Supervision Issues

SUPERVISION ISSUES

How often should I meet with my supervisors?

The frequency of meetings between a student and supervisor should be expected to change as the project progresses. During periods when you require more support, the meetings might be every fortnight or even more frequently. In periods when you are working with greater independence, meetings may be once every month.

Meetings can be in-person, over the phone, or online.

If you would like to increase the frequency of your meetings with your supervisor, we encourage you to identify why you are looking for more support. You should discuss the matter openly with your supervisor.

If you do not feel comfortable having this conversation, or the conversation is not resolved to your satisfaction, raise the matter to the Chair of your Thesis Committee.

How should I raise concerns about my supervisor(s)?

Professional relationships between students and supervisors should always be respectful.

If you have concerns that you are not being supported academically, or concerns of an interpersonal nature about a member of your supervisory team, you are encouraged to first try to resolve the matter directly with the supervisor if you feel comfortable to do so.

If this does not resolve the matter, or if you do not feel comfortable raising the matter directly to them, it is recommended that you contact your Chair of Thesis Committee. Part of the Chair’s role is to mediate disagreements and resolve conflicts between students and supervisors.

If the concern about your supervisor involves sexual harassment or assault, we encourage you to immediately report this to Safer Communities.

If you are considering raising a concern about your supervisor, we encourage you to make notes and gather evidence. What has gone wrong and how has this not met your expectations? What evidence do you have to support this concern?

We understand that students are sometimes worried about rocking the boat. We acknowledge that there is a power imbalance between supervisors and students which may discourage you from raising a concern. If this is the case, we encourage you to make an appointment with Student Assist. Discussions with Student Assist are kept confidential. We will be able to work with you to find the optimal solution which seeks to minimise any potential damage to your professional relationship with your supervisor.

Can I get a new supervisor?

If problems arise between you and your supervisor(s), you are encouraged to address this as early as possible to find a pathway forward. Discuss the matter with your supervisor if you feel comfortable to do so. If you do not feel comfortable talking to your supervisor, or the conversation does not address the matter to your satisfaction, contact your Chairperson of your Thesis Committee.

The University will often encourage you and your supervisor to do your best to repair a fractured relationship. However, if the professional relationship between you and your supervisor is irreparably broken, it is possible for you to request a new supervisor.

Your Thesis Chair and/or Director of Graduate Research can work with you to find an alternative supervisor. Please be mindful that staff members’ availability as a supervisor depends on many factors, such as research expertise, workload, and what level of supervision they are qualified to provide.

In all cases, we recommend contacting Student Assist before making the decision to change supervisor.

How should I raise concerns about my project?

Sometimes a project can be delayed unexpectedly or begin drifting in a direction which we do not anticipate. If there have been any delays to your project, it is important to keep a record of what has occurred. As soon as you become aware of any delays or potential delays, we recommend informing your supervisor. If there needs to be any extensions to your milestone or thesis submission, providing evidence that you identified and addressed the delays when they occurred may be helpful.

Delays may be related to your research, such as problems with data collection, but they may also be of a personal nature, such as illness or bereavement.

If you project is drifting in an unexpected direction, this is something to address with your supervisor. It is common for research to evolve and change as you become more knowledgeable about your field or more familiar with research methodologies, but it is less common for the scope of a project or topic to change completely. If you do not feel comfortable raising the matter to your supervisor, or your supervisor does not offer a solution, we recommend contacting Student Assist.

What does Conditional status mean?

Conditional status means that the University is concerned that a student is not making adequate progress in their course. Conditional status might be applied if the student;

is overdue for a milestone;
fails to have their milestone approved;
does not submit their thesis by the due date; or
if the supervisor has raised concerns about the student’s progress.

Conditional status is not a punishment. It is a framework to help guide you back towards a Good Standing status. As part of this framework, you are given Conditions which you must meet in order to return to Good Standing. Conditions could be things like redoing a failed milestone presentation, submitting a draft chapter of a thesis, or undertaking data collection by a specified date. Students are encouraged to discuss their conditions with their supervisory team.

Good conditions should aim to follow the SMART EAR acronym:

Specific – Are the conditions clear?

Measurable – Is it clear how to determine whether you have met the condition or not?

Achievable – Is this condition realistic in the scope of your project and its timeframe?

Relevant – Is the condition relevant to your project?

Time-bound – Are there clear deadlines for all conditions?

Equitable – Are there any circumstances outside your control which impact your ability to meet these conditions?

Accountable – Is it clear who is responsible for both undertaking and assessing each condition?

Robust – Does the successful completion of the conditions support a shift back to Good Standing status? Alternatively, does a failure to meet these conditions reasonably justify a cancellation of your enrolment?

If your conditions do not satisfy the SMART EAR acronym or if you do not agree with them, we recommend raising these concerns to your Chairperson and main supervisor. You are encouraged to give feedback. Conditions should be agreed upon by all parties before they are implemented.

CONTACTING STUDENT ASSIST

Student Assist is the free support and advocacy service of the Curtin Student Guild.

Our officers are unbiased, confidential, and—most importantly— run by the Guild, therefore completely independent of Curtin University

Please include your name, student number, course of study and a description of your query.

Email: student.assist@guild.curtin.edu.au
Phone: (08) 9266 2900
Free call: 1800 063 865

Building 106F, Curtin University
Monday to Friday, 9am - 4pm (AWST/UTC+8)

Students at any Curtin campus are welcome to contact us. Our time zone is Australian Western Standard Time (UTC+8).