Step 2: Supervisor Writes Review

This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough for supervisors on how to effectively complete annual performance reviews using the Cornerstone portal. It simplifies the review process by detailing each section, from rating competencies to setting new goals, ensuring that supervisors can provide accurate and constructive feedback.

Patrick McClain
59 steps
6 minutes

CSOD

Navigate to <https://cornerstone.ou.edu/> Log into the Cornerstone Performance Review portal by using your OU email address and password.

Click "Please complete the annual review task for your direct report(s)."

Please note all of the scores, comments, and feedback are entirely made-up. It was only created to develop this training material.

When you arrive at the first page, the "Overview" tab will already be highlighted in blue. On the right side of the screen, you’ll see a list of all employees for whom you need to complete an annual review. In this example, Angela, James, and Jay each have a red triangle with an exclamation mark next to their name. This icon indicates that their step is past due.

Click on the name of the employee to begin writing their review.

Section 1: University Competencies

The first section is "University Competencies." On the right-hand side of the screen, you will see all of the sections that need to be completed. The section you are currently in is highlighted in blue. A blue dot next to the section indicates you have visited the section, but have not completed all of the requirements for that section. A green checkmark next to the section indicates that you have completed that section.

Rate your employee on each competency by clicking on the circle beneath the rating number.

Tip! To view the rating scale and definitions, click on the ? in the upper right-hand side of the page.

Tip! A new window will open and show you each rating and the corresponding description. Click "Close" when you want to return.

Click "Rating History" to view how your employee rated themselves on each competency.

A new window will open. In the example below you can see that Rebecca rated herself an 8.00 on Functional Job Knowledge. Once you are finished, click "Close" to return to the Competencies section.

At the bottom of the section, you will see the average score from all of the competencies. Please note - since each section score is weighted, this is not the final score for the competency section, it still has to be multiplied by 42.5% and then added to the rest of the sections.

Make sure you have selected a score for each competency and then click "Next"

If you missed rating one or more competencies you will see this red error bar at the top of the page. Go back through and rate each competency, and then click "Next" again.

Section 2: Goal Review

Next you will rate each of the employee's goals. Start by clicking the down arrow next to "Select"

Select the score you want to assign from the drop-down list.

Alert! You have the responsibility to rate each goal accurately. Just because the employee selects "Not Evaluated/Deferred" does not mean that you have to select that rating. Similarly, if the employee selects a score, you can still select "Not Evaluated/Deferred."

(Optional) You can add comments by clicking in the text box.

To view the rating scale definitions, click on the ? next to "Select"

Tip! A new window will open and show you each rating and the corresponding description. Click "Close" when you want to return.

Continuing rating and adding comments for each goal and then click "Next."

If you missed rating one or more goals, you will see this red error bar at the top of the page. Go back through and rate each goal, and then click "Next" again.

Section 3: Department Specific Contributions

Rate the employee by clicking on the circle beneath the rating number.

Tip! To view the rating scale and definitions, click on the ? in the middle of the page.

Tip! A new window will open and show you each rating and the corresponding description. Click "Close" when you want to return.

Comments are **required** in this section. To add comments, click in the text box.

Section 4: Overall Comments

To add comments, click in the text box.

Click "Next" to move to the next section.

Section 5: Goal Planning for New Year

The last section lets you edit, remove, and/or add your employee's annual goals for the new year.

Alert! We strongly recommend that each employee have at least three (3) to five (5) goals for the upcoming year.

Alert! If this page is blank, like in the example below, it means that the employee **did not** create any goals for the upcoming year.

You have the authority to **edit** the employee's goals, **remove** any that may not be feasible or aligned with strategic priorities, and **add** additional goals where necessary.

Section 5: Editing a Goal

Click on the down arrow on the goal that you want to change, and then click "Edit"

Review the goal and identify what needs to be changed. For example, maybe you want to change the start date. Click on the calendar icon and select the new date.

After you've made all the changes, click "Submit Modifications"

(Optional) If you want to see what changes were made, you can click the down arrow next to the goal and then click "View History"

A new window will open and you can see the history of changes. To see more details, click on the right facing arrow.

