Problem Solving

Knowing to whom to turn when problems arise is critical to your success as a graduate student. Review the list of topics below to identify individuals and services available to help you navigate challenges.

• Your graduate program administrator
• Other students in your program or lab
• Your departmental representative on Graduate Student Council
• International Services
• Student Organizations, including the Indian Students and Scholars Association or Chinese Students and Scholars Association
• Your graduate program director

• Course lecturers
• Course directors
• Your graduate program director
• Student tutors (seek advice from program director or program administrator to identify tutor)
• Student study groups
• Academic Support Services

• Your mentor
• Your graduate program director
• Chair of your mentor's department

• Your mentor
• Career Development Center
• Your graduate program director
• Postdocs in your lab or your department
• Postdoctoral Association
• Your departmental representative on the Postdoctoral Association Committee
• Advisor for international students

• Your graduate program director or program administrator

• Your mentor
• People in your lab or other labs doing similar experiments
• Graduate student listserv
• Thesis committee members

• Your graduate program administrator
• Your department payroll staff
• Office of Student Financial Aid
• Student Account Services

International Services
Your graduate program administrator

• Other members of your laboratory
• Your thesis committee members
• Your graduate program director
• Ombuds Office

• Travel and Transportation Intranet Directory
• Your graduate program administrator

• Baylor College of Medicine Academic Policies
• Baylor College of Medicine Institutional Policies
• Policy Handbook, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

If you have a concern your first resource should be your thesis advisor, the program administrator, or the program director. Other resources include members of the program Graduate Education Committee, course lecturers and course directors. You may also ask to meet with one of the Graduate School deans.

The Ombuds Office is a confidential, informal, independent, and neutral place to discuss concerns, resolve disputes, manage conflicts, and increase skills regarding communication, negotiation and problem solving. You may reach out to the Ombuds Office as a first step, a last resort, or at any point along the way. You may also reach out anytime you would like to discuss something confidentially and aren’t sure where to go.

Baylor College of Medicine is committed to the values of integrity, respect, teamwork, innovation, and excellence. Despite our best efforts and intentions, there may be times when actions are taken by members of the College community that do not align with our values. Find resources to help you with interpersonal or personal challenges on the Living Our Values website.

To formally report a concern, issue or grievance, visit the Student Grievances website.