Competencies are the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors which support meeting the expectations of our roles. Competencies provide a means of communicating and striving to achieve the type of culture we aspire to at Amherst. While there may be additional behaviors specific to your role or area at the college, these Staff Core Competencies are intended to be broad and apply to all staff.
The Staff Core Competencies are: Accountability, Collaboration, Communication, Continuous Learning, Position Specific and Technical Knowledge, Inclusiveness, and Supervisory Skills. We encourage you to consider these competencies when drafting goals for the year ahead and considering areas of growth for yourself and if you are a supervisor, for your staff. Consider where you are in each, how you might deepen skills and abilities pertaining to that competency, and what you need to learn to do so.
Competency Benchmarks are used in the Annual Review portion of the Performance Management Process to reflect on how the competencies were demonstrated in the prior year. Remember, competencies relate to how work was done, not what work was completed. The Competency Benchmarks are as follows:
Does Not Demonstrate | Foundational | Strong | Advanced |
---|---|---|---|
No understanding of the competency, does not apply the competency in the workplace. | Basic understanding of the competency, sometimes demonstrates the ability to apply it in the workplace. | Demonstrates an understanding of and consistent ability to apply the competency in most situations in the workplace. | Thorough understanding of the competency, demonstrates the ability to apply the competency creatively in the most complex and challenging situations |
Remember, competencies are not "achieved" as much as they are developed upon. This is a frequent point of confusion—the distinction between being “competent” and a “competency.” In other words, “competency” has to do with the ability to do something successfully or efficiency. “A competency” is the combination of demonstrable characteristics and skills that enable and improve.
For the full details on the Performance Management Process (PMP), including the Annual Review flow and process, please visit our PMP page.