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Supervision

Working with your supervisor

Setting yourself up for a great start with your supervisor is essential for your grad school success.

Best practices

Here are some guidelines and tips to help you maintain a positive working relationship with your supervisor:

  1. Communicate: Meet with your supervisor and/or Graduate Program Director to align your goals and objectives. Share any obstacles or challenges you may be facing outside of academia that may affect your availability or performance.

  2. Understand the expectations: Agree upon and commit to the Student and Supervisor Framework to set expectations. You can adjust the framework at any time during your program as your situation evolves. 

  3. Be flexible: Your supervisor is human just like you. They may have other teaching, research and personal obligations and may not be able to respond to your questions immediately.

  4. Stay informed: Touch base with your supervisor regularly to update them on your progress and to get feedback. Schedule regular phone, email, or in-person meetings.

  5. Be respectful: During your program, you and your supervisor may disagree. Minor disagreements can be resolved by maintaining open and respectful communication. If you find yourself in conflict with your supervisor and are unable to resolve the situation on your own, connect with your Graduate Program Director.

Supervision Guidelines

For detailed information on supervision, consult the Supervision Guidelines to better understand the roles and responsibilities of research students and supervisors.

Attestation for Named Research Organizations

You and your supervisor should be familiar with the Federal government’s list of Named Research Organizations (NRO) in relation to the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern. Any researcher or HQP that have an active affiliation or are receiving support (in-kind or otherwise) from an NRO, and are working on a Sensitive Technology Area, are considered potential threats to Canada's national security by the Federal Government.

If you currently have or have had any affiliation with a Named Research Organization, you are required to confirm that you have discontinued this affiliation.

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