By now, you’ve likely heard about Upward Evaluation as part of our Demonstrated Practices of Care.
At its core, Upward Evaluation is a structured opportunity for employees to provide feedback on their experience of leadership.
It’s one of the ways we strengthen alignment between our values and our daily behaviors – because how we lead shapes how work gets done, and ultimately, how we serve our students.
This is a baseline year, and an important step forward in how we learn and improve together.
Why this matters
We are very good at working. We move quickly. We deliver. We produce.
That is a strength of this institution.
What we are strengthening now is how we work – how we communicate, how we collaborate, and how we lead. And if we’re being honest, that is often more challenging – and more important – than the work itself. Because culture isn’t what we say, it’s what we experience.
When leadership is clear, consistent, and aligned with our values, teams are stronger, collaboration improves, and we create a more effective and supportive environment for everyone.
That impact extends directly to our students.
When our people are supported and our leadership is strong, we are better able to remove barriers and help students move forward toward completion – our North Star.
Five Things to Keep in Mind as You Complete Upward Evaluation
As you complete your upward evaluation, keep the following in mind:
1. Think about patterns, not isolated moments.
Consider your supervisor’s typical behavior over time, not one unusually positive or difficult interaction.
2. Rate based on your own experience.
Respond to what you have directly observed or experienced, not secondhand information or assumptions.
3. Separate discomfort from poor leadership.
Being held accountable or navigating change can feel challenging. Consider whether the issue is about how something was handled, not just how it felt.
4. Focus on values in action.
Rate based on how consistently your supervisor demonstrates ACC’s expected behaviors, not personal style or preference.
5. Your input matters.
This is a baseline year. Your responses will help identify strengths, highlight opportunities, and shape how we support leaders across the College.
What happens next
Managers will receive summarized, confidential results and will be supported through training and coaching to interpret and act on the feedback.
Teams will have opportunities to engage in follow-up conversations and goal-setting as part of this process.
This is where feedback turns into action.
Upward Evaluation is one part of a broader effort to strengthen communication, alignment, and trust across the College.
We will continue to provide space for dialogue through weekly HR Open Forums (formerly “HR Office Hours”), monthly on-campus AMAs, and ongoing engagement opportunities.
If you have questions or want to explore HR-related topics more broadly, we encourage you to join.
Thank You
This work reflects the voices of many across ACC — employees whose shared experiences, ideas, and perspecrives help shape how our values show up in practice.
Together, we are moving from values as words… to values as actions.
That shared language, and shared commitment, makes a difference.
Regards,
Kelly Torrico
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