In this example, you can see the Start Date was changed from 1/1/2026 to 2/16/2026. Once you are finished, click "Close"

Section 5: Delete a Goal

If you need to delete a goal, click on the down arrow next to the goal.

Click "Delete"

A warning box will open up making sure you want to delete the goal. If you do, click "Delete," otherwise click "Cancel"

Section 5: Adding a Goal from Scratch

If you need to create a new goal, click "Add Goals"

Click in the text box to create a "Goal Statement." This can be a few words or a sentence to describe the goal at a high-level.

Click in the text box to provide a more detailed description of the goal.

(Optional) Click here to add one or more "Tasks" to the goal. Tasks can be used to identify specific steps and/or milestones to achieve the goal. If you don't want to add any tasks, skip ahead to [this step.](https://scribehow.com/viewer/Step_1_Employee_Writes_Self-Review___XXuz_h5RWaqPslHgVpgbw?scrollToActionId=2ff5082c)

A new pop-up window will open. Click in the "Description" text box to add the task details.

(If needed) You can click on the calendar icon to change the start and/or end dates for this task.

Once you are finished, click "Add"

If you want to add multiple tasks, click "Add Tasks" and repeat the process.

Once you've added all the goals you need to, click "Submit"

Section 5: Adding a Goal from the Library

If you want to create a goal from a template in the goal library, click "Add Goals"

Click "Library"

Click in the search box for a specific goal, or click on specific goal to add it.

To view the description of a goal, click on the down arrow icon next to the goal.

Once you've found the goal you want, click "Import"

The goal statement and description you selected above will auto-populate those fields.

Click in the "Goal Statement" and/or "Description" text box to add, edit, or delete the default text.

(If needed) Click the calendar icon to change the "Start Date" and/or "End Date" for the goal.

Click "Submit"

Final Check & Submission

Make sure that each section has a green checkmark. If one is missing, click on that section's name and finish any remaining steps.

If you are not ready to submit your review, at any point in time you can click on "Save for Later."

Otherwise, when you are ready click "Submit"

Alert! Once you submit you will not be able to make any changes!

You will receive a warning, asking you if you are sure you want to submit. Click "Submit review" when you are ready.

You should see this confirmation window indicating that your review had been submitted correctly.

Additional Resources

For more resources and information about the annual review process, please visit <https://hr.ou.edu/evaluations>

Issue: Missing Action Item

If you are trying to write an employee's review but you do not see an action item, follow these steps.

Click on the Navigation Menu in the upper right-hand corner.

Click "Performance" and then click "Performance Reviews"

Now you should see the action item. Click "Please complete your annual review task." If you still don't see the item, you make have to click the boxes next to "Completed" and/or "Expired."

Step 2: Supervisor Writes Review

Patrick McClain
59 steps
6 minutes

CSOD

Navigate to <https://cornerstone.ou.edu/> Log into the Cornerstone Performance Review portal by using your OU email address and password.

Click "Please complete the annual review task for your direct report(s)."

Please note all of the scores, comments, and feedback are entirely made-up. It was only created to develop this training material.

Click on the name of the employee to begin writing their review.

Section 1: University Competencies

Rate your employee on each competency by clicking on the circle beneath the rating number.

Tip! To view the rating scale and definitions, click on the ? in the upper right-hand side of the page.

Tip! A new window will open and show you each rating and the corresponding description. Click "Close" when you want to return.

Click "Rating History" to view how your employee rated themselves on each competency.

A new window will open. In the example below you can see that Rebecca rated herself an 8.00 on Functional Job Knowledge. Once you are finished, click "Close" to return to the Competencies section.

Make sure you have selected a score for each competency and then click "Next"

If you missed rating one or more competencies you will see this red error bar at the top of the page. Go back through and rate each competency, and then click "Next" again.

Section 2: Goal Review

Next you will rate each of the employee's goals. Start by clicking the down arrow next to "Select"

Select the score you want to assign from the drop-down list.

