Key takeaways
- Supervising student employees requires a different approach from supervising professional staff, including flexibility around students’ academic responsibilities.
- The Student Employment Committee has created a one-stop resource page to help supervisors navigate HR and funding processes, professional development, and student well-being.
- A Student Employee Supervisor Workshop series begins Oct. 15 with an interactive session featuring Human Resources.
Supervising a student employee means managing more than their work. It also means supporting a student who is balancing classes, assignments and other life responsibilities while learning how to navigate the workplace.
That’s why MSU Denver’s Student Employment Committee, a Staff Senate initiative, is helping supervisors better understand the unique needs of student employees and providing resources for supporting them.
“One of our major goals is to support student employees by supporting their supervisors, so students can have a positive work experience,” said Rachel S. Hawley, Ph.D., coordinator of Supplemental Instruction in Student Academic Services and chair of the committee. “Student employees are students first, and we want supervisors to have the tools they need to support both their academic and professional success.”
Ready to better support your student employees? Start with these 7 tips:
1. Put academics first.
When work and academics conflict, remember that students’ education comes first. Consider reduced or flexible hours around midterms, finals and major assignments.
2. Set clear expectations.
Clearly explain workplace procedures, responsibilities and expectations, especially because this may be a student’s first professional job.
3. Make students part of the team.
Include student employees in staff meetings and departmental celebrations, and keep them informed about changes that affect their work.
4. Recognize good work.
Celebrate accomplishments in and outside the office. Recognition can be as simple as acknowledging great work or celebrating graduating student employees.
5. Give students the tools to succeed.
Provide the training, resources and information students need rather than expecting them to navigate unfamiliar University processes on their own.
6. Address problems early.
Don’t let concerns grow. Discuss issues as they arise while being firm, supportive and sensitive to students’ circumstances.
7. Keep learning as a supervisor.
Student employment processes differ from those for professional staff, including how students interact with Workday and Human Resources. The Student Employment Committee’s Student Employment Resource Page brings together information on Human Resources and funding processes, professional development, and student well-being.
Build your supervisor toolkit
To help supervisors navigate the unique aspects of student employment, the Student Employment Committee has planned a series of workshops focused on practical tools and resources.
The series kicks off with Student Employee Supervision Essentials: HR Presents Helpful Resources.
When: Oct. 15, 10 a.m.-noon
Where: JSSB 211 and online
What to expect: An interactive workshop covering key student-employment resources, including when and how to engage Human Resources for support.
More workshops are on the way. Financial Aid will lead a session on work-study in November, followed in the spring by workshops on performance evaluations, supporting student-employee growth and development, and navigating difficult conversations and workplace expectations. Keep an eye out on the academic calendar or for announcements from the staff senate.
Hawley chairs The Student Employment Committee, which includes Senators Erin Jeavons, Sena Bryant and Netty Rodriguez Arauz and members Michele Short, Darrick Conroy, Jazmin Rodriguez Delariva, Yvonne Reed and Joslyn Shelton.
