Written By: Alison Ward, Associate Director, Student Union, and Amanda Griffiths, Assistant Director for Student Training and Engagement, Student Union
Laying the Foundation
The program fosters holistic student growth by equipping employees with the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for their careers, while also fulfilling vital functions in the Student Union. Our program emphasizes competencies such as verbal reasoning, critical thinking, problem solving, and effective communication. We develop students who think independently, make sound decisions, and collaborate across differences.
In 2009, I (Alison) created the first set of learning outcomes for students employed by UT’s Student Union. At the time, around 50 students were on payroll, and introducing outcomes was a new, challenging concept for both professional and student staff. While that first version was admittedly rudimentary, it represented an important step in creating what is now the Student Union’s student employment program.
Over the years, the program has undergone several iterations and enhancements, the most pivotal of which was fully grounding student roles in core competencies outlined by the Association of College Unions International in 2015. This offered a more structured and intentional framework for student learning, and by 2017 all job roles and responsibilities had been aligned with those competencies.
Since then, the program has grown into a comprehensive, strategic initiative now supported by six professional staff members and more than 110 student employees on average each semester. In the years that followed, we continued to evolve our learning outcomes by integrating Career Readiness Competencies developed by the National Association of Colleges and Employers and reflecting the shifting needs and expectations of today’s workforce. Today, the student employment program includes a wide variety of roles across multiple functional areas: event management, customer service, marketing, and facilities operations. These positions include an array of responsibilities and attract students with a range of interests, skill sets, and backgrounds, creating a vibrant and engaged student workforce.
The Lightbulb Moment for Students
Mentoring and supervising student employees has been one of the greatest joys of my career, but it has also brought its share of frustrations and moments of doubt. Working with 18- to 22-year-olds who are juggling classes, jobs, and extracurriculars requires more than a little patience, as they are growing and evolving every day. For any supervisor, questions about their role might arise. Like, “Am I really making a difference? Is all the time and energy we pour into development truly paying off? Do students even notice the impact we’re trying to make?”
Working with student building managers is where I often see the most growth. When student managers first begin, they often seek clear, concrete answers from their supervisors, answers that don’t always exist or that we’re hoping students find through their own critical thinking. This leads them to turn to their fellow student managers, creating a moment of trepidation for professional staff as those peers are often navigating the same developmental stages.
But then comes the moment, the gradual and sometimes messy moment, when student managers begin to understand that multiple solutions can exist for the same problem. They start to draw from their own experiences, trust their judgment, and make thoughtful decisions.
The Next Level of Student Employment
I (Amanda) joined UT in 2021 as an events and facilities coordinator, assisting with managing the student employment program alongside Alison. Over the next three years, Alison and I spent time making intentional changes to the program to further learning, development, and community amongst student staff, with continuous improvement taking the program to the next level in student growth and success. Then, in 2024, I had the opportunity to take on fully leading the program. While building upon the excellent work Alison has done, I am now working to put my own stamp on the program.
Each semester starts with a full-day training with all our student employees. It’s a hands-on program covering a wide range of topics from leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving to on-the-job skills such as resetting meeting and event spaces, setting up technology in the auditorium, and answering questions from perspective families visiting campus. We designed this training to be interactive and engaging, inviting campus partners to join to share resources and insights.
A mid-semester check-in with each supervisor with their students was introduced as a way to go beyond a simple job performance review. This one-on-one conversation covers a range of topics, including a general wellness check to see if students are doing well in their classes and have a strong support system or community on campus. Supervisors also ask about career readiness and provide a chance for students to give feedback. It’s an intentional time to provide support, celebrate wins, and tackle challenges together.
At the end of the term, we wrap up with structured evaluations. These reviews highlight progress, recognize standout contributions, and help students take ownership of their development. It’s not just about the job. It’s about building confidence, skills, and community.
All these intentional touch points with students, and the other deliberate interactions, community building, and experiences we provide have cumulated into a positive experience for our student employees. Last year, 99% of students indicated they enjoy working in the Student Union, 94% of students feel as though they are developing transferable skills, and 89% of students feel as though they developed a support network through interactions with coworkers.
Through intentional design and consistent support, our student employment program has evolved into a meaningful experience that fosters growth, connection, and career readiness, reflected clearly in the overwhelmingly positive feedback from our student staff. Last spring, our program was recognized with a Silver Excellence Award from NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.
I genuinely enjoy organizing and evolving our student employment program, not just for the structure and intentionality it brings, but for the transformations I get to witness in our student staff each semester. Seeing their growth firsthand and hearing the exciting wins from other supervisors continually reaffirms the purpose and joy behind the work we do.
By the numbers:
99%
of respondents stated they enjoy working in the Student Union
89%
state they have developed a support network through the Student Union
94%
state they feel as though they are developing transferrable skills