Policies
Supervisory Relationship Policy
A graduate student’s relationship with their supervisor is vital to a positive experience in graduate school. Ideally, this relationship is the foundation that moves you closer to your goals. A great supervisor oversees your academic work, is passionate about your subject area and invests in your success. However, new relationships can sometimes be bumpy! There are tools available to help you on your path.
All graduate students at UVic should read and review the Faculty of Graduate Studies’ Graduate Supervision Policy, which outlines responsibilities and expectations to help you prepare for a productive and successful relationship with your supervisor.
The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) website has many resources to help you if you encounter challenges. Review the FGS Supervision & Advising page to explore these supports.
The Office of the Ombudsperson has also put together a resource page which goes into the details and dynamics of the supervisory relationship, as well as a Checklist of Expectations for Graduate Supervision Relationships. This checklist can help guide conversations around workloads, communication, deadlines, and progress.
The Canadian Association of Graduate Studies (CAGS) has a “Practical Guide” to Grad Studies in Canada available here. Please note this item was last updated in 2012 and some elements (most particularly those related to cost of living) may be out of date. CAGS has also produced their guidelines for creating a Letter of Understanding on supervisory relationships, which you can find here. The guidelines give suggestions for important conversations to have with your supervisor when you begin your program.
Sexualized Violence Policy
The University of Victoria’s Sexualized Violence Prevention and Response Policy outlines the procedures UVic follows to prevent and respond to Sexualized Violence within the campus community. UVic community members can find more information about the University’s response and prevention plans here.
Peer supports are also available at the Anti-Violence Project, The Gender Empowerment Centre, and the Student Wellness Centre.
The Victoria Sexual Assault Centre and Sexual Assault Services Victoria are off-campus supports that residents of the Victoria region can access for support.
Accommodation Policy
The University of Victoria’s Academic Accommodation Policy sets out the university’s framework for addressing Academic Accommodation for students with a disability. The policy has been recently updated, as of 2024.
The policy lays out the university’s responsibilities to mitigate barriers so that its programs and courses are accessible to students with a disability. Academic Accommodation refers to an individualized adaptation or alteration of instructional environments, materials, or methods of assessment to provide students with disabilities an alternative means of meeting the essential requirements of a course. Providing academic accommodation mitigates barriers to the student’s participation in the university’s academic programming.
Students with a disability seeking academic accommodation should also seek the advice and assessment of the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) on campus. CAL can provide assessments, accommodation letters and support for taking exams, learning assistance, and more. Another wonderful resource on campus is the Society for Students with a Disability (SSD), an advocacy group and community on campus which aims to support both undergraduate and graduate students to reduce barriers in the social, emotional, and educational domains of student life.
Get Involved
Join us in shaping the grad student experience at UVic! Connect, advocate, and gain valuable skills. Explore opportunities to get involved today!