From the Provost’s Desk (November 2024)

Issue #2: The grad student experience

At last month’s U of T reception in his honour, Nobel Prize-winning University Professor Emeritus Geoffrey Hinton spoke in glowing terms about the graduate students whom he credited with “doing things [he] wouldn’t have been able to do.” Likewise, his former students have shared how much he inspired them to make important contributions of their own.

I’ve since been reflecting on the unique relationships between grad students and their supervisors and how they can literally change the world. In 2023/24, we had over 7,800 doctoral students across our three campuses. Their work ensures that we can continue to do the excellent research that has made us the highest ranked university in Canada, third among North American public universities, and 10th among public universities globally.

Many of you have heard that the recent government caps on international students now apply to both graduate and undergraduate students. While it is too early to tell what this will mean to U of T, we are considering how we can address the possible impacts. We hope to learn more in the coming months.

What I do know is that as we prepare for U of T’s third century, we have to prioritize our support for graduate students. As a world-class research university, we must ensure that we invest in their success and continue to attract the very best students from around the world. I’d like to highlight some of the ways we are doing this, and how faculty can participate.

Simply put, supporting our grad students is critical – for them and for us. Our city is expensive to live in and the competition among universities for top students is high.

Graduate Funding

Given this, the issue of graduate funding is top-of-mind for students and faculty alike. Recognizing that there are many variations in graduate funding across the institution, we have been working to ensure a higher base level of funding across the university for our PhD students. Our goal is to increase access to doctoral programs, improve student wellness, and relieve some financial pressure on students, enabling them to better focus on their research. You will hear more about the outcome of these efforts in the coming days.

Academic and Professional Skills Supports

In addition to financial support, our grad students also often benefit from programs and initiatives that focus on various academic and professional challenges they may face.

Across our campuses, there are many of these that I hope you will encourage your students to take advantage of. There are also programs that can help both supervisors and grad students to make the most out of their relationships. These can be a great help in developing the kind of mutual learning environment that Professor Hinton was able to build with his students.

The School of Graduate Studies is a great resource hub with many offerings to help graduate students, their supervisors, and their mentors succeed.

Centre for Graduate Mentorship and Supervision (CGMS)
The CGMS offers coaching, workshops, mediation, and facilitation services to support the crucial relationship between grad students and their supervisors. Upcoming workshops for faculty cover topics such as giving effective feedback, communicating boundaries and expectations, and accessibility and accommodations.

Graduate Centre for Academic Communication (GCAC)
The GCAC works with grad students and postdoctoral fellows to hone their communication skills for an academic environment. To target the needs of both native and non-native speakers of English, the GCAC offers non-credit courses, single-session workshops, individual writing consultations, writing intensives, and a list of additional resources for academic writing and speaking.

Centre for Graduate Professional Development (CGPD)
The CGPD prepares grad students for the range of paths they may choose to take, providing both programming, resources, and wayfinding services. Students can take workshops on individual development planning, join an informal network for students completing their doctoral theses, and get training and support on public scholarship.

Healthy Research Teams Initiative
Grad students are integral to our research environment, and we must be mindful of creating space where they – and our research – can thrive. The Healthy Research Teams Initiative project leverages seed funding, educational programming, and awards to foster healthy research team environments that promote a culture of continual learning. You can learn more about this innovative initiative at the Healthy Research Teams Symposium on November 11, 2024, where U of T faculty will share research practices that support building a healthy research culture at U of T.

Other initiatives
Of course, there also are many other excellent supports offered at the divisional and departmental level, and by the offices of student life and teaching and learning at the St. George, UTM, and UTSC campuses. If you’re seeking a particular kind of support for you or your students, look into what SGS and these offices offer – or speak with your graduate administrator or coordinator, graduate unit chair, or divisional vice-dean, graduate.

Contribute to Graduate Education and Leadership

Faculty members can make a significant impact in graduate affairs by joining the Graduate Education Council at SGS or by engaging with divisional groups and committees focused on graduate education. As Associate Chairs for Graduate Studies or Graduate Chairs, faculty contribute to key areas like strategic academic planning, student mentorship, curriculum review and development, and managing student support. Through active participation, you can help shape policies and initiatives that foster a supportive and equitable environment for all of our graduate students.

Taking care of our graduate students is a key part of our role as faculty members who sustain and inspire innovative research activity. We are responsible for training them to be experts who will go on to ensure the future health of research both here at U of T and wherever their careers take them.

At the same time, let’s not forget that as much as graduate students need to do serious work, they also need to have fun here. Encourage them to have a healthy balance of work and play. From intramurals to movie nights, to student events, to exploring all the great culture that Toronto has to offer, there are also great things to participate in outside of their studies. And in case you need reminding, faculty members also need to take time to recharge outside of work!

Best regards,
Trevor