About
The Epi Student Liaison Initiative is a standing, dedicated effort within the Department of Epidemiology to elevate and address student voices and concerns. The initiative is led by two faculty Co-Leaders. This dual-leadership model is intentionally designed to provide students with multiple points of contact, mitigate potential issues raised, and ensure objectivity when navigating sensitive feedback.
The Co-Leaders are responsible for reporting student feedback to the appropriate members of the Department of Epidemiology administration and/or faculty. By utilizing department-wide outreach rather than a small representative committee (as was done in the past under the EPI Student Liaison Committee), this structure ensures all Epidemiology graduate students have an equal and direct line of communication with departmental leadership.
Objectives
The main objective of the EPI Student Liaison Initiative is to provide an official forum for students to discuss issues relating to all aspects of their graduate programs within the Department of Epidemiology, and to facilitate the communication and the flow of information between the Department's graduate students and its faculty and administration. The SLC also serves as a body to follow up on core issues raised by students and how they may be addressed by the respective bodies within the Department (e.g., Curriculum Committee). Ultimately, the Co-Leaders aim to provide an equitable and balanced approach to student advocacy.
Feedback
The EPI Student Liaison Initiative obtains student feedback and input in 2 primary ways:
- Mid-Semester Department-Wide Surveys: We will distribute surveys to the entire Epidemiology student body in the Fall and Spring semesters to capture broad trends, structural concerns, and program-wide feedback.
- Digital Question/Comment Form: A digital submission form is available for immediate feedback, questions, or ad-hoc concerns as they arise throughout the academic year.
Core Items and Themes to be monitored (list is not exhaustive):
- Coursework/curriculum
- Student services
- Admissions/Acceptance/Orientation
- Departmental Environment/Climate
- Mentorship and Advising
- Doctoral Milestone Exams
- Thesis/Essay/Dissertation/Internship
- Seminar
- Facilities