(Optional) You can add comments by clicking in the text box.

To view the rating scale definitions, click on the ? next to "Select"

Tip! A new window will open and show you each rating and the corresponding description. Click "Close" when you want to return.

Continuing rating and adding comments for each goal and then click "Next."

If you missed rating one or more goals, you will see this red error bar at the top of the page. Go back through and rate each goal, and then click "Next" again.

Section 3: Department Specific Contributions

Rate the employee by clicking on the circle beneath the rating number.

Tip! To view the rating scale and definitions, click on the ? in the middle of the page.

Tip! A new window will open and show you each rating and the corresponding description. Click "Close" when you want to return.

Comments are **required** in this section. To add comments, click in the text box.

Section 4: Overall Comments

To add comments, click in the text box.

Click "Next" to move to the next section.

Section 5: Goal Planning for New Year

The last section lets you edit, remove, and/or add your employee's annual goals for the new year.

Alert! We strongly recommend that each employee have at least three (3) to five (5) goals for the upcoming year.

Alert! If this page is blank, like in the example below, it means that the employee **did not** create any goals for the upcoming year.

You have the authority to **edit** the employee's goals, **remove** any that may not be feasible or aligned with strategic priorities, and **add** additional goals where necessary.

Section 5: Editing a Goal

Click on the down arrow on the goal that you want to change, and then click "Edit"

Review the goal and identify what needs to be changed. For example, maybe you want to change the start date. Click on the calendar icon and select the new date.

After you've made all the changes, click "Submit Modifications"

(Optional) If you want to see what changes were made, you can click the down arrow next to the goal and then click "View History"

A new window will open and you can see the history of changes. To see more details, click on the right facing arrow.

In this example, you can see the Start Date was changed from 1/1/2026 to 2/16/2026. Once you are finished, click "Close"

Section 5: Delete a Goal

If you need to delete a goal, click on the down arrow next to the goal.

Click "Delete"

A warning box will open up making sure you want to delete the goal. If you do, click "Delete," otherwise click "Cancel"

Section 5: Adding a Goal from Scratch

If you need to create a new goal, click "Add Goals"

Click in the text box to create a "Goal Statement." This can be a few words or a sentence to describe the goal at a high-level.

Click in the text box to provide a more detailed description of the goal.

A new pop-up window will open. Click in the "Description" text box to add the task details.

(If needed) You can click on the calendar icon to change the start and/or end dates for this task.

Once you are finished, click "Add"

If you want to add multiple tasks, click "Add Tasks" and repeat the process.

Once you've added all the goals you need to, click "Submit"

Section 5: Adding a Goal from the Library

If you want to create a goal from a template in the goal library, click "Add Goals"

Click "Library"

Click in the search box for a specific goal, or click on specific goal to add it.

To view the description of a goal, click on the down arrow icon next to the goal.

Once you've found the goal you want, click "Import"

The goal statement and description you selected above will auto-populate those fields.

Click in the "Goal Statement" and/or "Description" text box to add, edit, or delete the default text.

(If needed) Click the calendar icon to change the "Start Date" and/or "End Date" for the goal.

Click "Submit"

Final Check & Submission

Make sure that each section has a green checkmark. If one is missing, click on that section's name and finish any remaining steps.

If you are not ready to submit your review, at any point in time you can click on "Save for Later."

Otherwise, when you are ready click "Submit"

Alert! Once you submit you will not be able to make any changes!

You will receive a warning, asking you if you are sure you want to submit. Click "Submit review" when you are ready.

You should see this confirmation window indicating that your review had been submitted correctly.

Additional Resources

For more resources and information about the annual review process, please visit <https://hr.ou.edu/evaluations>

Issue: Missing Action Item

If you are trying to write an employee's review but you do not see an action item, follow these steps.

Click on the Navigation Menu in the upper right-hand corner.

Click "Performance" and then click "Performance Reviews"

Now you should see the action item. Click "Please complete your annual review task." If you still don't see the item, you make have to click the boxes next to "Completed" and/or "Expired."