Student-Mentor Student-Mentor Relationships and the Relationships and the Politics of Graduate Politics of Graduate

SchoolSchool

What do you need to get a What do you need to get a PhD?PhD?

Thoughts on Sternberg articleThoughts on Sternberg article

Power and politicsPower and politics

What do you need to get through a PhD What do you need to get through a PhD program? program?

How does power affect you as a How does power affect you as a graduate student? graduate student?

How can you deal with power How can you deal with power imbalances?imbalances?

Supportive vs. competitive programsSupportive vs. competitive programs Emphasis on research vs. Emphasis on research vs.

applied/practiceapplied/practice

Are your expectations of Are your expectations of faculty reasonable? faculty reasonable?

Myths:Myths:– That they have lots of timeThat they have lots of time– That they know everythingThat they know everything– That student interests won’t changeThat student interests won’t change

Role conflictRole conflict

How can you deal withHow can you deal with– Intrarole conflict?Intrarole conflict?– Interrole-Intrapersonal conflict?Interrole-Intrapersonal conflict?– Interrole-interpersonal conflict? Interrole-interpersonal conflict?

Developmental stagesDevelopmental stages

What are the developmental stages?What are the developmental stages?– DependenceDependence– DisillusionmentDisillusionment– RebellionRebellion– CollaborationCollaboration

What is a mentor, and why What is a mentor, and why do I need one?do I need one?

Could be academic advisor, thesis Could be academic advisor, thesis supervisor, graduate coordinator, or supervisor, graduate coordinator, or other faculty memberother faculty member

Can be a formal or informal Can be a formal or informal relationshiprelationship

People who are mentored are People who are mentored are generally more successfulgenerally more successful

Remember that you don’t have to get Remember that you don’t have to get everything from one personeverything from one person

A good mentor or thesis A good mentor or thesis supervisor should…supervisor should…

Spend time with youSpend time with you Provide you with feedbackProvide you with feedback Provide you with Provide you with

information/resourcesinformation/resources Support you and be willing to go to Support you and be willing to go to

bat for youbat for you Help you find useful Help you find useful

experiences/colleaguesexperiences/colleagues

How should you choose a How should you choose a mentor?mentor?

Things to consider about yourselfThings to consider about yourself– Research/scholarly interestsResearch/scholarly interests– Current level of knowledge/skillsCurrent level of knowledge/skills– TimetableTimetable– What and how much support you needWhat and how much support you need

Things to consider about the mentorThings to consider about the mentor– AvailabilityAvailability– ReputationReputation– Track recordTrack record– PersonalityPersonality

Talk to advanced students about Talk to advanced students about potential mentorspotential mentors

Fit is everything!Fit is everything!

How can you be a good How can you be a good mentee/grad student?mentee/grad student?

Communicate clearly about Communicate clearly about expectationsexpectations

Be respectful of their timeBe respectful of their time Be respectful of their feedbackBe respectful of their feedback Trust that they know more than you, Trust that they know more than you,

at least about some thingsat least about some things Know what their pet peeves areKnow what their pet peeves are Come with solutions, not problemsCome with solutions, not problems

Admit your mistakesAdmit your mistakes Don’t assume they can read your mindDon’t assume they can read your mind Be pleasant to work with Be pleasant to work with Be independent but not too independentBe independent but not too independent Plan on revisionsPlan on revisions Realize faculty are human and have Realize faculty are human and have

outside lives toooutside lives too Try to figure out things on your own, but if Try to figure out things on your own, but if

you need help, ask!you need help, ask!

What should you not do? What should you not do?

What should you do and not What should you do and not do in grad school? do in grad school?

DoDo– Lots of researchLots of research– Actively participate in classActively participate in class– Write wellWrite well– Use time well/ get things doneUse time well/ get things done– Get involved in the departmentGet involved in the department

Don’tDon’t– Avoid facultyAvoid faculty– Waste time Waste time – Try to get by with the minimumTry to get by with the minimum

What should you do if it’s What should you do if it’s not workingnot working

Be open and communicate with the Be open and communicate with the mentor firstmentor first

Be careful with email (though it can be Be careful with email (though it can be helpful in documentation)helpful in documentation)

Don’t escalateDon’t escalate Check with others to make sure you’re Check with others to make sure you’re

seeing things accuratelyseeing things accurately Maybe it’s time for a divorce—they Maybe it’s time for a divorce—they

might be wanting one toomight be wanting one too

If it’s still bad…If it’s still bad…

ExploitationExploitation HarassmentHarassment Talk to someone you trust (e.g., grad Talk to someone you trust (e.g., grad

coordinator, department head) and if coordinator, department head) and if that person doesn’t listen, find that person doesn’t listen, find someone elsesomeone else

Keep in mind that faculty are Keep in mind that faculty are obligated to report sexual harassmentobligated to report sexual harassment

Thesis completionThesis completion

Don’t be a forever ABT!Don’t be a forever ABT! Get started earlyGet started early Choose advisor wellChoose advisor well Pick a committee that will get alongPick a committee that will get along Don’t hide mistakes/things you don’t knowDon’t hide mistakes/things you don’t know Work with committee well, but always check Work with committee well, but always check

with thesis supervisor firstwith thesis supervisor first Expect revisions and be open to changesExpect revisions and be open to changes Think about whether this change will really Think about whether this change will really

matter—if so, give a reason for not changing itmatter—if so, give a reason for not changing it

RememberRemember

In graduate school (and lots of other In graduate school (and lots of other places), reputation matters, and it’s places), reputation matters, and it’s hard to change once set.hard to change once set.

Program of StudyProgram of Study

Look at onlineLook at online Student requestsStudent requests Classes for spring!Classes for spring!

Next weekNext week

IRB trainingIRB training Readings onlineReadings online In 2 weeks, completed IRB formIn 2 weeks, completed IRB form