The regulations on the following pages apply to all degree and diploma programs administered by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
(a) The student is responsible for knowing the regulations of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and for complying with them. Any exceptions to the regulations must be approved, in writing, by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Routine approval of a records form does not constitute approval of an exception.
It is also each student’s responsibility to establish and maintain contact with his or her faculty adviser or thesis supervisor. (b) In order for a student to receive his or her degree, he or she must fulfil:
Graduates of recognized universities will be considered for admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. The University’s general policy on admission is outlined below, but all applicants should refer to the departmental statements in this Calendar for details concerning the specific or additional requirements of each department, institute, or school.
A combination of factors is taken into consideration in assessing the eligibility of a candidate for admission into one of the graduate programs:
Applicants who do not qualify for direct admission to the master’s program may be admitted to a qualifying-year program. Applicants who lack an honours degree but have a pass degree with honours standing (at least B overall) will normally be admitted to a qualifying-year program.
If successful in this qualifying year and upon formal application to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, the student may eventually proceed to the master’s program. However, admission to the qualifying-year program does not imply automatic admission to the master’s program. At the end of the qualifying-year program the student will be required to apply for entry into the master’s program, at which time the department will determine the student’s eligibility to enter the program. If successful, the student will be informed of this decision by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Applicants for a master’s degree who have a program requirement of 7.5 credits or more (with the exception of the School of Public Administration and the School of Journalism) will register initially in the qualifying-year program.
Credits taken to fulfil the requirements of the qualifying-year program may not be used for credit for the master’s degree. Courses taken extra to the program requirements of the qualifying year and which have been successfully completed may be considered for credit towards the master’s degree.
For admission to the master’s program, applicants must hold an honours bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent, with at least high honours standing (normally B+ or better in honours subject; B– or better overall). The applicant must also be recommended by the department in which he/she plans to undertake his/her studies.
Applicants for a master’s degree who have a program requirement for 7.0 credits or less will register directly in the master’s program.
For admission to the Ph.D. program, applicants must ordinarily hold a master’s degree, or the equivalent, from a recognized university, normally with a minimum average of B+ in courses (including thesis where applicable) and normally with no grade below B–.
Applicants should note that of the bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees, only two may ordinarily be taken at Carleton University.
Carleton University is committed to making reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities and actively encourages application from disabled students. This commitment includes gaining an understanding of the circumstances of an individual’s disabilities and adjusting services to all academically qualified individuals enabling them to compete on an equitable basis.
Our applications process assures confidentiality insofar as the admission decision is concerned while identifying the candidate to the Paul Menton Centre for Persons with Disabilities, so that those who gain admission can make the decision to come to Carleton after assessing the extent to which specialized services will be available.
Academic accessibility is intrinsically linked to physical accessibility. Carleton is committed to continually monitoring and upgrading physical accessibility to whatever extent is possible.
A standing Committee of the Senate monitors the needs and problems of disabled students in conjunction with their academic problems and makes recommendations for improvements. (See General Information, Counselling and Student Life Services, Persons with Disabilities, page 36).
Applications for admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies should be made on prescribed forms, available from the major department or the office of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and they should be submitted directly to the department. To cover administrative costs, a non-refundable charge of $35 (Cdn. or U.S. funds) is required with each application.
The Faculty of Graduate Studies normally admits students to commence in the fall term. However, some academic units may consider applicants to commence in the winter term or the spring/summer term. Applications for admission may be submitted at any time. Applications for admission from outside Canada should be completed at least five months before the desired date of admission in order for students to make the necessary visa arrangements.
Applicants wishing to be considered for financial assistance from Carleton University are reminded that they must submit their completed applications before March 1. Please note that some schools and departments may require completed applications prior to March 1. Students should refer to departmental entries in this Calendar for details.
Students applying to joint programs with the University of Ottawa should note that application procedures, especially deadlines, are different in the two institutions, and they should refer to the university calendars for details.
Two detailed official transcripts of the applicant’s entire university record must be sent to the chair of the department concerned. All foreign documents, e.g., transcripts, must be translated into English and be notarized.
All applications must be supported by letters of recommendation from at least two faculty members with whom the candidate has studied, who are in a position to assess his/her potential for graduate studies and research. References from non-academic supervisors are not ordinarily acceptable, except in certain cases, such as that of an applicant working in a research laboratory environment. All letters of reference are to be sent by the referees directly to the chair of the department.
