Advising and support
As a graduate student in Linguistics, you have access to various kinds of support both within the unit (your supervisor and graduate advisor) and outside of the unit (e.g. Graduate Student Society, TA Union, and UVic Councelling Services).
Policy documents
Academic advising
Your primary "go to" person within the unit is your supervisor. They can help you navigate through the requirements specific to your program, help you decide on your coursework, and generally support you as you work towards your degree.
The graduate advisor is also always available to guide you and advocate for you. Currently, this is Dr. John Archibald. He can be reached by email at linggradadv@uvic.ca.
Our graduate secretary, Emmanuelle Guenette, can also help you with the logistic details of your program. To contact her, you can stop by the Linguistics office (CLE D341, Monday-Thursday 9 to 12:30), call her (250-721-7424), or email her at linggradsec@uvic.ca.
Outside of the unit, and particularly in cases of conflict, you can get advice from the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies (currently Dr. Steve Evans) and UVic's Office of the Ombudsperson.
Graduate Student Society
As a graduate student at UVic, you are automatically a member of the the Graduate Student Society (GSS). The GSS offers a range of services for graduate students and aim to increase graduate student involvement in the university governance system. On their website, you can also access various forms, relating to health and dental insurance, grants, student bus passes, etc.
TA Union
All teaching assistants are members of CUPE local 4163, component 2. You can read all about your rights and responsibilities in the union's collective agreement.
Centre for Academic Communication
The Centre for Academic Communication offers support to students in writing, reading, speaking, and understanding academic expectations. They offer one-on-one tutorials, workshops, and more. Their free services are available to all UVic students.
Learning and Teaching Support and Innovation
The Learning and Teaching Support and Innovation Centre (LTSO) also offers support for graduate students, specifically for matters related to Teaching Assistantships. They hold an orientation for students every year as well as workshops throughout the year.
The LTC also runs the Learning and Teaching in Higher Education program (LATHE), available to PhD students. The LATHE certificate provides PhD students with the knowledge and practical skills required to teach effectively in higher education. It is a valuable add-on to any doctoral degree.
Resources for Indigenous students
UVic’s Office of Indigenous Affairs (INAF) operates out of First Peoples House and offers a number of resources and programs for Indigenous students, including an Elders in Residence program, Indigenous student counselling, Indigenous student welcome and orientation, funding and housing support, etc. The Faculty of Graduate Studies' Support for Indigenous Scholars webpage provides links to a number of these resources.
Resources for International students
The International Students Services office (ISS) provides support for international students studying at UVic and coordinates programs for all UVic students interested in studying abroad, including help with visa-related processes.
UVic Centre for Accessible Learning
UVic’s Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) offers a wide range of support for students with disabilities, including support accessing courses, obtaining academic accommodations, and addressing barriers to education. To access the resources offered by RCSD, students must be registered, which normally requires documentation from healthcare professionals. The CAL works closely with UVic’s Counseling Services – see below.
UVic Counselling Services
Being a student certainly has its stresses. UVic Counselling Services is there to help you address personal, career, and learning concerns, should they arise during your studies.
Among other resources, Counselling Services has recently created a Thesis Writing Starter Kit, designed to help students write projects, theses, or dissertations. The kit includes information on getting and processing feedback, understanding psychological barriers to writing, finding writing support groups, using concept mapping and writing tools, etc.