New initiative supports graduate supervisor – student relationship

A new learning initiative at McMaster aims to encourage and support successful, productive, and healthy graduate supervisory relationships.

Graduate Excellence, Mentorship and Supervision (GEMS) – a program being developed under the leadership of the School of Graduate Studies – will offer education and training to members of the university community who are involved in a graduate student-supervisor relationships.

Since beginning his tenure as Vice-Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies, Steve Hranilovic has been focused on building a suite of resources to support graduate supervisors and students – a fundamental element in the School of Graduate Studies recently released Strategic Plan.

According to Research Infosource annual rankings of Canada’s research universities, McMaster continues as one of the country’s top institutions for graduate student research intensity in 2025.

“McMaster’s graduate community is a nexus of research activity here, led by exceptional faculty members who are experts in their fields. We ask supervisors to don numerous hats each day – as teachers, as researchers, as mentors,” Hranilovic says.

“We are building a program that provides the necessary supports and tools to both those who are training our next generation of researchers and to the trainees themselves. By investing in our supervisors and graduate students, GEMS is designed to secure McMaster’s research excellence well into the future.”

The intention of GEMS is to support supervisors at any stage in their careers – from those establishing their first research groups to individuals with years of experience behind them. This initiative will provide resources to both supervisors and students to establish a successful relationship and to find a process that works for them.

Self-paced learning modules

Consisting of a series of online modules, phase one of GEMS will cover a range of topics, including essentials, such as:

• roles and responsibilities of graduate students and faculty
• effective communication strategies
• managing the business of the graduate student journey – milestones, timelines to completion, deadlines
• the use of generative AI

Phases two and three will delve into topics important during and after the graduate journey – mental health, Indigenous research, equity and diversity, disability, and more.

Acting Dean of Science Bruce Newbold has been a champion of GEMS in his capacity as Associate Dean of Graduate Studies for the Faculty of Science. Currently, Laura Parker, acting Associate Dean of Graduate Studies for Science, has assumed academic leadership of GEMS.

“By providing critical training and resources, this initiative strengthens the supervisor–student relationship – a key driver of McMaster’s research excellence,” says Parker. “I look forward to connecting with colleagues across the faculties, to get a better understanding of what they would like to see from GEMS.”

Parker is working closely with GEMS lead and SGS staff member Andrea Cole, who will build on her deep experience in supporting graduate students across McMaster.  Cole has spent the past several months delivering presentations and feedback sessions to members of the graduate community.

“My objective is that GEMS becomes a foundational package of resources, tools and strategies, to ensure the success of both our graduate students and supervisors. GEMS is designed so that it can adapt and be built upon over the years,” Cole says.

Cole is working with partners in the MacPherson Institute and other subject matter experts to develop the initial modules. All modules will be released on Avenue to Learn.

“I see this project as an important stage in the graduate education journey,” she says. “For me, GEMS is a bit of a compass, helping everyone navigate towards the best possible experience for students and supervisors.”

GEMS is a three-year project supported by the Office of the Provost and will be sustained through the MacPherson Endowment.
The first modules are slated for release in Winter 2026.

Learn more about GEMS.