The training and mentoring by faculty supervisors of graduate students is critical to their positive university experience, timely program completion, and preparedness for the world of work. The responsibilities of faculty members who supervise graduate students are outlined in the Responsibilities of Supervisors and Graduate Students. To ensure progress and timeline completion, supervisors and graduate students are expected to complete and submit an Graduate Student Annual Progress and Supervisory Report Form.

RESOURCES FOR REMOTE SUPERVISION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS

The School of Graduate Studies is committed to providing support and training to faculty members and instructional staff who supervise and mentor graduate students.

The Best practices for remote supervision of graduate students resource was developed by the School of Graduate Studies to provide advice to faculty interested improving their remote supervisory practice. The document also provides a list of communication and collaboration IT services available to faculty.

In May 2020, the School of Graduate Studies and Centre for Innovation, Teaching and Learning hosted a recorded panel discussion on Supervising Graduate Students during COVID-19 with the recipients of the President’s Award for Outstanding Graduate and Postgraduate Supervision. The panelists included Dr. Valerie Booth (Department of Biochemistry), Dr. Brian Veitch (Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science), and Dr. Brent Snook (Department of Psychology), who provided advice and strategies to best mentor and support graduate students while practicing self-care.

The Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) is hosting a series of instructional sessions for instructors and teaching assistants on key topics to support effective remote and online instruction. Session topics include preparing to teach remotely, embedding principles of universal design, creating videos of your presentations, alternatives to exams and much more. Graduate students are welcome to attend. 

DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING

The School of Graduate Studies is committed to ensuring the best possible experience and outcomes for graduate students by providing meaningful training and supports to Memorial’s faculty members engaged in supervision.

Teaching Skills Enhancement Program is designed to provide an introduction to teaching at the undergraduate level. The program is free of charge, and graduate students who successfully complete the program receive a certificate of completion and official transcript notation.

Other training opportunities for faculty supervisors are noted below. This is not an exhaustive list.

• Understanding foreign credential for graduate admissions
• CITL workshops and seminars
• Diversity training opportunities
• Occupational health and safety training
• President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and Graduate Supervision

Below are resources for faculty members who supervise graduate students. This is not an exhaustive list.

• Guidelines for Academic Units to use in Recommending the Apt of Grad Supervisors
• Guidelines for Awarding of School of Graduate Studies Fellowships
• Copyright
• Academic misconduct
• Avoiding plagiarism – a guide
• Intellectual Property Guidelines
• SGS guidelines and policies
• Forms for graduate officers and graduate students
• SGS special funding initiatives
• Theses and reports – guidelines and procedures
• Visiting Graduate Students
• TAMUN collective agreement – graduate assistantships
• Student support and crisis management
• Student Code of Conduct
• Criteria for nominating Fellows of the School of Graduate Studies

EXTERNAL RESOURCES

The resources provided here are drawn from the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies’ (CAGS) website. They include CAGS discussion papers as well as publications from third parties.

• Graduate Studies: A Practical Guide for Advisors, Supervisors, and Graduate Students
• Creating a Letter of Understanding for Advisors/Supervisors and Graduate Students
• Guiding Principles for Graduate Student Supervision
• Professional Skills Development for Graduate Students
• A Guide to Intellectual Property for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars
• Emerging Researchers and Intellectual Property: Law, Policy, and Practice
• Accommodating Graduate Students with Disabilities
• Evidence-based pedagogies for supervisors
• Great Mentoring in Graduate School: A quick start guide for protégés

RESOURCES FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

Below are some resources and services for graduate students. This is not an exhaustive list.

• Enhanced Development of the Graduate Experience workshops
• Entrepreneurship Training Program
• Payroll deductions
• Enrolment verification letters
• Business cards for graduate students
• Online Learning (Brightspace)
• Bookable study rooms and spaces
• Scholarships and awards database
• Integrity and Ethics – Scholarly Essentials
• Funding sources (travel funding, graduate assistantships, Fellow of the School of Graduate Studies)
• Study skills clinics
• Personal counselling
• Request for Leave of Absence
• Travel Policy
• I want to...

SUPPORT SERVICES

Below are some support service units for graduate students. This is not an exhaustive list.

• Student Life (Career Development and Experiential Learning, Glenn Roy Blundon Centre for Students with Disabilities, Aboriginal Resource Office, Housing, Food and Conference Services, Student Health)
• Writing Centre
• Sexual Harassment Office
• Office of the Registrar
• Parking
• Information Technology Services
• Campus Computer Store
• Cooperative Education
• Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning
• Internationalization Office (international student advising)

STUDENT GROUPS AND RELATED ASSOCIATIONS

Below are some groups and associations related to graduate students. This is not an exhaustive list.

• Graduate Students’ Union
• Teaching Assistants’ Union of Memorial University of Newfoundland
• Lecturers’ Union of Memorial University of Newfoundland
• International student groups
• Graduate student clubs and societies