Supervision at UGA logo

Supervisors lead people and manage processes.

Departments and units with skilled and knowledgeable supervisors strengthen the university as a whole. Good supervisors help faculty and staff better fulfill the mission of UGA and meet the grand challenges of our time.

The Supervision at UGA program provides education and experiences to support your success and growth in a supervisory role at the University of Georgia.

By participating in the Supervision at UGA program, faculty and staff in supervisory roles will:

Grow their professional network of peer supervisors, allowing them to have a rich pool of experience at their fingertips
Identify their leadership and supervisory strengths, along with areas for growth
Outline the values of their unit, leading them to develop strategies to increase morale and engagement among their team
Navigate and manage change in a way that fosters team growth and development

The Supervision at UGA program consists of a Supervisor Seminar Series, the Supervisory Fundamentals program, which lays the groundwork necessary to be a supervisor, and the UGA Supervisors' Academy, which builds upon that foundation.

Supervisor Consultations

While many UGA employees are working remotely and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, supervisors are being called to manage differently. No matter how different it feels, we’re here to help you.

Schedule a one-on-one or small group consultation on supervising strategies with a Training & Development professional by filling out this Qualtrics intake form. A member of our team will contact you shortly.

Supervisor Seminars

The Supervisor Seminars are a collection of programs designed with current and aspiring supervisors in mind. Seminars may be panel discussions, lectures from experts, or activity-based workshops and are open to aspiring supervisors, experienced supervisors, and anyone in between looking to sharpen their supervising skills. Join us for our next seminars:

Zoom Skills: Meetings, Classes, and Workshops in the Digital World Practice Hour | Tuesday, September 15, 2020, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. or Tuesday, October 6, 2020, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Before attending this practice hour, please take the online self-paced course "Zoom Skills: Meetings, Classes, and Workshops in the Digital World" in the Professional Education Portal (PEP). After taking the course, join us for the opportunity to sit in the driver’s seat and practice hosting break-out rooms, leading polls, and using the whiteboard. Bring any Zoom questions, tips, or tricks you have to this live virtual class.

Let’s Talk about It: Strategies for Discussing Race with Your Team | Wednesday, September 16, 2020, 3:00 p.m - 4:30 p.m.

For supervisors, having meaningful conversations with your team should be common practice. However, some conversations, like those surrounding race, are so important that having resources to help guide you through them is incredibly valuable. Come spend some time with Dr. Marian Higgins, clinical assistant professor for the Department of Counseling and Human Development Services in the Early College of Education; Maggie Denna, senior manager in Training & Development; and your fellow supervisors from across campus learning about ways to have race conversations with your teams, how to handle possible resistance to the conversation, and how to prepare yourself to be able to really listen to what your team has to share.

Psychological Safety + Intentionally Creating the Conditions for Team Success | Thursday, October 22, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

When people feel safe to contribute their ideas, teams thrive and innovation flourishes. Researchers have named this phenomenon “psychological safety” and claim it is the single most important predictor of team success. It is the necessary underpinning for learning, strategic decisions, and growth. In this session, participants will learn what psychological safety is (and what it is not), why it is crucial for teams and organizations in today’s higher education context, and how we can foster it to do more than we ever imagined. Those who choose to attend this session will take an assessment to measure the level of psychological safety they currently experience in their individual workplaces. They will also be able to begin brainstorming ways to actively build psychological safety on their teams regardless of their title or position. Whether you an aspiring supervisor, new supervisor, or very experienced, this seminar is for you!

Individualized Supervision | Thursday, November 5, 2020, 2:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.

Successful supervision can’t be accomplished with a one-size-fits-all approach. It requires individualization for each staff member based on a host of variables to include position, strengths, and professional goals. While individuality is important, consistent accountability and expectations are needed to build trust among a team. Taylor Cain, Director of Engagement, Leadership, and Service for Student Affairs, will share lessons learned and promising practices from her years of supervising various position types and sizes of teams.

Supervisory Fundamentals

Beginning Fall 2020, Supervisory Fundamentals is moving to an online format. Each session of Supervisory Fundamentals will begin with a live Zoom meeting, and the majority of the content will be delivered through online, self-paced modules. A live Zoom wrap-up meeting and Q&A will conclude the program.

Supervisory Fundamentals is a foundational program designed to deliver the most essential knowledge and tools for supervising at UGA. Our online modules will allow participants the ability to learn the ins and outs of employment guidelines and policies and managing a staff. Once you have completed this program, you will have a variety of tools that you can immediately put into practice.

Fundamentals is:

Open to current supervisors, new and veteran
Strongly encouraged for all employees who hold a supervisory role at UGA
Offered on the T&D schedule 1-2 times/semester
Required under the new guidelines for participating in the UGA Supervisors’ Academy

Fall 2020 Dates:

Session 1
- Wednesday, September 2, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | Supervisory Fundamentals Zoom Kick-off Meeting
- Tuesday, September 29, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Supervisory Fundamentals Zoom Wrap-up Meeting
Session 2
- Thursday, October 29, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. | Supervisory Fundamentals Zoom Kick-off Meeting
- Tuesday, December 8, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. | Supervisory Fundamentals Zoom Wrap-up Meeting

UGA Supervisors’ Academy

In-person cohorts for the UGA Supervisors' Academy will return Spring 2021.

Sharpen the tools you gained in Supervisory Fundamentals and take your team from good to great! The UGA Supervisors’ Academy is a cohort-based program that provides a professional network of other supervisors navigating similar situations whose advice is rooted in knowledge of UGA’s policies, guidelines, and procedures.

The cohort will meet over seven sessions to discuss and learn crucial aspects of supervising: managing self, managing culture, managing teams, and managing change. Program fee is $100/participant to cover materials and assessment cost.

Participants must:

Be a current UGA supervisor, and
Have completed the Supervisory Fundamentals program or the previous Certificate in Supervisory Excellence

Looking for skills to become a supervisor?

Take a look at the T&D online career development materials
Make an appointment with a career consultant to discuss opportunities to gain specific supervisory skills
Attend future supervisor seminars to learn with other supervisors at UGA
Review LinkedIn Learning courses through the MyUGA portal to gain a general understanding of management skills

Additional questions?

Please contact Training and Development at training@uga.edu or 706-542-7062.

Updated 8.4.2020