4 Tips on Strengthening Graduate Student-supervisor Relations 

Whether you’re starting a new relationship with your research supervisor or reinforcing an older one, it is important to learn how to best navigate this dynamic partnership as a graduate student. We’re here to bring you the best practices for establishing a solid foundation with your supervisor, and strategies on how to build off this basis into a strong and stable graduate student-supervisor relationship. 

Here are 4 tips to help your student-supervisor relationship flourish while working toward your graduate degree:

1. Write things down: Take notes on the daily activities you’re doing as you progress in your research. This will function as a log to look back on what you have covered, to potentially stop you from duplication and to help you see the development of your work over time. Note-taking will also help you keep track of the things you need to touch base on with your supervisor when you may be stuck in your research, better preparing you for your next meeting. 

2. Prepare for your meetings: Meeting with your supervisor can sometimes be difficult. Be sure to come prepared – have a purpose for the meeting and communicate it effectively. Brush up on business rules for a productive meeting – how to make an agenda and how to follow up – and practice your active listening skills. Take notes and make sure to clarify if you are unsure what is expected of you by your professor. Lastly, be reliable to your supervisor and avoid cancelling!   

3. Be aware of boundaries: Find a middle ground in your relationship with your supervisor. You are no longer an undergraduate student, but you are also not yet at the same level as your professor. If you have to raise a concern, explore these tips for navigating a difficult discussion with your supervisor. Concordia provides a lot of services to help navigate these relationships and to support any difficult situations, such as: 

• Your Graduate Program Director (by program) – to deal with program related internal issues.
• Consultation with a personal counselor – to discuss in confidence a personal issue and identify solutions.
• Student Advocacy Office – to understand how Concordia’s rules and regulations apply in difficult situations, including charges under the Academic Code of Conduct and Code of Rights and Responsibilities.
• Ombuds Office – to assist in the informal resolution of concerns and complaints related to the application of University policies, rules and procedures.
• The Office of Rights and Responsibilities – who administer Code of Rights and Responsibilities to promote respect on campus. 

4. Build a network of support: It is important, throughout your graduate studies, to gradually build a network of support in your department or faculty. Here are some easy ways to seek out connections you can make to help you get the most out of your time as a Concordia graduate:

• Get to know your department administrators and receptionists, it is their job to know who’s who and what is happening in the department at any moment 
• Meet people in other research teams or in related programs 
• Maintain professionalism and personal and academic integrity, it can potentially lead to great references
• Become involved in your field and be visible 
• Find out who the subject librarian assigned to your program is and explore different resources and referencing styles specific to your department 
• Lastly, gain support to develop these skills by registering for upcoming GradProSkills workshops