QUESTION: I'm a graduate student struggling to find support in my program with an
issue that came up. Who is a neutral party, that can help me make
decisions as I move forward? Or what options to I have? Who can I speak
to for advice?
The Associate Dean of Graduate Studies for your faculty is also a good option. Their job is to be the voice of graduate studies so they should be a neutral party .I've had issues in my program and went to go talk to mine. It was really helpful and I'm glad I did it. Here's the link to their contact information.
Also check if your department/school has a graduate advocate. This is a professor who is assigned to be a go-to person for graduate students to talk to if they don't feel comfortable raising issues directly with their supervisor.
Consider contacting a member of your Graduate Students Associate.
If the problem is legal, in terms of ownership of patents and the like consider talking to Daryl Schnurr, he's an adjunct professor, but a full-time lawyer. He teaches engineering and contract law.
I know he once helped a graduate student who's professor was forcing him to sign over patents in order to graduate. I cannot speak to the cost of his services, but he will likely return your email if another prof is engaged in legal impropriety.
One option is the Chair of the Department. A second option is the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies for your department (also a faculty member).
ReplyDeleteThe Associate Dean of Graduate Studies for your faculty is also a good option. Their job is to be the voice of graduate studies so they should be a neutral party .I've had issues in my program and went to go talk to mine. It was really helpful and I'm glad I did it. Here's the link to their contact information.
ReplyDeletehttps://uwaterloo.ca/graduate-studies/about-graduate-studies/graduate-studies-department-contacts/associate-deans-graduate-studies
Also check if your department/school has a graduate advocate. This is a professor who is assigned to be a go-to person for graduate students to talk to if they don't feel comfortable raising issues directly with their supervisor.
ReplyDeleteConsider contacting a member of your Graduate Students Associate.
ReplyDeleteIf the problem is legal, in terms of ownership of patents and the like consider talking to Daryl Schnurr, he's an adjunct professor, but a full-time lawyer. He teaches engineering and contract law.
I know he once helped a graduate student who's professor was forcing him to sign over patents in order to graduate. I cannot speak to the cost of his services, but he will likely return your email if another prof is engaged in legal impropriety.
I know an unfortunate amount of graduate students who had to switch profs. It happens way more often than anyone would like to think.
ReplyDeleteOmbuds Office
ReplyDelete