# Advising Individual Graduate Students

**Source**: https://gradadvance.graduateschool.ufl.edu/faculty-resources/advising-individual-graduate-students-/
**Parent**: https://gradadvance.graduateschool.ufl.edu/

- [Advising Individual Graduate Students](https://gradadvance.graduateschool.ufl.edu/faculty-resources/advising-individual-graduate-students-/)
- [Resources for Graduate Programs](https://gradadvance.graduateschool.ufl.edu/faculty-resources/resources-for-graduate-programs/)

The relationship between an advisor and a graduate advisee is often considered to be the most influential factor in student success during graduate training. Frequent, open, and supportive communication [has been found](https://www.informingscience.org/Publications/4113) to be essential for graduate student success and satisfaction. Resources to facilitate mentoring of graduate students are provided below. If you would like assistance in providing professional development resources and training to graduate students, please [contact our office](mailto:tmartins@ufl.edu).

Many expectations in academic life are unspoken and (erroneously) assumed to be understood by all parties involved. This can be particularly challenging for international students, those belonging to underrepresented backgrounds, first generation, and/or low income.

A **mentoring compact** can be a valuable tool to build the mentor-mentee relationship on a foundation of clear expectations. In addition, it supports inclusive mentoring practices.

- [Example of mentoring compact](https://www.aamc.org/what-we-do/mission-areas/medical-research/grad-compact)
- [UF Faciola Lab Mentor Mentee Agreement 2020](https://gradadvance.graduateschool.ufl.edu/media/gradadvancegraduateschoolufledu/pdf-files/Faciola-Lab-Mentor-Mentee-Agreement-2020.pdf)
- [How to build your own mentoring agreement](https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005709)

The **[Individual Development Plan (IDP)](https://gradadvance.graduateschool.ufl.edu/planning-resources/idp/)** is a valuable tool to establish mutual goals between the mentor and mentee as the mentee progresses through their graduate program. The IDP is [required](https://grad.ufl.edu/work/idp-policy/) for all doctoral students at the University of Florida.

UF also has numerous resources for improving mentoring relationships, including programming offered through:

- the [Mentor Academy](https://www.ctsi.ufl.edu/education/training-workforce-development/twd-programs-mentor-academy/)
- the [Center for Teaching Excellence](http://teach.ufl.edu/)
- and an institutional membership to the [NCFDD](https://www.ncfdd.org/home) organization

**Additional Resources:**

[10 simple rules towards healthier research labs](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006914)

[Sample research lab manuals, codes of conducts, expectations, and more](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kn4A0nR4loUOSDn9Qysd3MqFJ9cGU91dCDM6x9aga-8/edit#gid=0)