Performance management systems have steadily evolved over the past 50 years, continuously shifting gears in design and focus. Perhaps the most noticeable change has occurred in just the last 10 years, with appraisal programs now focusing on the future as opposed to dishing out retrospective evaluation. In this article, Jim Kemper touches on some previous schools of thought on performance management, examines how colleges and universities can benefit from future-focused systems, and offers tips on how to bring your institution's performance management system up to par.