Dispute settlement

Misunderstandings and disagreements with your supervisor can slow down or jeopardize your progress. When this happens, it's important to state your needs and expectations clearly, and that your supervisor does the same, so that together you can decide on the best way forward.

Steps to be taken

If you can't agree on a joint solution, you can bring the situation to the attention of the following people who share the responsibility for supervising graduate students and who can intervene to try to resolve difficulties that arise along the way, or play a mediating role:

- First, your program director, who is responsible for your progress in the program and who will contact your unit director if necessary;

- Second, the Vice Dean or the person in charge of graduate studies at your faculty will act as a resource person;

- Finally, the Vice Dean and Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FESP) who will review the matter in dispute and attempt to define a common ground between the parties for the continuation of your studies. Should this not be possible, the Dean will make a final ruling, stating the reasons for her decision.

In these exceptional situations, the FESP gathers the viewpoints of the individuals concerned — including the student, the student’s supervisor, the program director, as well as the Vice-Dean for graduate studies or the person in charge of graduate studies in your faculty —, and will work with them to resolve the difficulties and find common ground. The FESP will then inform the Dean or Vice-Dean's Office of your faculty of the decisions made, so that a follow-up can be conducted with those involved in the unit.

Depending on the type of difficulty encountered, and with your consent, the Ombudsman's Office (in French only) or the Harassment Prevention Office (in French only)   may also be called in and report to the FESP.

Contact

FESP Academic Advising: gde@fesp.ulaval.ca