Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly — Etienne and Beverly Wenger-Trayner, 2015.
A Community of Practice (COP) is formed when a group of people come together to achieve shared goals or work towards a common interest by mobilizing the expertise and shared experiences of the group. Mainly, the emphasis is on sharing best practices and developing new knowledge related to the common interest of the group to achieve both individual and group goals. Continuous and consistent interaction is key to the success of the COP.
What is the National Community of Practice on Graduate Supervision?
It is Canada's National Community of Practice on Graduate Supervision, supported by the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies. We aim to bring together individuals with a shared commitment to advancing supervision practices and supervisor wellness through collaborative learning. Visit the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS) and join the mailing list.
The Goals
- To foster conversations and sharing of effective practices among supervisors across Canada
- To foster strong research cultures that enable supervisors and students to flourish
- To co-create and share a national set of principles on supervision
- To co-create rich, open access resources & materials for supervisors
- To support an annual online conference on supervision
Co-Chairs
Dr. Cheryl van Daalen-Smith, RN Associate Dean (Academic), Faculty of Graduate Studies, York University
Dr. Michele Jacobsen Professor, Werklund School of Education, and Associate Dean, Supervision and Mentoring, University of Calgary
New Events for 2026/27 in chronological order
Scroll to see the past 2025 and 2026 events and materials.
The NCoP 2026/27 Online Speakers Series: Graduate Supervision
From First Conversations to Final Stages: Setting Expectations, Building Communication, and Supporting Completion
On the theme of expectations, accountability and student progress, this webinar will welcome Dr. Tracy Raivio and Dr. Kara Schick-Makaroff who will explore how supervisors can establish clear, mutual expectations from the start of the supervisory relationship, and share strategies for supporting students through the final stages of completion, including those in the All But Dissertation (ABD) stage.
- Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
- Time: 1:00PM to 2:30PM ET | 11:00AM to 12:30PM MT
- Location: Online via Zoom
- Registration is Required (click to register)
AI and Graduate Supervision: Ethics, Honesty and the Relationship
On the theme of AI in graduate supervision and research, this webinar will welcome Dr. Jackie Rice and Dr. Ali Shiri. More details soon.
- Date: October 23, 2026
- Time: 1:00PM to 2:30PM ET | 11:00AM to 12:30PM MT
- Location: Online via Zoom
- Registration is Required (click to register)
Supervising Toward the Future: Career Preparation, Anxiety and What Students Need
On the theme of student researcher development and career preparation, this webinar will welcome Dr. Wendy Ward and Dr. Johnathan Malloy. More details soon.
- Date: December 4, 2026
- Time: 1:00PM to 2:30PM ET | 11:00AM to 12:30PM MT
- Location: Online via Zoom
- Registration is Required (click to register)
Past 2026 Events
Supervising with Care: Neurodiversity-Affirming Approaches for Graduate Students
A Graduate Faculty Meet Up
Join the YorkU Graduate Supervision Community of Practice for a conversation on neurodiversity- affirming supervision, co-hosted by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Faculty Affairs.
During this meet up on neurodiversity-affirming supervision, Dr. Gillian Parekh and Dr. Nancy Marshall will share reflections from their supervision relationship followed by an open group discussion, questions and shared learning. We will also feature the Neurodiversity-Affirming Supervision for Graduate Student Success Guide in a brief guided walkthrough with its author, Tracy Bhoola. We hope you will join us.
- Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026
- Time: 11:30am-1:00pm (ET)
- Location: In-person in room York Lanes 305 and a light lunch will be served.
Past 2025 Events
Thinking with: Supervisory Writing Feedback as an Act of Care
A Graduate Faculty Meet Up
The Faculty of Graduate Studies’ Graduate Supervision Support Hub, in collaboration with Faculty Affairs is pleased to host our second Graduate Faculty Meet Up.
