This past summer we kicked off our first Supervisor Learning Cohort. It was a mighty group of nine. Over the course of seven weeks, these student employee supervisors took sessions on core supervision topics, including supervisor styles, equitable recruiting & hiring, developing students, identity conscious supervision, addressing performance issues, and well-being in the workplace. At the end, supervisors received a certificate in Supervisory Skills: Student Employment.
The Supervisor Learning Cohort embeds 4D and NACE career frameworks within the student employee experience, all through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion. Tools and resources are designed to help supervisors navigate the entire student employment lifecycle. As part of the cohort, supervisors are given the opportunity to take part in an on-going community that encourages deeper connection and learning. These cohorts will continue to run quarterly, including the summer.
Below we are highlighting three stellar student employee supervisors who are leading the way in how we supervise and develop our student employees. Feel free to reach out and connect with them.
April Osborne, Assistant Director Academic Advising, Academic Affairs
What is your favorite thing about supervising student employees?
One of my favorite things about supervising student employees is seeing the growth and development over time. Getting to see what the student has learned over the year and the knowledge that they have gained makes me so proud!
What is one piece of advice you would give to other supervisors about creating a meaningful student employment experience for student employees?
Take the time to help them develop job goals. If the student does not see the value in the job, it may not be as an impactful opportunity as you hope it would be.
What is one resource you would recommend to other supervisors who would like to grow their supervision skills?
Take the time to create a supervision philosophy statement and read about the various types. They can be very informative and you can also seek out ways of modifying or adding to your supervision skills.
Dong Dinh, Program Coordinator, Student Affairs & Inclusive Excellence
What is your favorite thing about supervising student employees?
I love to learn about students goals and how their role and our office can help build skills for them to achieve those goals.
What is one piece of advice you would give to other supervisors about creating a meaningful student employment experience for student employees?
It can be a messy process and its okay if you do not know everything. Listening, learning, and growing with your student employee is how you can get through it.
What is one resource you would recommend to other supervisors who would like to grow their supervision skills?
Embed anti-racist processes into all of the things you do with student employees. Do not know where to start? Start by reading peer-review articles that can ground and guide your work.
Ivon (Ivy) Soto-Medina, Student Affairs Coordinator, Sturm College of Law
What is your favorite thing about supervising student employees?
That we can connect about something I have experienced, and they are currently experiencing. I think it makes a good foundation for mutual understanding and respect.
What is one piece of advice you would give to other supervisors about creating a meaningful student employment experience for student employees?
Make sure you are honest with what you are expecting from them and the role they are taking. You have a chance to model what they should look for in a career so make sure you are rewarding them, providing feedback, and even having difficult conversations that allow for personal/professional growth.
What is one resource you would recommend to other supervisors who would like to grow their supervision skills?
The supervisor guide will be your building block, especially the links to the supervisory relationship questionnaire, career skills, and SMART goals once you are getting started.
