Advising and Mentoring Resources

Graduate Student Mentorship and Managing Conflict

Strong mentorship is an essential part of the graduate experience. Faculty mentors provide guidance, support and research advice as students develop their academic and professional goals. CEE is committed to fostering positive mentor-mentee relationships and providing resources to support students throughout their graduate journey.

Mentorship Resources

UC Davis Graduate Studies provides resources, tools and professional development opportunities to help both graduate students and faculty build effective mentoring relationships. We encourage students and mentors to review these resources and discuss expectations early and regularly.

Managing Mentor/Mentee Conflict

Challenges can arise in any mentoring relationship. This guide provides information about campus and department resources available to help students navigate concerns, resolve conflicts and identify appropriate next steps. Students may choose the resource or person they feel most comfortable speaking with and may seek support at any point during their graduate program.

• Why do conflicts happen?

• Many conflicts stem from miscommunication. We encourage students and faculty to start their  mentorship relationship with an intentional conversation about  communication style, preferences, and expectations. 

  There can be a number of factors that could generate a misalignment between preferences and  expectations. 

  Examples include, but are not limited to: 

  • Publication authorship
  • Work location
  • Project deadlines, roles and assignments
  • Reporting and manuscript writing assignments
  • Funded research and dissertation work
  • Field work and travel
  • Time off
  • Meeting schedules
  • Lab/group dynamics, and others. 

  
  Check out the Graduate Studies Mentee Resources for tools on how to set expectations for your mentor/mentee relationship.  

• What do I do when conflicts start?

• Address the issue early.

  Misunderstandings or misalignment of expectations can be minor at first, and grow into larger issues if left unaddressed.  If you feel comfortable, we highly encourage open  and honest dialogue between the mentee and the mentor.

  Seek resources to help you have a direct and non‐defensive conversation with your mentor. There are people on campus who can help you with problem solving, practice having hard conversations, think about how to move forward, help you find additional resources, and guide you in how to  take formal actions if needed.

• How do I find additional support and escalate the issue, if needed?

• Depending on individual concerns and comfort level, students may want to seek additional support from the department, or other campuses offices and resources.  

  Please see the list of department and campus resources at the bottom of this page. We encourage students to utilize the people in the Civil and Environmental Engineering  department as their first step in finding support. Your first point of contact in the department may depend on what relationships you have already established, and your level of trust and comfort with those individuals. 

  That said, there are amazing resources on campus, and you can utilize those at any time. Remember that different people will give different advice based on their own background and  experiences.

  You may want to seek advice from more than one person or campus resource before taking action.

• How do I confront the issue?

• With the support of your newly discovered support network, consider the outcomes that you hope to see, and start formulating a plan on how to make that happen. 

  Think about practicing the conversation first, and know that individuals have different styles of  communications, and different points of view of the same situation.

  Try to stay open to hearing the other side(s) of the story.   

• How do I seek resolution?

• Depending on the conflict, there could be several outcomes. We have had many students find a resolution and go on to have a successful and rewarding relationship with their mentor after a conflict. We have also had students find a new major advisor in our department. These are probably the most common outcomes for our students when we see major conflict arise.

  We also have graduate students who have decided to graduate with a different degree objective than originally intended and/or transfer from UC Davis to another institution. While these outcomes are quite rare, please know that the CEE department is interested in helping you succeed, and supporting whatever decision is right for you.

  Follow up with your support network and various campus resources as necessary.   

People and Resources to Support You

The following resources are available to help CEE graduate students address mentorship concerns, seek guidance and connect with additional support.

Civil and Environmental Engineering Department

• Lauren Worrell | Graduate Program Coordinator
• GPC Rep/Area Advisor
• Frank Loge, Graduate Faculty Advisor 
• Another faculty member you are comfortable talking to
• Christopher Cappa, Department Chair 

Campus Resources

• Graduate Studies
• Counseling Services
• Ombuds Office
• Center for Advocacy Resources and Education (CARE)
• The Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual Resource Center (LGBTQIA+ Resource Center)
• The Women’s Resources and Research Center (WRRC)
• Sexual Violence Prevention and Response
• Office of Student Support and Judicial Affairs - Student Rights and Grievances