PhD & Program

Why

The goal of this policy is to help the scholars be successful during scholar’s course of study. We want to ensure an environment free from harassment and discrimination and to provide the support, mentorship, and opportunities to reach the scholar’s full potential.

Who

This policy is written for PhD scholars. First, this policy is written for scholars who have and/or are experiencing a hostile or unwelcoming work environment. It covers cases where scholars feel that they have been discriminated against or harassed.

Second, this policy is written for scholars who are struggling in their PhD studies. If the scholar is having difficulty finding a research Supervisor, if the relationship with the Supervisor is not working well, or if the scholar feels isolated from peers, they should reach out. If the scholars are worried about a fellow scholar, please contact us. We are here to help scholars recognize the nature of the problem and find a solution. University-level student grievance policy is also written for students who are concerned about their classmates or other students.

What

This policy covers two kinds of issues:

• Harassment and discrimination, including on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other personal identity.
• An unsupportive work environment. This includes a lack of guidance on how to choose courses, find a research Supervisor, formulate and proceed with the scholar’s thesis research, and prepare for their next career step after completing their PhD.

How

If the concern is not about the Supervisor, we encourage them to talk to them first. If the scholar's concern is about the Supervisor or if they wish to speak to someone else, they have several options:

• First, they can contact the Official Points of Contact, The Deputy Director Research of the University, Deputy Director Research, Ph.D Section, in person, by phone, or by email at dy.director.research@vmu.edu.in, whichever form they feel most comfortable.
• Second, they can also reach out to any faculty member or administrator they trust or a PhD RAC (Research Advisory Committee) member, or the Head of the Institution where their supervisor is placed.
• Third, they can contact the following University Student Grievance Redressal Committee through the following online grievance form: https://forms.vinayakamission.com/grievance/Student‐Grievance.php

University Student Grievance Redressal Committee: