Resources for Supervisors

Having conversations

Refer to the Rowan GROW Supervisor Resource Guide for complete program details. Please have a Rowan GROW® conversation with each student employee at least once per term. 

How should I prepare for the conversation?
Before asking students to reflect on what they have learned on the job, figure out what you expect them to be learning. Consider what skills or knowledge your student employees should gain as a result of working in their position. This can help guide your conversation or allow you to prompt students if you need to. Send students a message to let them know that you will be having a Rowan GROW® conversation with them and give them the list of questions beforehand. This will give students a chance to reflect on their learning prior to your conversation. Also, take time to consider the best format for having the conversation with students, whether it is one-on-one, small group, or woven into a conversation during the work day. Consider incorporating the conversation into a one-on-one or meeting that was already planned.

How do I have the conversation?
The conversation consists of four questions:

1. How is this job fitting in with your academics?
2. What are you learning here that’s helping you in school?
3. What are you learning in class that you can apply here at work?
4. Can you give me a couple of examples of things you’ve learned here that you think you’ll use in your chosen profession?

Ask the questions in your own way and weave them into your conversation naturally. Of course additional questions can be used to supplement the original questions. It can also be helpful to take notes during your conversations so that you can revisit those topics during later conversations.

What if I have a large staff?
When you have a large staff, it can be difficult to find time to meet with each student one-on-one, so it may be helpful to have Rowan GROW® conversations in small groups. Keep the group size at eight or fewer to ensure that each student has a chance to speak. Consider having students share their reflections with a partner, and then have the partners report back to the large group about what they talked about. Providing the questions beforehand can also help students to be ready to dive into conversations when they arrive.

What if I meet with the same student multiple times?
When meeting with a student for several semesters or a student who is a junior or senior, it may seem difficult to find new things to talk about. A few ideas:

• Use notes from previous meetings or your own identified outcomes to prompt students about new skills they may have developed or built upon.
• Specifically ask students what they have learned since the last meeting.
• Consider using additional questions along with the main four questions.
• Tell students that you will be having another Rowan GROW® conversation in the future, so they can be on the lookout for additional ways that they are learning.

What if my student discloses a problem to me?
When a student tells you about a concern, this means they trust you and know that you care about them. While it is helpful to listen and show your concern, it is not your job to solve their problem. You can best support your student employee by referring them to a campus or community resource that can better handle their needs. 

Schedule student follow-up survey

We intentionally do not ask where employees work as part of the survey, so we cannot send you specifc survey data about your student employees. However, we will share all aggregatge data with Rowan GROW supervsiors. We ask that all students receive a short follow-up survey after your Rowan GROW conversation. Please send us your list of student workers after your Rowan GROW conversations each term so that we can send them the survey.

Download a sample Excel template

The Fall 2023 reflection survey will be available November 27, 2023 - January 15, 2024. Please submit your rosters by November 20.

Campus Resources

Office of Career AdvancementIf students are intersted in career exploration, cover letter or résumé reviews, interview prep, and/or job/internship opportunities, the Office of Career Advancement can help!

Leadership Rowan
Students can earn up to three leadership certifications. Student employment helps students earn the Silver leadership certification: Leadership Application & Organizational Effectiveness.

Academic Advising
Students should also regularly meet with their academic advisor to discuss career goals and their academic plan.

Wellness Center
If you believe a student could benefit from counseling, please make a referral to the Wellness Center.

Financial Aid
If students are struggling to afford college, Financial Aid can help with other options beyond student employment.

Payroll
Help students understand Web Time Entry and when they will be paid.

® The University of Iowa, used with the permission of The University of Iowa.