Annual Compensation Evaluation Program

To: Caltech Staff and Faculty
From: Karen Sisson, Vice President of Administration and Chief Financial Officer and Julia McCallin, Associate Vice President of Human Resources
Date: August 22, 2022

August marks the time of year when Institute managers and supervisors engage with their staff on an evaluation of their achievements and set goals and expectations for the coming year. Managers' evaluations of their employees' performance form the basis of annual compensation recommendations for the coming fiscal year. To emphasize the relationship between performance and compensation we have changed the name of the program from the Annual Salary Increase program (ASI) to the Annual Compensation Evaluation program (ACE).

In renaming the program, we aim to clarify the goals of this process and the Institute's expectations for how managers review and decide upon individual compensation adjustments. In the past, many interpreted the term "annual salary increase" to mean that every employee should receive a compensation increase equivalent to the ASI pool percentage. By contrast, the ACE moniker emphasizes the opportunity for true evaluation of each employee's contributions to Caltech. The ACE program allows us to attract, retain, and motivate a workforce dedicated to the Institute's high standards of excellence.

For fiscal year 2023, the Institute approved a combined 4.5% increase to each department's salary budget. The ACE process provides managers with an opportunity to assess performance and reward employees whose accomplishments help their departments and divisions to meet and exceed their goals.

As we look back on the last year and the return to on-campus work, we are struck by the resiliency and dedication of the Caltech staff. Our community has continued to meet new challenges and create new opportunities with grace, creativity, and flexibility, as we all work together to advance the mission of the Institute. We are appreciative of the staff and your good work. Thank you.