Feedback

The purpose of feedback is to provide an unsuccessful applicant with a clear sense of what they would need to do in order to raise the level of their achievement to the standard required to obtain promotion in a future exercise. Every attempt should be made to provide feedback that is helpful and constructive. See the timetable for the provision of feedback and the lodging of Appeals.

After the General Board (GB) has met and agreed the outcome of each application, Heads of Institution will be informed of the outcomes of applications in their institution. Details of the feedback process will be provided to those with unsuccessful applicants in their institution.

Unsuccessful applicants must be offered the following by their Head of Institution as part of the feedback process:

Written feedback: a copy of the feedback statement prepared by the relevant SC for the applicant, and a copy of the Assessment Record which provides full comments on the assessment of the application made by the FC and SC. Applicants must also be informed that they can request a copy of the Institutional Statement, and copies of references where referees have agreed to the release in line with data protection legislation. Applicants can request this by contacting the HR Reward Team (acp@admin.cam.ac.uk);
Verbal feedback (feedback meeting): a meeting in person, so that the Head of Institution can provide constructive, verbal feedback. Please see below for guidance on how to prepare for these meetings.

Note: there may be circumstances in which it is appropriate for someone other than the Head of Institution to provide feedback to an unsuccessful applicant, for example the Head of School, or a senior colleague who previously provided mentoring or other support to the applicant.

Prior to the feedback meeting

In order to prepare for a feedback meeting, Heads of Institution must meet with the relevant Chairs of the FC and SC to discuss the reasons for unsuccessful applications. Heads of Institution may also wish to discuss the feedback with the Head of School prior to meeting with the unsuccessful applicant. It may also be appropriate for the Chair of the SC and the Head of School (who is a member of the SC) to attend the feedback meeting, in cases where the Head of Institution was not a member of the SC.

All parties are asked to be mindful of the sensitivities involved in providing feedback and to allow reasonable time for the feedback process to enable the applicant concerned to fully consider the information provided.

The applicant should be reminded that each ACP 10-12 exercise is an in-year process, and therefore the associated scores will not be carried forward to any future applications.

Unsuccessful applicants have the right to lodge an appeal against the decision of the VCC. Please see the Appeals section for more information on the appeals process.