Improving Communication with Your Faculty Mentor
November 22, 2011 | By Ellen Meader, Student Affairs Program Manager, Rackham Graduate School
Open, honest and frequent communication is key to building and maintaining a productive relationship with your faculty mentor/advisor/dissertation chair. No matter what level or stage you are in as a graduate student (i.e., master’s, doctoral pre-candidate, doctoral candidate), communication with your faculty mentor is essential for your success. Here are some points to consider to develop positive communication between you and your faculty mentor: Initiate a conversation early in your working relationship, and be prepared with specific questions (see next point). Be active, responsible, and organized: set meeting agendas, prioritize discussion issues, lead the discussions. Agree upon expectations and required…