Proficiency in English is necessary to pursue graduate studies at Carleton University. All applicants whose native tongue is not English must be tested for proficiency in the English language. This requirement may be satisfied by presenting a TOEFL score of at least 550 (TOEFL tests are administered by TOEFL, Box 899, Princeton N.J. 08540, U.S.A.), or by achieving scores of 70—90 in three of the four skill areas on the Carleton Assessment of English administered by the Centre for Applied Language Studies, Room 215, Paterson Hall, Carleton University.
All applicants for admission will initially be examined and evaluated by the department, institute, or school in which the applicant wishes to study. All supporting documents (transcripts, letters of reference, etc.) must be received before any application can receive formal consideration. Completed applications of those students whom the department wishes to recommend for admission will be forwarded to the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies for consideration. The office of the Dean will officially notify each applicant whose admission is approved.
The Statement of Standing on Admission issued to each newly-admitted student is valid only for the twelve month period stipulated on the form. If the applicant fails to register within this period of time, his/her admission and registration eligibility will lapse automatically. He/she may re-apply for admission.
The University may nullify an admission and revoke a registration if it finds that an applicant for admission or registration has, in the process, provided false or incomplete information.
A description of each program offered under the auspices of the Faculty of Graduate Studies is presented in the departmental Program Descriptions and Details of Courses section of this Calendar. Prospective applicants should note particularly the admission requirements, the fields in which advanced study and research may be undertaken, and the program requirements of each department, in addition to the general regulations of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, which are spelled out in this section.
Students in the qualifying year will ordinarily register in 5.0 credits, or the equivalent, at the senior undergraduate level. Of these five, normally no more than 1.0 credit at the 200 level and no more than 2.0 credits at the 500 level may be taken.
The normal requirement for the master’s degree is 5.0 credits, or the equivalent, of which at least 4.0 (including the thesis where applicable) must be at the 500 level. With departmental approval, the remaining 1.0 credit may be selected from those offered at the senior undergraduate level, that is, at the 400 level.
Where applicable, the normal requirement for a 10.0 credit master’s degree is 10.0 credits, or the equivalent, of which at least 8.0 credits (including the thesis where applicable) must be at the 500 level. With departmental approval, the remaining 2.0 credits may be selected from those offered at the senior undergraduate level, that is, at the 400 level.
Ordinarily, all courses taken for credit towards the Ph.D. degree must be at the 500 or 600 level.
The thesis will ordinarily carry a weight of about half of the total requirement of 10.0 credits, or the equivalent.
Some graduate programs require a reading knowledge of one or more languages other than English. Language requirements will be prescribed by departments according to their regulations and the needs of their students. Language requirements must be completed within the time limit allowed for the completion of the student’s program.
Graduate courses completed at another institution or at Carleton University may be accepted in partial fulfilment of Carleton’s degree requirements. Credit for such work will be determined in each case by the Faculty of Graduate Studies on the recommendation of the department concerned. Master’s candidates in a 5.0 credit program are allowed a maximum of 2.0 transferred credits. In addition, if a master’s candidate is granted transfer of credit for 2.0 credits, his/her remaining 3.0 credits at Carleton must be at the 500 level.
Master’s candidates in a 10.0 credit program are allowed a maximum of 4.0 transferred credits. In addition, if a master’s candidate is granted transfer of credit for 4.0 credits, his/her remaining 6.0 credits at Carleton must be at the 500 level.
Doctoral candidates may be given up to one year’s credit for work completed at other universities but must normally register for a minimum of one year of full-time studies thereafter at Carleton and fulfil the thesis and comprehensive examination requirements. Students admitted with transfer of credits in a Ph.D. program may be required to pass a qualifying examination upon entry.
A candidate who has completed credits as a special student is not normally permitted to transfer such credits for degree credit in the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Special students enrolled in a graduate level course are subject to the special student regulations outlined in the Undergraduate Calendar.
A student formally admitted to and eligible to register in a graduate program is not permitted to register at Carleton University at the same time in any other graduate program or as an undergraduate or special student. Should he/she do so, credits may not be transferred.
Similarly, if a student normally admitted to a graduate program at Carleton wishes to enrol in courses at another university, credit will be granted only if written permission is received from the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Such permission must be received in advance of registration for the course work. In no case will such transfer alter the maximum number of allowable transferred credits noted above.
