Monthly Workshop Series for Student Staff & Their Supervisors
Supervising Beyond the Suit: Deconstructing Professionalism as a Supervisor of Working Learners
Professionalism
- Presenter: Monique Sample, Student Programs & Employer Partnerships Specialist, VCU Career Services
- Who: Supervisors of working learners (and other supporting staff, such as HR professionals)
- What: Traditional views of professionalism often focus on conformity: dress codes, speech patterns, and rigid workplace norms. These expectations can unintentionally reinforce barriers for student employees navigating diverse identities and experiences. This session invites supervisors to unpack the historical roots of professionalism, recognize its impact on equity and inclusion, and reframe it around accountability, integrity, and equitable workplace practices. Participants will leave with practical strategies for setting clear expectations, fostering inclusive environments, and supporting student staff in developing career readiness skills that align with today’s evolving workplaces.
Deconstructing Professionalism: Building Authenticity and Readiness in the Workplace
Professionalism
- Presenter: Monique Sample, Student Programs & Employer Partnerships Specialist, VCU Career Services
- Who: Working learners (Student staff)
- What: Professionalism has often been presented as a rigid checklist of behaviors and appearances rooted in outdated norms. But today’s workplaces are shifting toward a model that values authenticity, accountability, and equity. In this session, student employees will explore the history of professionalism, how those expectations have been shaped by systemic inequities, and what professionalism means in modern work settings. Together, we’ll discuss how you can show up as your best self at work while balancing your dual role as a student and employee, and practice strategies for building integrity, responsibility, and respect in any workplace.