COMPASS is a McGill-wide mentorship network designed to support graduate students navigating institutional, professional, and personal challenges launching in Fall 2026.
COMPASS provides access to a diverse network of staff mentors with graduate degrees who support graduate students navigating considerations of academic culture, career pathways, identity, language, and wellbeing.
Unlike traditional mentorship programs, COMPASS is student-driven, flexible, and informal.
How It Works
- Find a mentor by browsing the searchable directory of mentors based on:
- Topics of interest
- Lived experience
- Career background
- Language
- Reach out directly to connect informally:
- Engage in ongoing conversations with a single mentor; or,
- Find different mentors who can support you as specific challenges arise
There is no right or wrong way to pursue a COMPASS mentorship.
Who Are the Mentors?
COMPASS mentors are McGill staff with advanced degrees working in diverse fields across the university’s two campuses. Mentors provide guidance based on their own lived experience and according to the following areas:
- Academic and Career Navigation
- Institutional and systems navigation
- Identity and equity-based experiences
- Personal life circumstances and wellbeing
- Language, culture, and regional integration
Why Participate?
Graduate students face challenges that extend beyond academic work. This program helps students:
- Access support outside of their department
- Build confidence and agency
- Navigate structural barriers and uncertainty
- Explore diverse career paths
- Connect with mentors who share relevant experiences
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