The Faculty of Graduate Studies divides the calendar year into three terms, and the academic year (September-May) into two terms; each term comprises about thirteen weeks of lectures or seminars. The first term of the academic year is designated as the fall term (registration period at the beginning of September); the second term of the academic year is designated as the winter term (registration period early in January); and the third term of the calendar year is designated as the spring/summer term (registration period in early May). The precise dates of registration for the fall, winter, and spring/summer terms are specified in the academic schedule of this Calendar.
Graduate students must have approval from their departmental supervisor of graduate studies for initial course/program registration, and for any subsequent course changes. This approval is also required for any undergraduate student who wishes to register in a graduate-level course.
Credit will be granted only for those courses and research activities for which the candidate is formally registered. An unregistered student is not entitled to attend lectures, tutorials, or seminars, and is not entitled to thesis supervision, examination privileges, or access to research facilities. A student will receive no credit for any work completed during a term in which he/she was not properly registered.
Names As the University is committed to the integrity of its student records, each student is required to provide on the application for admission his/her complete, legal name. Any requests to change a name, by means of alteration, deletion, substitution, or addition, must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. Upon making application for graduation, students may be asked to provide proof of their name. Addresses Incorrect address information will delay the receipt of awards and student information. Students must notify the office of the Faculty of Graduate Studies immediately of any change in:
The University may nullify an admission and revoke a registration if it finds that an applicant for admission or registration has, in the process, provided false or incomplete information.
A student proceeding to a graduate degree or diploma must arrange his/her program according to the regulations of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and the major department.
The course and thesis requirements of each graduate program are organized or defined in units of credits: 1.0 credit typically comprises three hours of lectures or seminars a week for two terms, or the equivalent; 0.5 credit typically comprises three hours of lectures or seminars a week for one term, or the equivalent.
To gain standing in a course, a student must meet the course requirements for attendance, term work, and examinations.
Instructors will inform their classes by distributing written notices, before the last day for late registration, of the elements and their weighting that will contribute to the final grade, including (where applicable) attendance, class participation, essays, tests, laboratories, studio-workshops, other course-related work assignments, and final examinations.
These are arranged to allow students to take full advantage of all the resources of the University, even in areas or fields of a very highly specialized nature. Such arrangements are subject to the approval of the supervisor of graduate studies, who will arrange that a document spelling out the details of the topic, reading list, etc., is submitted to the office of the Faculty of Graduate Studies before the last day for course changes in the term concerned.
Graduate students may register to audit 1.0 credit per program.
Each course is identified by a seven-symbol code. The first two digits indicate the department, school, or committee under whose auspices the course is offered. The three digits following the decimal point identify the specific course. The letter which follows the course number designates the term in which the course is offered: F denotes fall term; W, winter term; S, spring/summer term; and T, two terms (fall and winter). The number which follows the letter indicates the credit weight of the course: 1 denotes 0.5 credit, 2 denotes 1.0 credit, etc.
Prior to May 1, 1996 All students admitted and registered prior to May 1, 1996 are reminded that status is established by formal registration in the appropriate courses for each term of activity in the calendar year. Those students registering solely in a thesis, research essay, or independent research project will declare whether their status is full time or part time according to the definition in 7.11 and 7.12. Important Note All students in this category will be eligible for post-residency fee rates for the duration of their program unless: (a) a re-admission is required because the time to completion of degree has expired (b) a new admission is required in cases of an approved degree transfer or new degree admission. In the cases noted above, students will lose their grandparent fee status and will be subject to the current fee rates, i.e., the same fee rates that apply to students initially registered and admitted after May 1, 1996. After 1 May 1996 All students admitted and registered after May 1, 1996 should note: (i) the elimination of post-residency status and fee rates associated with post-residency for all admitted graduate degree students. Post-residency is defined as those students in the second or subsequent year of full-time study in a master’s program; third or subsequent year of full-time study in the School of Public Administration, School of Journalism, or School of Social Work; and third or subsequent year of full-time study in a Ph.D. program. (ii) that full- or part-time status is established by admission status and initial program registration. Graduate students admitted and registered after May 1, 1996 who apply and are admitted as full-time students and who initially register as full-time students will be required to continue and complete their program as full-time students, and will be assessed full-time fees for the duration of their program; graduate students admitted and registered after May 1, 1996 who apply and are admitted as part-time students and who initially register as part-time students will be required to continue and complete their program as part-time students, and will be assessed part-time fees for the duration of their program.
