Articles 12 April 2023 / 0 Comments

Happy Student Employee Appreciation Week! | Somehow I Manage

By Britt Yenser

You’ve probably heard of week-long celebrations for teachers and nurses, but did you know that there is also an appreciation week held for student employees? National Student Employment Week (NSEW) is held during the second full week of April. Some sources claim this year’s NSEW was from April 4th to April 10th. My staff is celebrating from April 10th to April 14th, because we are loose-cannon AV Tweeps who don’t play by the rules. Seriously, though, you can pick any week to celebrate your staff!

Your student employees are likely some of the hardest-working students on campus, so you should take time to celebrate them. AV is an ever-changing, complex job, and your campus would not function without successful AV support! Make sure your students know how important their role is to their community. Students, like any employee, need to know the importance of their role and that their work is appreciated– this creates a strong staff with continuous buy-in. 

Plus, the more you are seen celebrating your staff and having fun with them, the more other students will be interested in joining your team. So, if not this week, pick ANY week to remind your students of how important they are, to say thank you, and to have a little fun! Your current students will have a refreshed investment in their student employment position, and new students might be drawn to your team.

If you want to celebrate your students but don’t know where to start, here are some celebration ideas I’ve used with great success:

  • Thank You Cards: This is a timeless way of saying thank you, and it’s nice for students to have a tangible item they can save and look back on. Be sure to include why you appreciate that particular student’s work. This is not the time to be generic! Each student should know why THEY are valuable to your staff.
  • Team Meal: Eat dinner together one day during your appreciation week. If it’s in the budget, buy them food. If it’s not, go to the dining hall together and have them use their meal plan. Either way, show them an appreciation for your time and get a valuable bonding opportunity. Don’t talk shop at this meal– just enjoy the food and your time together.
  • Awards/Certificates: This doesn’t need to be a formal ceremony (although it can be if you want!) Set some time aside during a team meeting to hand out superlatives. This is another fun bonding experience where every student can be awarded with something. Make sure the superlatives and awards are positive, like, “Most Likely to Never Forget to Clock Out” or “Most Likely to get Positive Reviews from End Clients.” 
  • Snacks: If you don’t have the time or budget for a full meal, college students always appreciate snacks. Stock the office with grab-and-go snacks, or bring snacks to a team meeting. If you’re doing grab-and-go, you can even put nice notes on the snack packages! 
  • Door Decorations: If you have an office door, make a little decoration for each student and post it on the door during your appreciation week. This reminds the students that the office space is also theirs, and reminds your community of who is on your staff. This is also very exciting for commuter students, who might not normally get to experience door decorations the way resident students do. Let the students take their decorations with them at the end of the week!
  • LinkedIn Posts: This is especially good for students who are seniors. Hop on LinkedIn and shout out your student employees! This will remind them that they are working a real job where they are important and appreciated– and will give them some positive feedback to share on their profile as they start to look for jobs after graduation. 

Everyone has varying degrees of time, creativity, and budget. The most important thing is to be your authentic self. Find a way you know you can show your student employees that you appreciate their work, and set aside a week to dedicate to them! Like any employee, student employees need thoughtful leadership in order to remain invested in their work. Whichever week you end up picking, I hope you have a successful and fun Student Employee Appreciation Week!