Advising

Guides and training to support advisors:

• Art of Advising video series, UMN Graduate School.
• Mentor training from the Clinical and Translational Science Institute.
• Guide to Advising and Mentoring International Graduate Students.
• Graduate Student Advising Guide, Student Counseling Services (SCS) Dignity Project.
• Best and Worst Practices in Graduate Advising, SCS Dignity Project.
• Sign up for Mental Health Advocate training.

Advising statement resources: 

• Personal Advising Statement: Common Components, UMN Graduate School
• Advising Statement Examples, UMN faculty

Policies governing graduate education. 
 

• Individual Development Plan - encourage students to set and pursue short and long-term goals.
• Transferrable Skills Checklist - helps students assess current skills and identify areas for development.
• CLA Graduate Career Services - refer students for career exploration and job search support.

Policies

Graduate students are expected to meet the following progress standards to maintain good standing in their program. Faculty concerned about a student’s progress are encouraged to consult with the Area Director, DGS, and/or ADGS, as appropriate to the situation, to identify appropriate next steps. 

• Good Standing Policy, Department of Psychology (full policy statement is in the Graduate Student Handbook)
• Doctoral: Performance Standards and Academic Progress: Policy and FAQ
• Master’s: Performance Standards and Academic Progress: Policy and FAQ

Annual Progress Report (APR)

All UMN master’s and PhD students must be reviewed annually and notified of their progress. Psychology uses the electronic workflow maintained by the Graduate School to meet this requirement. 

• See the Graduate Student Handbook section titled “Satisfactory Progress and Annual Review” for:
  • APR timeline and steps.
  • APR outcomes and follow-up procedures.
• Annual Progress Report (APR): Workflow Mockup & Advice for Students - see the questions students submit answers to and the advice they receive on sharing their draft responses with you.

Access

Advisors can access GPAS via two paths:

• MyU>Advisor Center (Key Links dropdown menu).
• MyU>My Advisees (left navigation bar).

Exceptions

Exceptions are used to modify the requirements and/or the courses meeting specific requirements for an individual student. This creates flexibility within the articulated curriculum (PhD and MA).

In Psychology, advisors and area directors approve exception requests with an email confirmation. Exceptions are currently submitted by the ADGS or the student, and approved in the GPAS system by the ADGS and DGS. 

Note: Certain courses are always manually applied to requirements. These will be processed by the ADGS without prior approval or notification to align with documented requirements. Example: Requirements to take specific topics in PSY 8960 must be manually processed. 

Planning & Monitoring Coursework Progress

GPAS tracks students’ progress toward coursework requirements but does not automatically support the planning of future courses. Students are expected to review their GPAS each semester to confirm they are on track for timely completion of coursework requirements as communicated by the area and established in consultation with their advisor(s).

Advisors are encouraged to support this process by reviewing advisees’ GPAS and discussing plans for unfulfilled coursework requirements.

Planner Review

The primary advisor is responsible for reviewing and approving the student’s coursework in the Graduate Planning and Audit System (GPAS). This is typically done in the spring of a student’s third year in the program. 

• Step-by-step GPAS approval instructions for advisors in Psychology
• Zoom GPAS walkthroughs are also available upon request; email the ADGS to set up an appointment. 
   

Resources for Faculty

• The Red Folder: Identify and respond to signs of distress in your students.
• Learn about the challenges and opportunities for supporting International graduate students’ mental health.

Mental Health Advocates (MHA)

MHAs are trained staff and faculty volunteers who serve as resources to students and colleagues about the mental health resources available on campus. MHAs take active steps each month to make positive changes impacting student mental health within their sphere of influence. 

• Laura Luepke (luep0007@umn.edu), Associate Director of Graduate Studies
• Michael Houlahan (mhoulaha@umn.edu), Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies
• A full list of MHAs is also available; you may consult with any MHA on the list.