Nominate a Colleague for Supervisor Training
Duke’s First Time Supervisor Program begins in November

When Gloria Steverson came to Duke in 2008, she was determined to follow a career path of her choosing.
Starting as front desk staff at the Patient Revenue Management Organization, she worked her way up through two positions to her current job as service access manager for financial services and hopes to secure a job as a revenue manager in the future. Even though she’s been proactive to develop a career on her own, being part of Duke’s First Time Supervisor Program helped shape her future and led to a bachelor’s degree in health care management.
Read More“The First Time Supervisor Program taught me how to network and gave me the experience needed to become a successful manager,” said Steverson, who, along with and 18 other employees, graduated from the program in 2013. “It was invaluable in making me aware of new skills and where they best fit at Duke.”
Duke’s Professional Development Institute is now accepting nominations to develop high-potential staff aspiring to become supervisors or who will be moving into new supervisory roles. Supervisors are invited to nominate staff for the yearlong First Time Supervisor Program through Oct. 2. Nomination forms are available online. The program begins Nov. 9 and meets twice a month until graduation in November 2016. The program will include up to 20 members.
Over the course of the program, participants receive coaching and mentoring sessions to identify their strengths and weaknesses. They attend classroom learning on topics like communication, project and budget management and managing difficult work relationships. In return for Duke's investment in their education, participants commit to staying at Duke for at least two years after the completion of the program.
“These types of programs are one of the ways Duke expresses support for the growth, development and retention of employees,” said Sally Allison-Bland, assistant director of Duke Recruitment and the Professional Development Institute. “It’s important for us to help develop those who have expressed interest in moving into supervisory positions to benefit their professional growth and Duke’s institutional knowledge.”
To be considered for the program, nominees must meet several minimum requirements, in addition to an endorsement from a current manager:
- Full-time employee with minimum of three years of continuous service.
- Performance, as defined by the department, which “fully achieves or meets standards” for the previous two years of continuous service. Applicants with “exceeds standards” will be given priority consideration.
- Minimum of an associate’s degree, depending on the supervisory position the individual is working toward. Other positions will require a bachelor’s or advanced degree.
- Consistent demonstration of expertise in field appropriate to applicant’s area of responsibilities.
Staff selected for the First Time Supervisors Program will be asked to participate in a minimum of two to three days per month of classroom training. During the program, participants will need to be released from their regular work schedule to cover this training time.
A full list of nomination details and requirements can be found on the program’s website.
“If you want to grow as an employee, you will excel in this class,” Steverson said. “I’m better equipped because of it.”