Supervision Certificate Program
Learn effective strategies for supervision and gain practical tools to better support your team in just 4 weeks.Join us starting November 3, 2025, or January 5, 2026.
Overview
Often in higher education, individuals move into a supervisory role without the necessary tools and skills to be successful. Particularly in today’s challenging environments, effective supervision is key to building an effective culture where each individual can contribute to team success.
Join us online for a four-week cohort–based program leveraging both asynchronous and synchronous learning specifically designed for higher education supervisors who are new to their roles, looking to deepen their skills, or for those who aspire to supervisor roles.
Who Will Benefit
This program is primarily designed for those supervising professional and/or student staff or those who aspire to be a supervisor. If you are new to your role or want to hone your existing supervisory skills and approaches, this course is for you.
How it Works
Complete our supervisor curriculum over 4 weeks by engaging with both asynchronous and synchronous content. Each week you’ll have an average of 2.5 hours of asynchronous work that can be completed on-demand to fit your schedule. We’ll offer a suggested schedule for completing the video modules, but feel free to shape the asynchronous work around your schedule!
To get the most out of the program, you’ll then attend two 90-minute live sessions to help you to apply your learning: one at the end of week 2, and one at the end of week 4. These sessions include new content that builds on what you’ve learned from the asycnhronous work. In week 2, we’ll discuss ways for giving feedback more effectively, and in week 4, we’ll work with you on how to hold career growth conversations with your staff. If you’re unable to attend these sessions live, we’ll send recordings of previous sessions so you can catch up.
After completing the asynchronous work, you’ll receive your digital badge. We encourage you to share it with your colleagues, in your email signature, and on LinkedIn. Tag Academic Impressions so we can celebrate with you!
Get a weekly email with on-demand videos and activities that can be completed on your lunch break, or at a time that works for your schedule, over the course of the week.
Attend two live sessions to apply your learning and engage in dialogue with peers from around the country and beyond. These sessions will be available on-demand for those who can’t attend live. Past participants share that the ability to engage with your peers in the cohort is of significant value, so please prioritize attending the live sessions.
Earn a Badge of Engagement
Complete all video modules and attend both live sessions to earn a digital badge of engagement!
Hurry! The Next Cohort Starts November 3, 2025.
Program Curriculum
Week 1: Introduction & Setting Up the Supervisory Relationship
Format: On-Demand | Time Commitment: Approximately 1.5 hours
After an introduction to the program and the Academic Impressions Leadership Framework the course begins with a session on why effective supervision is important in higher education, how to better understand your responsibilities as a supervisor, the importance of trust in the supervisory relationship, and three steps for setting up and continuing to develop this critical relationship.
Recommended Schedule
Monday – 30 minutes
Watch:
- Module One Chapter One: Welcome and Introduction
Complete in Workbook:
- The Five Paths of Leadership® Self-Assessment Reflection Questions in the Workbook (page 2)
Tuesday – 30 minutes
Watch:
- Module One Chapter Two: Setting the Stage
Complete in Workbook:
- Supervisor Responsibilities Reflection Activity (page 3)
Wednesday – 30 minutes
Watch:
- Module One Chapter Three: The Importance of Trust
- Module One Chapter Four: Setting Up the Supervisory Relationship
Complete in Workbook:
- Understanding the Importance of Trust Activity (page 4)
- Propensity to Trust Activity (page 4-6)
- Setting Up the Supervisory Relationship Reflection & Next Steps Activity (page 7)
Week 2: Introduction & Setting Up the Supervisory Relationship
Format: On-Demand & Live | Time Commitment: Approximately 3.5 hours
This week’s emphasis on performance management consists of two trainings: 1) diagnosing employee performance issues, and 2) offering and receiving meaningful feedback. You’ll then have a chance to apply what you’ve learned and dialogue with peers in an end-of-week live session.
