McGill.CA / Anatomy and Cell Biology / Graduate / Current students

Supervision

https://staging.mcgill.ca/anatomy/files/anatomy/styles/wysiwyg_extra_large/public/supervision.jpg?itok=F274z32p
Supervisor’s Responsibilities: Mentor’s Responsibilities: Student is responsible for:
  • Uphold and transmit to students the highest professional standards of research and/or scholarship
  • Provide guidance in all phases of the student’s research
  • Meet with their students regularly
  • Provide prompt feedback when work is submitted including drafts of the thesis
  • Clarify expectations regarding collaborative work, authorship, publication and conference presentations
  • Act as a member of the student’s advisory committee
  • Make sure a Progress Tracking Reports and evaluations forms get completed at annual meetings
  • Help the student with any specific issues during the student’s graduate program
  • Maintain ongoing communication with both their supervisor and mentor
  • Meet with their supervisor regularly
  • Meet with the mentor once a year, with the first meeting in the month of September (for Fall admission), or January (for Winter admission)
  • Feel free to discuss any problems or ask any questions to both supervisor and mentor.
Each graduate student, in addition to having a Supervisor, will be assigned a Mentor. The Mentor will be a member of the student’s advisory committee. The student will meet with his/her mentor on a yearly basis. The student will have ongoing contact with both the supervisor and the mentor throughout his/her graduate studies and should be familiar with their roles and responsibilities.

LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING

The Letter of Understanding is designed to promote dialogue between the supervisor(s) and the student, in order to define expectations and to increase awareness of the rights and responsibilities governing the training program and the student-supervisor relationship. The aim is to achieve a positive and mutually beneficial experience.

Students should review the Letter of Understanding in advance and then, upon admission, complete it with their supervisor. Once signed, a copy must be uploaded to myProgress under the "Letter of Understanding" Milestone, for GPD approval. The form can be found on the Forms & Guidelines page.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

It is important to maintain a healthy supervisor-supervisee relationship. Procedures are in place to resolve conflicts between graduate students and their supervisors. Both supervisors and students should make every effort to resolve such conflicts within the Department before seeking outside assistance. If you find yourself in a situation of conflict you should clarify regulations and policies with the Graduate Program Coordinator and/or follow the steps below if you have concerns.

Students

Conflict is inevitable in any relationship or professional setting. It is important to consider how to navigate conflict, especially when it has an adverse impact on your experience. Addressing and resolving conflicts with supervisors can feel intimidating due to power dynamics between the supervisor and supervisee. Click here for more information on how to cope with conflict when it emerges.

Steps for student concerns:

  1. Informal discussions with your supervisor. It is important to raise issues as they occur and discuss the matter tactfully. For serious issues, politely confirm discussions in writing to ensure both parties have an understanding of the points discussed and expectations
  2. If the conflict is of academic concern, speak informally with your mentor and/or other members of your Advisory Committee. If necessary, request to hold an Advisory Committee Meeting. If it cannot be resolved move to step 3.
  3. Discussion with the Graduate Program Director (GPD) who can mediate between the student and supervisor. If your supervisor happens to be the GPD, you should skip to step 4.
  4. Discussion with the Department Chair. The Chair should attempt to resolve the conflict, either by providing mediation or making alternate arrangements for the continued supervision of the student if the student is otherwise performing satisfactorily in the program. If your supervisor happens to be the Department Chair, and the conflict was not resolved in the previous step, you should move to step 5.
  5. Informal meeting with the Associate Dean responsible for Medicine and Health Sciences (GPS). If further steps are warranted, the Associate Dean will advise you to that effect.
 

For any issues involving McGill University and its members, you can also contact the Ombudsperson. The Ombudsperson offers confidential, informal and independent dispute resolution services to all students. The Ombudsperson is an advocate for a fair process (and not an advocate for the individual or for the administration), acts solely in an advisory and intermediary role, and does not make University policy or replace formal channels.

Supervisors

Conflict is inevitable in any relationship or professional setting. When you find yourself in situations with supervisees where conflict begins to impact your experience or productivity adversely, it is important to consider how to navigate conflict effectively. Click here for more information on how to cope with conflict when it emerges.

Steps for supervisor concerns:

  1. Informal discussions with the student. It is important to raise issues as they occur and discuss the matter tactfully. For serious issues, politely confirm discussions in writing to ensure both parties have an understanding of the points discussed and expectations
  2. If the conflict is of academic concern, you can speak informally with members of the student’s Advisory Committee, and if necessary, hold an Advisory Committee Meeting. If it cannot be resolved move to step 3.
  3. Discussion with the Graduate Program Director (GPD) who can mediate between the student and supervisor. If you happen to be the GPD, you should skip to the next step.
  4. Discussion with the Department Chair. The Chair should attempt to resolve the conflict, either by providing mediation or making alternate arrangements for the continued supervision of the student if the student is otherwise performing satisfactorily in the program. If you happen to be the Department Chair, and the conflict was not resolved in the previous step, you should move to step 5.
  5. Informal meeting with the Associate Dean responsible for Medicine and Health Sciences (GPS). If further steps are warranted, the Associate Dean will advise you to that effect.

Back to top