There is appreciation for supervisors who acknowledge racialized experiences; create inclusive spaces where students feel supported and have a sense of belonging; and who are flexible, compassionate and have clear indications of interest in students' success. Supervisors need to be aware of their students' wellbeing and to provide inclusive spaces to express their experiences and concerns.
Explore resources to help support the success, wellbeing, and supervision of Black graduate students through inclusive and equity-informed supervision.
- Addressing Anti-Black Racism: A Framework and Action Plan on Black Inclusion.
- Read Anti-Racist Resources (.pdf) from the Student Community & Leadership Development (SCLD).
- Read How to Support Black Students in the Classroom. Dr. Tracy-Ann Johnson-Myers, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator at the Faculty of Education at McMaster University shares insights and practical advice to help educators foster safe, inclusive, and truly authentic learning environments for all students (February 12, 2025).
- Read The Effective Mentorship of Racialized Graduate Students (EMRGS) from UBC (.pdf). This project focused on capturing the complexities, gaps, successes and possibilities of mentoring racialized UBC students. The report draws on the comments and feedback of a constellation of graduate students, mentors, and experts to make nine recommendations.
- Read the Well-being Through the Supervisory Process: A Supervisor Guide for Action (.pdf). This guide provides a framework to intentionally consider how the supervisory process impacts the physical, social, and mental well-being of graduate students. From SFU.
- Call BlackLine® provides a space for peer support, counseling, reporting of mistreatment, witnessing and affirming the lived experiences for folxs who are most impacted by systematic oppression with an LGBTQ+ Black Femme Lens. Call BlackLine® prioritizes BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color).
- Visit the Canadian Black Scientists Network that exists to Elevate, make Visible, Celebrate and Connect Black Canadians in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine (STEMM) across sectors.
- Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion promotes and builds a respectful, equitable, diverse, and inclusive university community.
- Visit the National Black Graduate Network. This initiative is run by and for graduate students to support academic networking, collaboration and research exchange among a new generation of scholars shaping the futures of Black Studies in Canada. There is a repository for master’s theses and doctoral dissertations by BCSA and NBGN members.
- Visit Resources for Black Students at YorkU's Career Centre.
Watch episodes from the webinar series The Good and the Bad of Black Grad. The series was produced and hosted by Evelyn Asiedu, Ph.D. with the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS).
The aim of this 5-part webinar series is to create a space for dialogue that encourages Black academics to share their stories and experiences and provide a platform to amplify the multitude of Black voices scattered across the country, with the ultimate goal of creating a digital anthology of the experiences of Black students and post-docs in Canada today.
Our hope is that these diverse stories will serve to make connections among Black scholars, to inform University administrators of the challenges experienced by Black students, and to inspire prospective students to pursue and eventually achieve their educational goals.