Recommended Schedule
Monday – 30 minutes
Watch:
- Module Two Chapter One: Performance Management and Delivering Effective Feedback
Complete in Workbook:
- Setting Expectations from the Start Activity, p. 8
- Self-Reflection on Giving and Receiving Feedback Activity, p. 8
- Clear is Kind. Unclear is Unkind. Activity, p. 9
-
Tuesday – 30 minutes
Watch:
- Module Two Chapter Two: Situation, Behavior, and Impact Feedback Model
Complete in Workbook:
- SBI Feedback Model Activity, p. 9
Wednesday – 30 minutes
Watch:
- Module Two Chapter Three: Creating a Feedback Culture
Live Session – 90 minutes
Attend:
- November 2025 cohort: Friday Practice & Scenarios | 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
- January 2026 cohort: Thursday Practice & Scenarios | 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. ET
Note: Starting in 2026, we will begin rotating dates and times for the live sessions to accommodate more schedules. Your cohort’s date and time will be the same for each live session, but make sure to check carefully for yours.
Week 3: Navigating Conflict & Part One of Cultivating and Retaining Staff
Format: On-Demand | Time Commitment: Approximately 2 hours
In this week’s course, you’ll learn about conflict styles, different types of conflict, how you can establish a team culture that views conflict as positive and productive, and how to continue pushing that culture shift ahead even when team conflicts arise. We will also start to dig into the ACORN Model of Cultivating and Retaining Your Staff.
Recommended Schedule
Monday – 30 minutes
Watch:
- Module Three Chapter One: Navigating Conflict
- Module Three Chapter One: Conflict Continuum
Complete in Workbook:
- Reflection on Conflict Activity (page 10)
- Type of Conflict at Your Institution and On Your Team Activity (page 10)
- Talking About Conflict with Your Team Activity (page 11)
Tuesday – 30 minutes
Watch:
- Module Four Chapter One: Cultivating and Retaining Your Team Overview and Introduction
Complete in Workbook:
- Leadership Reflection Question Activity (page 14)
Wednesday – 30 minutes
Watch:
- Module Four Chapter Two: A of ACORN Model
Complete in Workbook:
- Acknowledgement of Existence Reflection Activity (page 15)
- Communication Regarding Your Staff Activity (page 16)
- Acknowledgement of Value through Praise Activity (page 17)
- One Action Step for A for Acknowledgement (page 21)
Thursday – 30 minutes
Watch:
- Module Four Chapter Three: C of ACORN Model
Complete in Workbook:
- Reflection Activities on page 21
- Self-Doubt Survey and Reflection (page 22-23)
- Cognitive Distortions Chart (page 24)
- Building Confidence in Others Reflection (page 25)
- Learning to Trust and Delegate Activity (page 27)
- One Action Step for C for Confidence (page 27)
Week 4: Part Two of Cultivating and Retaining Staff with Live Session #2
Format: Live | Time Commitment: Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes
In this final week, we’ll touch on a variety of tools and techniques you can use to ensure your staff feel seen and valued and keep them growing and thriving.
Recommended Schedule
Monday – 30 minutes
Watch:
- Module Two Chapter One: Performance Management and Delivering Effective Feedback
Complete in Workbook:
- Setting Expectations from the Start Activity, p. 8
- Self-Reflection on Giving and Receiving Feedback Activity, p. 8
- Clear is Kind. Unclear is Unkind. Activity, p. 9
-
Tuesday – 30 minutes
Watch:
- Module Two Chapter Two: Situation, Behavior, and Impact Feedback Model
Complete in Workbook:
- SBI Feedback Model Activity, p. 9
Wednesday – 30 minutes
Watch:
- Module Two Chapter Three: Creating a Feedback Culture
Live Session – 90 minutes
Attend:
- November 2025 cohort: Friday Practice & Scenarios | 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
- January 2026 cohort: Thursday Practice & Scenarios | 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. ET
Note: Starting in 2026, we will begin rotating dates and times for the live sessions to accommodate more schedules. Your cohort’s date and time will be the same for each live session, but make sure to check carefully for yours.
Choose from 2 Options:
Starting November 3, 2025
Starting January 5, 2026
Questions About the Program?
Academic Impressions partners with colleges and universities to collaboratively create custom training for supervisors at all levels of the organization. These custom workshops are designed with the needs of your campus and your supervisors in mind and allow us to go deeper on issues specific to your institution. They can be delivered on your campus or virtually to your teams. Contact Lisa Lafflam, Senior Product Experience Manager, to learn more!
