Supervising Graduate Students can be one of the most rewarding and challenging responsibilities of a faculty member. While each supervisor-student relationship is unique, there are best practices that can help ensure this relationship is productive and beneficial for everyone. As a supervisor, you serve as a mentor to your graduate student and are responsible for overseeing both their academic and research progress. From the first meeting to project completion, you will help guide your graduate student through the many phases of their research, professional development, and personal growth.

It is important to establish a strong, professional relationship with your student from the start. Setting clear expectations from the beginning and ensuring that both you and your student agree on the terms of the relationship is essential. Your relationship with your student should help them to grow academically and provide them with the support, training, and resources necessary to perform high-quality graduate work and research.