Guidelines for Graduate Student Mentoring and Advising | The Graduate School

Effective mentoring relationships are formed and sustained through principles of reciprocity and mutual responsibility. Mentors and mentees should respect one another both as researchers/scholars/creative practitioners and as individuals. That respect is formed through a shared commitment to scientific, creative and professional excellence, and a recognition of these common values.

Establishing a relationship based on trust and open communication
Engaging in ways that are respectful and culturally responsive
Actively promoting an environment of civility
Using inclusive and non-discriminatory language

MSU is committed to excellence in graduate education. Graduate education, research, and creative activities take place within a community of scholars where constructive relationships between graduate students and their advisors and mentors create an environment characterized by the highest standards of scholarship, ethics, and professional integrity. These guidelines recognize the rights and responsibilities that underpin a vibrant, supportive, and inclusive culture of graduate education.

The right to a safe, supportive environment in which individuals can flourish and grow in their pursuit of knowledge
The right to an environment that emphasizes tolerance, encourages respect for diverse viewpoints, and promotes civility toward others (from 2010 tolerance and civility statement)
The right to a diverse, equitable and inclusive learning environment
The right to collegiality in scholarly interactions and sharing of resources
The right to an environment that actively promotes research and creative excellence

Ensuring the actualization of these rights depends on individual members of the community recognizing their role in upholding them, and on a mutual commitment to the shared values underpinning them [see the Foundational Values for Graduate Student and Faculty Mentoring Relationships at Michigan State University]. Sustaining such a community of integrity and excellence is the responsibility of everyone.

Communicating regularly about expectations in the graduate degree program in the disciplinary field
Promoting the highest standards of integrity in research, scholarship, and creative activities
Engaging in continuing professional development in mentoring skills

Talking with students about their interests in a range of career paths
Encouraging and supporting career exploration and professional development
Supporting mental and physical health

The responsibility to hold one’s self and one another accountable for integrity in educational and research practices, and for reporting behaviors and practices that violate policies
The responsibility to know and adhere to federal, University and academic unit rules, procedures and policies applicable to teaching, graduate study, research, and creative activities (including those in FERPA, The Code of Teaching Responsibilities, Academic Programs, Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities, Medical Student Rights and Responsibilities, Academic Freedom for Students at Michigan State University) and to ensure that they are followed at all levels of the university
The responsibility to respect confidentiality

Effective advising and mentoring of graduate students is the joint responsibility of the University, the Graduate School, graduate degree-granting and program units (hereafter referred to as academic units), the faculty advisors, and the students.

Creating a climate of mutual accountability
Communicating the value of graduate education to MSU’s mission
Setting expectations that graduate student mentoring is an important faculty and unit responsibility
Supporting MSU’s offices that contribute to graduate student education and well-being

Providing resources and training to help faculty and graduate students continuously improve their mentoring skills and abilities
Providing information to units to help them fulfill their mentoring responsibilities
Advocating for excellence in mentoring including inclusive mentoring practices
Regularly assessing various aspects of mentoring on campus (e.g., through surveys, focus groups, or other applicable means).
Partnering with other units to provide additional mentoring and professional development opportunities
Recognizing and rewarding faculty and students who exemplify excellence in mentoring (e.g., through annual mentoring awards)
Serving as a contact point for faculty and students who experience difficulties in mentoring relationships

Creating explicit expectations and transparent policies that are consistent with MSU policies (e.g., maintaining an updated, online Graduate Handbook that follows the Graduate School Handbook Template and academic unit requirements for degree completion)
Enabling graduate students to make timely progress in their degree programs by ensuring that required courses and examinations are scheduled in a timely manner
Creating opportunities for networking and expanding career and professional development (e.g., organizing speaker series, colloquia, and other formal and informal events)
Creating opportunities for graduate students to become familiar with the various forms of scholarship in the field
Sharing responsibility with guidance committees and faculty advisors for fostering the professional and career development of graduate students (e.g., providing venues for honing professional writing and presentation skills, grants writing, publishing)
Ensuring that regular progress checks are provided for students (including annual written evaluations)
Providing education in research ethics and integrity
Recognizing and rewarding excellence in mentoring, and identifying opportunities for professional development so that faculty can improve their mentoring skills and abilities
Connecting faculty to a broader community of support by sharing information about MSU and Graduate School resources that can support them in mentoring graduate students

Helping new students transition to the program (e.g., providing orientation sessions, introducing students to the unit’s Graduate Handbook, and creating opportunities for students working in different areas and in various cohorts to meet together)
Ensuring that students have consistent advising by providing advice on matters such as course selection until a permanent faculty advisor and guidance committee are selected, or appointing a committee or temporary advisor to assume that role
Helping students find appropriate guidance and support for their work by facilitating selection of a faculty advisor and guidance committee and facilitating changes of faculty advisor and/or guidance committee if necessary
Ensuring a consistency of standards across the unit by monitoring the standards and fairness of components of the program (e.g., examinations, expectations for dissertation completion, timeliness to degree)
Fostering shared values and the upholding of rights and responsibilities by working toward fair resolution of conflicts between graduate students and faculty
Connecting graduate students to a broader community of support by sharing information about MSU and Graduate School professional development and mentoring resources

Ensuring that graduate students receive information about requirements and policies of the graduate program (e.g., advising graduate students on developing a program plan, including appropriate course work, research or creative activity, and on available resources)
Providing training and oversight in creative activities, research rigor, theoretical and technical aspects of the thesis or dissertation research, and in professional integrity and research ethics (e.g., advising graduate students on the selection of a thesis or dissertation topic with realistic prospects for successful completion within an appropriate time frame and on the formation of a guidance committee; helping graduate students to develop professional skills in writing reports, papers, and grant proposals, making professional presentations, establishing professional networks, interviewing, and evaluating manuscripts and papers; and encouraging graduate students to stay current in the literature and ideas in the field)
Providing regular feedback on the progress of graduate students toward degree completion (e.g., providing feedback on research or creative activities, course work, and teaching, and constructive criticism if the progress does not meet expectations, completion of annual written evaluations)
Helping graduate students develop into successful professionals and colleagues (e.g., encouraging students to participate and disseminate results of research or creative activities in the appropriate scholarly or public forums; writing letters of reference for appropriate fellowship, scholarship, award, and job opportunities)
Facilitating career development and exploration, including advising graduate students on appropriate job and career options, as well as on the preparation of application materials for appropriate fellowship, scholarship, and other relevant opportunities
Providing for supervision and advising of graduate students when the faculty advisor is on leave or extended absence
Assisting the graduate student in navigating disagreements among the guidance committee

Advising graduate students on course work, research, or creative activities
Providing regular and timely feedback and guidance concerning progress towards the degree
Administering exams in a fair and professional manner
Reviewing and providing feedback on research proposals and the thesis or dissertation in a timely, constructive and critical manner
Providing guidance to help the student achieve their career goals

Meeting University and academic unit requirements for degree completion
Exploring career options and pursuing professional development opportunities in support of them
Forming a guidance committee that supports the thesis or dissertation research as well as career and professional development needs
Practicing uncompromising honesty and integrity according to University and federal guidelines in collecting and maintaining data
Seeking regulatory approval for research in the early stages of thesis or dissertation work where applicable
Keeping the faculty advisor and guidance committee apprised on a regular basis of the progress toward completion of the thesis or dissertation