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February, 12 2021

“Coaching is unlocking a person’s potential to maximize their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them.”


-John C. Maxwell

  • The University will be closed Monday, February 15th for Presidents' Day. We hope you enjoy your long weekend!

  • Swag for the ELP prospective students care packages should be dropped off at the Union front desk for SDI Room 270 by the end of Tuesday, February 16th.

  • ELP Preview will occur March 1st-5th via Zoom. See below for more details.

    Contact olivia.griffin@utah.edu if you would like to include any events, announcements, or shoutouts in an upcoming newsletter.

Coaching Through 1:1s

Do you have weekly GA-Supervisor 1:1 meetings? If so, how do you structure that time together? If not, how come?
A weekly 1:1 meeting is a great way to check in on each other personally, follow-up on projects, and work together to facilitate learning & achieve long-term goals. This week we are offering a few tips on how to make your 1:1s as productive and powerful as possible!
One structure for a 30-minute 1:1 meeting is 10 minutes for the supervisee, 10 minutes for the supervisor, and 10 minutes for the future. Prior to the meeting, it can be helpful to collaboratively set the agenda on a shared document, so that both parties know what to expect and can be prepared to respond and assist one another. This structure provides the space for both GAs and supervisors to give updates and then for them to work together to identify areas of growth and support that can benefit them moving forward. 
This final portion of the 1:1 is an important part of the mentor relationship and allows the supervisor to coach the GA, focusing on engaging in growth and learning beyond fulfilling job responsibilities. Coaching revolves around supervisors asking questions that allow the GA to reflect and problem-solve, providing feedback, and action planning for the future. It also gives space for authentic conversations around personal and professional development. Having these ongoing broader conversations about growth can be quite helpful, especially between evaluations.
On that note, GA mid-year evaluations are due to your GAs on February 26th and due to the SDI office on March 5th. You can download a copy on our GA website. Evaluations are a great coaching tool because they spark reflection, feedback, and conversation as well as highlight areas for future growth. 
Looking for more tips on structuring your 1:1s? Check out this HR resource, which provides several questions to consider throughout your time together. 

Supervisor Spotlight

Name: Jess Turuc (she/her/hers)
Hometown: Hancock, MI
UndergraduateBA in Communication and Cultural Studies, Michigan Technological University '09
Graduate: MEd in Higher Education Administration, Georgia Southern University '15
Position: Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life
Hobbies: Most shows on Bravo TV, online shopping, sports, eating (not cooking), traveling (of course pre-COVID)
Thoughts on Coaching: As a supervisor, I strongly believe in the importance of mentoring and coaching Graduate Assistants as they transition into an elevated leadership and professional role from what they experienced as a collegian and student-leader. These relationships are a delicate dance that takes time to understand who your GA is, what their passions and goals are, and who they aspire to be as a professional. We have to balance this with the responsibility of what they need to learn to become the professionals our industry needs them to be. Aside from our GAs being successful in their next chapter of life, I feel that it is our duty to invest in their development of a strong professional foundation through coaching and mentoring because they are the future of our profession and no matter where our GAs go, they will always be a reflection of their time with us.

GA Spotlight

Name: Sierra Skindzelewski (She, Her, Hers)
Hometown: Waupun, WI
Undergraduate: B.S. in Anthropology, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Assistantship: Fraternity and Sorority Life
Hobbies: Trying to find the best vanilla iced latte in SLC, watching movies, hanging out with my cat, photography, and planning trips that I can’t afford.
Thoughts on Coaching: If it’s the people we are closest to that are people that we will become, then I’m very lucky to learn from Jess, Matt, and Jenna from Fraternity and Sorority Life. Mentorship/coaching provides a unique space to build a culture of productivity, respect, and honest conversation. As a relationship builder, attending meetings will always mean more than the face value that “attending meetings” provides. By showing up and being present, creativity can be reimagined and new ideas developed. Whether it’s enjoying a peanut butter chocolate love smoothie from Jamba Juice or navigating the realness of the work we have to do in our profession over Zoom, each of those moments count. In each space that we are a part of, we have a unique ability to contribute something or learn something that we have not been able to before. Mentorship and showing up to conversations allows us to be uniquely positioned to receive influential support and constructive conversation. You’re important to the work you’re doing. Spaces cannot be recreated. Showing up and showing up to learn elevates the work we are doing and directly impacts how effective we are when working with students. 

ELP Preview Week & GA Interviews

Preview Week for prospective students interested in the MEd in Educational Leadership & Policy - Student Affairs program will take place via Zoom March 1-5. Check out the tentative schedule here.
Interested in participating? Sharon is looking for current students to contribute on:
Tuesday, March 2     5:00 to 6:15pm
Tuesday, March 2     6:15 to 7:30pm
Thursday, March 4   1:00 to 2:30pm
Contact sharon.aikenwisniewski@utah.edu with your interest & availability by Wednesday, February 17th.
Are you a supervisor who is planning to interview candidates interested in your GA position during Preview Week?
Please complete this form to let us know your availability by Friday, February 19, so that we can begin scheduling these interviews for you.

Black History Month

February is Black History Month and the U has a variety of upcoming events to celebrate. From discussions of poetry to medicine, there's a lot to learn.
Check out the full calendar of Black History Month events here.

I Am U Thriving in @theU

Check out the @theU article to learn more about Student Affairs' I Am U Thriving campaign. 
We hope to see you and your students at the Open Photo Shoot on March 5, 2021. Sign-up to secure your 10-minute timeslot here. Find out more by visiting our website.

FREE New York Times Subcription

Access is funded by the Collegiate Readership Fee for students. Academic Affairs and Human Resources have also contributed funds so that faculty and staff can enjoy access as well. Learn how to activate your NYT subscription here.  
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