The following list of people and offices are available to help graduate students with different types of problems. Not all of these resources are necessarily right for everybody. It's important to find someone who can help you, and who you are comfortable approaching with your problem. These are just some suggestions:
The most obvious person to talk to when things are going badly is your advisor. They can suggest classes to take, let you know what conferences and journals you should be keeping track of, and give you general information about the resources available for grad students in their research group. If you're getting stuck in your research, they can help get you back on track, or spot what you are doing wrong. They are also a good person to talk to about possible funding problems. They can also be a good resource for feedback on career decisions.
If you have simple questions about paying for research equipment or photocopies, arranging for travel to conferences, or other administrative questions, your advisor's administrative assistant may be able to help you out.
The other faculty on your committee may also be able to give you useful information, similar to what your advisor can help you with. It is valuable to get perspectives other than your advisor's on the research process and your field. If you are having problems with your advisor, particularly with regards to your A exam or your B exam, your committee members may be able to help mediate.
Even if they aren't on your committee, many faculty are happy to talk to graduate students in their department, particularly about their research. If you are having trouble with your research group, other faculty in your department may be able to make suggestions or even help you find a different project.
Talking to faculty outside your department can offer opportunities to make research connections across fields, which can reinvigorate a research project or help you find new people to collaborate with. You may be surprised how similar the research done in different departments can be.
Each graduate field has a Director of Graduate Studies who is in charge of graduate student admissions and administration of the graduate students after they arrive. They keep track of your progress through the program, and sign off on important forms for you along the way. This makes them a natural person to talk to if you are having trouble finding an advisor, or making progress with your current advisor. They also often keep track of fellowship information for your field. In some departments, the DGS acts as an advisor for students who do not yet have a research advisor.
The assistant to the Director of Graduate Studies is the Graduate Field Assistant. They can help with many of the things that the DGS office handles. The GFA also is often the right person to talk to about problems with your bursar bill or getting your stipend.
If your field is part of a department or center, the chair or director is another person you can approach if you are not able to approach or find a solution to your problem with your advisor or the DGS.
Some departments have a Human Resources Director who is available to talk to graduate students as well as staff members in the department. If your department has one, you can ask if they are a resource for grad students as well. If you're having what seems like an ``employment" problem, such as with funding, department provided resources, or conflicts with someone you are working with, they may be able to help.
There are a number of people in the College who are available to help graduate students. If you are having serious problems with your advisor, your committee, or your department and you need advice, this is a good place to go. You can get assistance in mediating with your advisor or committee if necessary, or advice on how to deal with them yourselves, or on getting out of your situation. You can also get assistance here with problems you might be having at the University or Graduate School level.
In order to sustain a community where students, staff, and faculty can all succeed, the College of Engineering is training members of the College community to act as safe havens. Safe havens are trained to help resolve conflicts and formulate positive actions that can be taken to counter problems. Conversations with safe havens are confidential unless they discover evidence of illegal activity or possible risks to an individual's physical well-being. Safe havens are being solicited from a range of departments and positions within the College. You are welcome to contact any safe haven, not just ones within your department; in some cases, you may prefer to talk to someone outside of your work environment.
The Dean of the Graduate
School, currently Dean Alison G.
Power, can help handle problems that are occurring at the
University level. If you have questions or concerns about the
Graduate School and aren't sure if they are important enough to go
to a Dean with, you can talk to Dean Power informally at his
weekly open lunch in the Big Red Barn. These lunches are held
during the academic year and the date and time is listed in the
graduate bulletin, in the
Cornell Chronicle, and on the Graduate School webpage
(http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/).
The University Ombudsman's office
hears and investigates
complaints about the operation of the University, especially
complaints of injustice and the abuse of power. The office's main
purpose is to provide resolution of conflicts within the
university, ensuring that all parties involved are handed with
equitability and due process. Its services include providing
information on University policies and practices, helping examine
alternatives, finding proper authorities to resolve situations, or
otherwise seeking a resolution to problems. All communications
with the Ombudsman are confidential. The office has the power to
access any official files and information needed to resolve a
given situation.
Gannett Health Services offers a variety of formal
and informal
counseling and support services, many of which are free. They are
described in detail in Section 4.6.4.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by academic pressures, or if you are
suffering from other (personal or interpersonal) stressors in your
life, Gannett can provide a confidential outlet to talk about your
situation, and make plans to get back on your feet again.
For all
of the difficulties of being a graduate student, there
are a host of unique problems that international students face.
The ISSO works to help international students adjust to living in
the United States and advising them on immigration, employment,
and other administrative issues. They have an extensive web site
(http://www.isso.cornell.edu/) and you are also welcome to
go to their office to talk to them in person.
If none of these resources seem like the right place for you to turn to, there are a number of student groups that you may want to talk to. A number of support and networking organizations are listed in Section 3.6.5. Groups for international students from particular countries are mentioned in Chapter 5. These groups, and others such as the Engineering Graduate Student Association, give you an opportunity to meet with other grad students. Often, you'll find that other people have faced similar problems, and they may be able to give you suggestions, or at least point you to the right person to approach about your problem. And if you are just feeling frustrated, whether about research, your advisor, the Ithaca weather, or something else, having an understanding ear to gripe to can make you feel less alone or overwhelmed.