Chapter 12: Supervising Professionals in High Contact Areas

This chapter examines supervision for high contact positions in student affairs. Utilizing three primary examples of residence life, student life, dean of students offices/student conduct, the chapter elaborates on a working definition of a “high contact area” within student affairs, as well as what is the role of supervision for high contact positions. The chapter will explore the deeper understanding of both supervision and advisory practices of staff members with advising, residential life, crisis management, and other high contact roles as well as what support supervisors may provide. The authors share some of their experiences within these high contact areas and how they have utilized some of the supervision techniques or how their supervisory approaches were more informed by their own experiences being supervised in student affairs. Finally, the chapter provides recommendations for the practice of supervision in high contact areas.