
Current progress
Fall 2024
Recognizing the importance of competitive stipends for graduate students, the GSE steering committee adopted a statement in support of increasing student stipends. Read the full statement of support here.
The four GSE working groups are focused on improving graduate students' experiences across key areas. Here's a quick review of the working groups' ongoing activities:
- Student Life and Wellness Working Group
- Exploring standardized processes for requesting embedded counselors in schools and units
- Developing strategies to promote CAPS services and preventative tools such as Stress First Aid
- Identifying ways to defray the costs of long-term counseling for students
- Faculty Mentor Training Working Group
- o Developing an implementation plan for training in mentorship for faculty members, to be supported by Individual Development Plans (IDPs) and mentor agreements for graduate students
- Finalizing core competencies for faculty mentor training, including expectation alignment, communication, and professional development
- Preparing a pilot program for IDPs to begin in Spring 2025, allowing select programs to test implementation strategies for IDPs as an essential part of mentoring relationships
- Exploring strategies for broader culture change to prioritize and recognize excellence in mentoring through training, awards, and community-building initiatives
- Teaching Assistant (TA) Training Working Group
- Developing an implementation plan for TA training for graduate students serving as TAs
- Finalizing key competencies for TA training, such as inclusive teaching practices, effective grading and classroom management strategies
- Reviewing existing training resources and identifying gaps to ensure TAs receive the skills and tools needed for success in their roles
- Proposing a TA training roadmap with clear milestones for students and programs
- Graduate Student Working Conditions Working Group
- Developing policies to prevent students from being asked to conduct personal work for faculty outside of academic responsibilities
- Developing policies for well-being days and sick leave for graduate students, ensuring they receive necessary time off for health and recovery
- Initiating processes for the creation of workload policies at the school level similar to the existing faculty workload policy, to provide clarity and prevent conflicts
The GSE also partnered with Abacus Evaluation to conduct a survey of doctoral student working conditions.