iGROW@VirginiaTech is a program for supervisors of student employees on campus aimed at helping students connect their campus job to their academics and future career goals resulting in more engaged student employees and increased career readiness. iGROW@VirginiaTech uses brief, structured conversations between student employees and their supervisors to help make the learning that is occurring through student employment more intentional and visible to the students, while transforming campus employment into a high impact, experiential learning opportunity. Students will also connect the professional skills they are developing to their own career readiness and success.
How does iGROW@VirginiaTech work?
- Supervisors attend a 1-hour training which provides an overview of how the program works and expectations.
- Each year, supervisors will register themselves and their student employees with the program so we can provide updates, best practices, and professional development opportunities.
- Supervisors hold brief (less than 15 minute) conversations with their student employees four times a year where they reflect on their work by responding to four structured and reflective questions.
- Supervisors provide a job description and map it to seven professional competencies for career readiness.
- Supervisors provide a written performance evaluation based on the job description and competency development.
- Supervisors set the expectations for what a student will learn, the skills that will be developed, and satisfactory performance.
- Who can participate as a supervisor?
- Virginia Tech faculty and staff who supervise students.
- Virginia Tech graduate students who are employed as graduate assistants, and who supervise undergraduate students as part of your assistantship.
- As a supervisor, how do I get started?
- See “how supervisors can participate,” above.
- Does the student have to be in a paid position?
- No. Supervisors of students may participate in iGROW regardless of whether the student positions are paid or unpaid.
- Can the supervisees be undergraduate or graduate students?
- Students who are supervised may be undergraduate or graduate students at Virginia Tech.
- Is there a minimum number of hours per week the student must work?
- No; there is not a minimum number of hours per week a student must work.
- Does the work have to be in person?
- The work can be in person, remote, or hybrid.
Benefits of iGROW@VirginiaTech
Students | Help them connect their campus jobs to their academic learning and future career goals. Encourage deeper engagement in their work, fostering both personal and professional growth. |
Supervisors | Provide resources and a structured approach to guide student employees effectively. Help you support students in making the most of their work experiences, enhancing their career readiness. |
GROW® Conversations
Focus on four key questions about what students are learning and how they will apply it in and out of the classroom, as well as, in their future careers. Conversations can be held 1:1 or in small groups (as many as 8 students). Average conversations take anywhere from 5-15 minutes. Scaffolding the conversations over time helps the student articulate how they have grown and what they have learned.
GROW® Questions
- What are you learning here that is helping you in and out of the classroom?
- What are you learning in your classes that you can apply to here at work?
- Can you give me a couple of examples of things you have learned here that you think you will use in your chosen career? Consider the professional competencies; which do you think you are developing at work?
- How are you using your CliftonStrengths in your job here and how could you be using them more?
Student & Supervisor Recognition Opportunities
Throughout the Fall and Spring Semesters, we award an iGROW Student and Supervisor of the Month based on nominations. Nomination forms are sent out to all individuals in the program each month via a Microsoft form.
Every year on the Friday of National Student Employee Appreciation Week, we host our annual Student Celebration and Awards Ceremony! Students and supervisors can be nominated for the following awards:
- iGROW Student of the Year: This award is granted to the iGROW@VirginiaTech student who has displayed excellent professional growth, and execution of their assigned role. This student was able to achieve these accomplishments through engaging their unique set of strengths, developing their 7 Professional Competencies, and going above and by leaving a lasting impact on the position, the people that they worked with during their experience, and the greater Virginia Tech community.
- iGROW Supervisor of the Year: This award is granted to the iGROW@VirginiaTech supervisor who demonstrates the ability to go above and beyond in their student’s professional and career development throughout their student’s experience. This supervisor displays this ability through regular meetings with their student, providing the student with the necessary resources needed to excel in their position, a focusing on developing their student’s 7 Professional Competencies, and a commitment to the core principals of iGROW@VirginiaTech.
- Professional Edge Awards: These awards are based around the students ability to learn and develop the Career and Professional Development’s 7 Professional Competencies.
Additional Resources for Supervisors
Supervisor Workshop Series: This series is designed to help you engage with and support your student employees effectively.
Skillshop Series: This series is designed for students to develop and practice the 7 Professional Competencies for career readiness. Students will learn new ways to develop, practice, and build confidence in each of these professional competencies while gaining their professional edge.
