Official Blog | UCGPC

Poll: https://bit.ly/uc-grad-mentorship

Graduate school can be an exciting yet challenging experience, especially for starting students. Graduate students are often tasked with a high level of responsibility, from conducting their own research to teaching undergraduate classes. This level of responsibility can be daunting and overwhelming without proper guidance and support.

This is where mentorship comes in. Having an advisor who can provide guidance, advice, and support is crucial for the success of graduate students. A good mentor can help students navigate the complexities of graduate school, provide insights into the academic culture, and help them identify and achieve their goals.

However, not all advisors are created equal. Some may be great at providing emotional support but lack the knowledge and expertise to help their mentees advance their careers. Others may have the knowledge but lack the empathy and compassion necessary to connect with their mentees on a personal level.

This is why mentorship standards are so important. By setting clear expectations and guidelines for mentorship, graduate students can ensure they receive the support and guidance they need to succeed. Mentorship standards help ensure that advisors are qualified, knowledgeable, and empathetic and provide the necessary guidance and support to help their mentees achieve their goals.

Graduate students can feel lost and unsupported without proper mentorship, leading to high-stress levels and burnout. By establishing clear mentorship standards, universities and academic institutions can ensure that all graduate students receive the support and guidance they need to succeed in their academic and professional careers.

The University of California Graduate and Professional Council has established an Advisory Committee on Mentorship Experience, comprised of officer members Hayden Schill from UCSD, Valeria Dominguez from UCR, and a staff member, Patriccia Ordonez-Kim (executive director), along with the guidance of an alumni member Victor Wang. The committee is charged with designing a survey to collect data on graduate student mentorship, presenting and/or publishing their findings, collaborating with relevant stakeholders, and conducting general outreach to enhance the graduate student mentorship experience. While the committee may make recommendations to the Board of Directors or Board Committees, decisions on behalf of the corporation are reserved for the Board of Directors or Board Committees under their supervision and control.

Take the poll: https://bit.ly/uc-grad-mentorship