Join Us at Gathering of the Supervisors:
A mini-Conference for Connection and Learning
Thursday, March 26
9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Tahoma Room (TMS 363)
Our annual Gathering of the Supervisors is a mini-conference designed to bring our campus supervisor community together as collaborators in the shared work of supervising and educating students in the workplace.
This event is a chance to:
- Connect with fellow supervisors across campus to share ideas, insights, and support.
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Celebrate the meaningful work you do to guide, mentor, and empower student employees.
- Gain practical tools and strategies to navigate the everyday challenges of supervision.
Enjoy a light brunch, engaging conversation, and two interactive, solution-focused sessions created with our supervisor community in mind:
Challenging Conversations--and how to get through them productively
Facilitators: Erin Ruff | Director of Human Resources for People Experience and Kimberly Watson, PHR | Human Resources Manager
Many of us dread conversations where we know there will be conflict or challenges with how the information will be received. In the supervision of student staff, putting it off and hoping things will improve is not the answer. In this session for supervisors of student staff, we will work to understand and practice how setting clear expectations for the conversation, engaging in regular feedback, and providing follow-up can help make the uncomfortable productive.
Participants will...
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Develop skills and identify practices to support their comfort in participating in challenging conversations
- Learn why putting off challenging conversations typically leads to even more challenging conversations and what to do about it
Level Up your Supervision with Situational Leadership
Facilitator: Sonya Dauncey | Assistant Director of Student Support
This session explores how each student staff member brings their own needs, challenges, skills, and experiences into the workplace. From the moment they start to the time they move on, those needs evolve and change. Situational Leadership (SLII) provides language, strategies, and a framework to help supervisors identify where staff are in their development and adapt their approach to provide the right balance of direction and support.
Join us to learn about the SLII framework and discover ways to “level up” your supervision to better support your student staff and help them make meaningful contributions to the workplace.
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Whether you’re looking for fresh approaches to supervising students, practical tools you can use right away, or a chance to connect with colleagues, this gathering is for you.
We’re excited to celebrate your contributions, exchange ideas, and continue reimagining what student employment can achieve. We hope to see you there!
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Celebrate National Student Employment Week with us!
April 13th–17th
This April we celebrate National Student Employment Week! If you aren’t already, follow us on Instagram for some fun posts next month about students who are involved in on-campus employment!
Did you know? 77% of students graduating Spring 2026 have worked on campus at some point.
Students provide about 22% of non-faculty staffing on campus. They perform many critical work functions across the university. So, we're taking National Student Employment Week to recognize that work — we would not be able to do what we do without them!
Do you already have a plan to celebrate and recognize the student employees in your department? We'd love to hear about it (and add your ideas to our list for others)! Or need some ideas? We've compiled some suggestions.
We're excited to celebrate student staff alongside you! Here's another idea:
Join us for Lemonade & Affirmations!
On Wednesday, April 15, the CES Student Employment team will be in the Wheelock Lobby to show gratitude for the work of student employees.
We'll be there 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. to serve up (flavored!) lemonade, and read affirmations to student staff.
Here's where you can help:
- Make sure your student staff know about the event! On April 15, send your student staff our way.
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Sign up to read affirmations. You can let your student staff know when you will be working so that they can come get an affirmation from you!
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Plan ahead for fall hiring: Mark your calendars and register for summer 2026 Professional Development opportunities! Visit our website for details. Right now, you can sign up for:
COMPASS PUGET SOUND
Integrating reflective conversation into your work with student staff
Tuesday, June 16, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. | McCormick Room (Library 303)
STUDENT HIRING & SUPERVISION 101
Timelines, processes, resources, and best practices for hiring and supervising student staff members
Wednesday, August 12, 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. | Murray Boardroom
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What should I do if my student staffing plan has changed?
If you had current student staff who were eligible to return to the same job in 2026-27 (or summer 2026), then you would have checked in with your student staff and completed a spreadsheet in early March to confirm who you’d like to invite back to the job. If anything has changes, please email Indigo (the Student Employment Coordinator) at idacosta@pugetsound.edu or CES at ces@pugetsound.edu as soon as you become aware of the change. Changes to email Indigo about might include:
- A continuing student staff changed their mind about returning to the job
- You listed “need to hire” for a vacancy that you’ve decided to leave vacant, or vice versa
Keeping us up-to-date helps us support hiring for your vacancies and helps ensure that there are no surprises in Fall semester—for you or for students! You can email us at any time.
Can I give gifts as a part of National Student Employment Week?
Yes, you can absolutely give gifts to your student staff as a part of Student Employment Week! It can be anything from a zero-cost gift like a handwritten, personalized note to a small gift purchased with department funds, like a fidget or a care package.
Keep in mind that university funds may not be used to purchase gift cards for student employees. Gift cards are viewed as income, which must be taxed.
For questions about what funds are allocated for student staff appreciation during Student Employment Week, please refer to the budget manager in your department.
What happens when a student's earnings limit has been reached?
Once a student has earned their full earnings limit, they will need to stop working for the remainder of the semester. Unless your department has a specific exception, CES will not be able to support adding hours to students’ earnings limit so that they can continue working throughout the semester. As a result, it’s important that you and student staff monitor the estimated hours remaining. If a student has exceeded their earnings limit, they will be paid for all worked hours, but they will still need to stop working for the remainder of the semester. Please review the Student Job & Earnings section (under Tools) of the Campus Supervisors page, as well as the Supervisor Roles & Responsibilities.
How can I monitor my students' earnings limits?
Supervisors can view their students’ earnings limits and status through myPugetSound > HR Manager Resources > Student Job & Earnings.
Students can monitor their earnings limit and status of earnings through myPugetSound > Job Information > Job & Earnings.
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Grab a moment, wherever you can find it, to say hi and check in with your student staff members.
Ask your student staff: What have you accomplished in this job this year and what are you proud of?
BENEFIT: Students have an opportunity to reflect on their growth and identify moments of pride and accomplishment, which fosters a sense of purpose and the belief that their work is valuable.
Follow up: Have you written, yet, about these accomplishments on your resume where you describe this job? Would you like my support in doing that?
BENEFIT: Encouraging your student staff member to keep their resume up to date with a meaningful description of their work supports their success in finding future employment. You can help them articulate a description of their work and accomplishments, or encourage them to make an appointment with a Career Advisor in CES to update their resume. We also love to do programs for student staff teams about resumes — you can complete a Program Request Form to ask us to visit your team.
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The same stream of life that runs
through my veins night and day runs
through the world and dances in
rhythmic measures.
It is the same life that shoots in joy
through the dust of the earth in
numberless blades of grass and breaks
into tumultuous waves of leaves and
flowers.
- Rabindranath Tagore, Gitanjali, poem 69
Something to think about regarding the interconnectedness of all living things, especially as we are stepping into spring now!
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