Support
- Ensure: Touching Base on Progress at the Midyear Check-In
- Celebrate: Recognizing Achievements at the Annual Review
Voices from the Cornerstone Redesign Team
"I am pretty excited about Cornerstone! In the past, the performance management process could feel like you're 'sitting in the principal's office,' as a passive recipient, not really knowing what to expect. This is a simpler, more streamlined process. The Mid-Year Check In helps you see if you're on the right track and identify any areas for improvement and support. I also like the professional development piece. As leaders, it shows we are invested in helping employees reach their goals. I think it's a great improvement to the annual review process."
Sha'Ron Williams
Manager, Business Operations
Graduate School