LUGrad

Graduate College Mentor

Introduction

Starting a research degree is a very daunting time for new postgraduates. Some of these postgraduates are having their first experience of Lancaster University and in many cases their first experience of being in the UK or even their first experience outside their home country.

As a result new postgraduate students have many questions and need many answers. As their research degrees progress and their time at Lancaster progresses, issues can arise either academic or personal.
The nature of research is that it can at times be a solitary activity, whether intellectually, geographically or socially and it is clear that a number of Postgraduate Research students feel isolated during their time of study. Postgraduate Research students’ supervisors provide academic support but what can sometimes be lacking is another ear and experience to be able to help a student place themselves within the University and wider academic community and find ways through University life. Students sometimes need to sound out ideas or talk through problems without either ‘contaminating’ the relationship with their supervisor or going through formal routes.

Graduate College has never had a tutorial system and to date there has been very few direct avenues for welfare and independent academic support. Some departments are now having mentors as well as supervisors, but this is not consistent across the University. For these reasons Graduate College is setting up a mentoring system and is seeking research active staff to take on the role of a mentor.
The term mentor has been chosen to differentiate the role from that of personal tutors in the undergraduate system. All students in Graduate College have already taken part in University education unlike most undergraduates and are now taking part in a research degree, which is quite different from an undergraduate degree.

Role Description
Graduate College would like research active members of staff to volunteer to become research student mentors. The intention is that the mentor should be an informal relationship and in no way related to formal supervisory roles. This opportunity is open to any research active member of staff and is particularly beneficial for early career researchers providing experience in supporting research students, experience which will be invaluable if the researcher intends to supervise students in the future.

Mentors will:

• Provide academic and welfare support to research students,
• Not be in the same department as the student to avoid conflicts of interest and bias.
• Not play any official role in the student’s research degree.
• Have no more than 3 students in the first instance (and preferably 2),
• Aim to meet students at least once a term but more often if mutually desired,
• Be able to claim reasonable expenses for drinks/meals.

Support will be provided to mentors and mentors will be given an information pack providing basic contacts and guidance.