Restorative Supervision in Higher Education Student Affairs

Restorative practice has emerged as an inclusive and participatory approach for building and repairing relationships, fostering behavioral change, and addressing community impact by leveraging existing relationships. In the context of higher education and student affairs, where supervisory relationships play a pivotal role, the absence of intentional training in effective supervision is glaring. The quality of supervision profoundly influences employee retention and career choices within the field. This chapter explores the intersection of restorative practice and effective supervisory techniques to provide insight into how restorative practice can inform and invigorate supervision as a skill. The chapter also delves into the practical integration of restorative practice into supervisory approaches, offering insight for cultivating supportive and participatory work environments in student affairs in higher education. Lastly, narratives from seasoned student affairs professionals who have successfully integrated restorative practice into their supervisory approaches provide their practical perspectives in using restorative practice as supervisors in student affairs contexts.