No Cookie Cutter Approach: Supervision in Community College Student Affairs

Supervision is considered an integral function of managing student affairs personnel, yet there is a dearth of literature on this issue. Winston and Creamer (1997) stated that the role of supervision in management is to not only support the institution but also support the staff by encouraging improvements in both their personal and professional lives. Data for this study were collected through 19 interviews with individuals with at least 3 years of supervisory experience, who supervise at least one full-time professional staff member and work at a community college. Several themes emerged in the interviews. Supervision styles varied based on the individual employee, with more participants describing supportive styles over authoritative styles. Meanwhile, participants utilized one-on-one and team meetings as their preferred method of communication.