For this meeting of our YorkU Graduate Supervision Community of Practice, learned Professors Marlene Bernholtz and Dunja Baus from the York University Writing Centre will facilitate practical conversation regarding the supervisor’s role in growing graduate student writing skills. Starting with your own reflections on your supervisory - and graduate student - experiences with dissertation/major paper writing, Marlene and Dunja will offer practical strategies and techniques for guiding the writing process by helping students establish productive writing practices, offering constructive feedback, and creating the kind of reciprocal relationship that encourages graduate student development and professionalization. Be the first to access the FGS Graduate Supervision Support Hub’s new resource for supervisors aimed at assisting your work supporting graduate student writing.
Marlene Bernholtz and Dunja Baus are professors in the Writing Department, where they teach in both the Professional Writing Program and in the York University Writing Centre. Their interests include integrating academic literacies into discipline-specific programs through a read-to-write pedagogical model, multilingual writing pedagogies, and the affective impact of institutional space on student learning.
- Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
- Time: 10:00am - 11:30am EST
- Location: In-person at 305 York Lanes with a light breakfast provided
- Read the Writing Centre Guide for Graduate Student Support (pdf).
Developing Intercultural Competencies in Graduate Supervision
Online Webinar
The Graduate Supervision Support Hub at York University is pleased to welcome Dr. Erica Amery for a webinar designed for graduate supervisors. Supervising postgraduate students today means engaging with diversity in many forms — including culture, language, gender, ability, and academic background. This online webinar will introduce key concepts and strategies for recognizing how diverse perspectives shape communication, feedback and supervisory relationships and draw on international case examples offering supervisors practical approaches to foster equity, inclusion and success across differences in postgraduate research
- Date: Tuesday, October 28th, 2025
- Time: 12:00pm-1:15pm EST
- Location: Online via Zoom
- Read the Digital Swag Bag of resources (pdf) from the webinar along with the Strong Start to Supervision: International Graduate Student Guide (pdf).
Canadian Graduate Student's Views on Ideal Supervision
Online Webinar
The Graduate Supervision Support Hub at York University, in collaboration with the National Community of Practice on Graduate Supervision is pleased to welcome graduate supervision scholar Dr. Michele Jacobsen to share findings from a Canadian study outlining graduate students’ views on ‘ideal supervision’. Documenting the views of students from diverse disciplines, this webinar will outline the qualities and characteristics of ‘ideal supervision’ and how supervisors can strive for these qualities while attending to self-care, balance, authenticity and wellbeing.
In this national webinar we will discuss findings related to:
- Personal Characteristics
- Teaching/mentoring
- Relational Trust
- Professional Support
- Academic Support
- Supervisory wellbeing while striving for strong role enactment
- Date: Monday, December 1st, 2025
- Time: 12:00pm–1:15pm (EST)
- Location: Online via Zoom
The York University Community of Practice on Graduate Supervision
Given FGS’ goal, through the work of the Supervision Support Hub, to support supervisor well-being and share supervisory best practices, FGS commenced the establishment of a York University CoP, in partnership with Faculty Affairs, hosting our first Meet Up on May 8th, 2025. Titled, "Thriving through Peer Discussion" reflecting scholarship equating peer discussion with supervisory wellbeing, we welcomed several faculty members who supervise across multiple disciplines and Faculties. Learning about how to support students to progress through their milestones, to reflecting upon one’s own self-imposed cap to avoid burnout and perceived inadequacy, our first meeting demonstrated that York supervisors have experiences worthy of sharing.
Watch for updates related to subsequent York CoP meetings to be advertised via FGS and Faculty Affairs. Our York Community of Practice will feature opening presentations on key subjects indicated in our 2024 Graduate Supervisory Survey, followed by peer dialogue.
If you, or anyone you know, is interested in more information about the York University Community of Practice on Graduate Supervision, contact Tracy Bhoola, Manager of the Graduate Supervision Support Hub or the Associate Dean, Academic in FGS.