SLP Grad Student Supervision: A Guide to a Supportive Start

Are you gearing up to supervise Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) graduate students this semester? Wondering how to initiate a positive and welcoming atmosphere? Here's a glimpse into a simple yet effective approach:

Welcome Email: Setting the Tone

A few days before the semester kicks off, I initiate a warm welcome by sending out a thoughtful email to my incoming group of students. This serves as the first step in creating a supportive and inclusive environment.

What's in the Email?

In the email, I express my excitement about meeting them and provide a brief overview of what they can expect in the initial week of the semester. But, what truly sets the tone is the inclusion of a link to a personalized survey.

The Power of a Survey:

This survey isn't your run-of-the-mill formality. It's strategically designed to achieve two essential goals:

1. Building Connection: The questions are crafted to convey a genuine interest in getting to know the students personally.
2. Demonstrating Support: By inquiring about their goals, preferences, and concerns, I aim to communicate my commitment to supporting their learning journey throughout the semester.

What's in the Survey?

The survey delves into their goals, feedback preferences, sources of excitement, areas of nervousness, and how I can best facilitate their learning experience.

Beyond the academic realm, I collect additional details that help me create a more personalized and considerate environment. This includes adding their phone numbers to my contacts, marking birthdays on my calendar, keeping their favorite snacks in my office, and arranging lunch for our first day together.

Here are the questions I use:

• What do you prefer to be called?
• What are you most excited about this semester?
• Is there anything you are nervous about?
• Are there any populations/areas of treatment you are especially interested in?
• What is your biggest goal for this semester?
• How can I best support you to meet your goal(s)?
• How do you like to receive feedback?
• Tell me 3 words that you would use to describe yourself.
• What's your favorite snack?
• Do you have any food allergies/preferences?
• What is your favorite color?
• What size shirt do you prefer?
• What is your phone number? (this is for me to contact you quickly to share information)
• When is your birthday?
• Tell me anything!

Efficient Setup:

Utilizing Google Forms, I effortlessly set up the survey in under 5 minutes. The simplicity of the process ensures a seamless start to the semester, saving time while fostering a welcoming atmosphere.

Join the Conversation:

How do you welcome the grad students you're supervising? Share your strategies and let's build a community of supportive supervisors together!

By adopting this thoughtful approach, you can create a foundation for a semester filled with collaboration, understanding, and shared success between you and your SLP grad students.