Graduate Studies Governance

The mission of the School of Graduate Studies is to define and support excellence in graduate education at Nipissing University. To achieve this goal, the primary roles and functions of the School of Graduate Studies are to articulate a vision of excellence for the graduate community, to provide an inter-university perspective on graduate education, to enhance the intellectual and research community of scholars among graduate students and graduate faculty and to serve as an advocate for graduate education and graduate students within the institution. The Graduate Studies Council is the body that directs and oversees the administration of graduate education, defining what constitutes graduate education at Nipissing University, maintaining equity in program and degree standards across all academic disciplines, providing quality control over all aspects of graduate education and maintaining equity and fairness in the treatment of graduate students.

Graduate Studies Council

The Graduate Studies Council (GSC) prepares and recommends for approval to the Senate all institutional policies, procedures and regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. The GSC is engaged in the on-going review and oversight of all matters related to graduate studies, including but not limited to, graduate curriculum, academic regulations and policies (including degree and program requirements), academic standards, academic awards and academic or non-academic student services. The GSC sets the criteria for membership in the Graduate Faculty and oversees the development of new graduate programs.

Terms of Reference

The Graduate Studies Council is composed of the following members:

Vice-President Academic & Research or Designate (non-voting)
Dean/Director of Graduate Studies or Designate (non-voting)
Registrar or designate (non-voting)
Executive Director of Library Services or designate (non-voting)
Deans of Faculties with graduate programs, or Designate
Graduate Advisors / Graduate Chairs from each graduate program
1 Full Graduate Faculty member from each of the following disinclines; Humanities, Social Sciences, Science, and Education, elected by the Graduate Faculty for 2 years
1 graduate student from each discipline area (Humanities, Social Sciences, Science, and Education)

The Graduate Studies Council has a mandate to:

Recommend to the Senate the new academic policies, procedures and regulations of the School of Graduate Studies
Advise the Senate on the necessary resources and support for graduate studies and to recommend to the Senate the introduction of new services or changes to existing services which would enhance the graduate student experience or make the University more attractive to prospective graduate students;
Revise and up-date the regulations and procedures of current graduate programs for harmonization throughout the SGS
Review student admission policies for graduate programs and make recommendations to the Dean/Director of Graduate Studies or Designate of Graduate Studies
Ensure adherence to time-to-completion requirements
Recommend to the Senate changes to graduate curriculum or proposals for new graduate programs
Assist departments in the development of new graduate programs, in compliance with OCGS requirements
Finalize Volume I of the OCGS proposals for new programs, including the Business Plan, before submission to the Senate
Make recommendations on any matter related to graduate studies to the appropriate Senate Committees (APC, URC)
Periodically review the overall graduate awards program of the University, and make recommendations to Senate regarding changes in the program
Ensure that all existing and new graduate scholarships, medals, bursaries and other awards are consistent with established and approved terms, conditions and criteria. Review and approve nominations for graduate scholarships (Tri-council, OCGS, others)
Review the annual report on the School of Graduate Studies’ activities
Establish the criteria for membership in the Graduate Faculty following OCGS standards

And at the exclusion of student representative,

Review and approve admissions of existing faculty members to the Graduate Faculty in accordance with SGS and OCGS criteria
Make the final selections of students eligible for academic awards, as identified by the Registrar Office
Review the OCGS report following their periodic appraisal of a program and to recommend to the Senate any measure that could improve the program

The Graduate Studies Council will ensure that other administrative services whose support is required for the development or management of the graduate program and resources are consulted prior to the meetings and that resource persons are informed and/or invited to the meetings.

Graduate Studies Administration

Graduate Faculty

Membership of the Graduate Faculty

Individual members of the Graduate Faculty are approved for membership when they are included in successful applications for program approval. Nominations have to be recommended by the appropriate Dean, each graduate program having established its own process for nomination of new graduate faculty. The criteria for full membership shall normally include:

An earned doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent or terminal degree in the discipline)
Significant publications in the areas approved for offering graduate programs and a sustained and active record of research productivity and scholarly output. In the case of professional faculties, these should include both refereed publications and publications designed to reach a professional audience
Graduate teaching or co-teaching experience and thesis/major paper. Supervision will also be taken into account when assessing full graduate faculty membership.
An on-going research program including training of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) as defined by the Tri-Council.
Although holding an external research grant is not a general requirement, it is highly desirable and in certain programs (such as some science graduate programs) it may be required in order to be able to provide the necessary support to graduate students

Types of membership:

Full Graduate Faculty: members have full privileges to teach graduate courses, to supervise or co-supervise theses/major research papers. Full graduate faculty are eligible members of supervisory and examination committees
Associate Graduate Faculty: members have limited privileges to teach and co-supervise students in one or more graduate programs, and be members of supervisory and examination committees. Granted to faculty who are new to Nipissing or who have limited experience of teaching and supervising graduate students. Associate membership may also be granted to faculty who are outside of an approved graduate program but can contribute to the teaching, supervision, and examination of graduate students in the program.
Occasional Graduate Faculty: faculty members at Nipissing may be permitted to teach a graduate course at the request of the appropriate Graduate Advisor or Graduate Chair. This includes graduate and undergraduate courses that are cross-listed as a graduate course or have been approved as part of the formal Program of Studies for a graduate student.

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