Full-time course load for all students (admitted and registered prior to and after May 1, 1996) A full-time graduate student will normally register in a minimum of 1.5 credits (or the equivalent) per term. An audit is not permitted as part of the 1.5 credits required per term to maintain full-time status.
In addition to the course load requirements described above, the following criteria for full-time status have been established by the Faculty of Graduate Studies for all students (admitted and registered prior to and after May 1, 1996). A full-time graduate student must: (i) identify himself or herself at the point of first registration as a full-time graduate student (ii) be considered a full-time graduate student by his or her supervisor (iii) be designated as a full-time graduate student by the University Students who are unsure of their status should contact the office of the Faculty of Graduate Studies for assistance, at 520-2525.
Part-time course load for all students (admitted and registered prior to and after May 1, 1996) A part-time graduate student will normally register in a minimum of 1.0 credit (or the equivalent) per term, including audit courses.
In addition to the course load restriction described above, the following criteria for part-time status have been established by the Faculty of Graduate Studies for all students (admitted and registered prior to and after May 1, 1996).
A part-time graduate student must: (i) identify himself or herself at the point of first registration as a part-time graduate student (ii) be considered a part-time graduate student by his or her supervisor (iii) be designated as a part-time graduate student by the University
Students who have valid reasons for changing status from full time to part time for a term may apply for permission by:
It is understood that such a status change will be granted only in exceptional cases (e.g., for medical or other special reasons.)
Exemptions are normally granted for a term, but, in extraordinary circumstances, approval may be granted for a longer period.
In the interest of enriching their learning experience, graduate students may arrange to undertake full-time studies or research at another institution or in the field. It should be understood that such activity would apply to only a part of the total program and that the off-campus period would not normally exceed twelve months.
Requests for permission to undertake full-time off-campus study or research must be submitted, well in advance, to the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies through the department concerned. Such requests should include the following information:
Under certain circumstances, it is permissible for a student admitted to a graduate degree program and registered at one Ontario university to follow an approved credit course at another university. All interested students should consult the chair of their department, prior to registration, in order to obtain further information on procedures and conditions of eligibility. In order for this procedure to be valid, students must be officially registered at their home institution by contacting the office of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Carleton University and the University of Ottawa have developed a number of joint programs at the graduate level. The details of these are given under the appropriate academic unit later in this Calendar.
Where formal joint programs do not exist, a graduate student may be permitted to follow up to two full courses at the University of Ottawa. Moreover, there are reciprocal arrangements worked out among departments, institutes, and schools at both universities to involve students, when it is desirable, in parts of the program of research and studies at the other institution. All interested students should consult the chair of their department, institute, or school, prior to registration, in order to obtain further information on particular departmental conditions of eligibility and procedures. In order for this procedure to be valid, students must be officially registered at their home institution by contacting the office of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Any candidate who remains unregistered in his/her degree program for three terms (twelve months) will lose his/her graduate status.
Any candidate (full-time or part-time), after initial registration in a thesis, research essay, or independent research project, must maintain this registration in all successive terms (including the term in which the student is examined) until his/her thesis, research essay, or independent research project is completed. Completion means modifications, any retyping involved, etc. Students should note that faculty approval to register in the thesis, etc., is given on the understanding that the student will be in regular contact with his/her supervisor, and that thesis research will be actively pursued in each term of registration.
In the case of a thesis, registration must be maintained until five final copies are deposited in the office of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Should the final copies not be deposited in the office of the Faculty of Graduate Studies by the last day for late registration in a given term, the student will be required to register for that term. A microfilming charge of $35 will be assessed at the time of deposit in the office of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Students whose files have been closed as a result of failure to observe continuous registration requirements must apply for reinstatement if they wish to continue their studies. If reinstated, students must pay a reinstatement charge which consists of $50 plus the equivalent of 1.0 credit tuition fees for each term in which they failed to register.
The reinstatement charge is a tuition fee and therefore is defined as eligible for income tax deduction.
Students who have valid reasons for not registering for a term may apply for permission to remain unregistered by:
A charge of $50 per term for leave of absence must accompany each request.
It is understood that such an exemption from registration will be granted only in exceptional cases (for example, medical or other special reasons).
Exemptions are normally granted for one term, but in extraordinary circumstances an exemption may be granted for a longer period.
When exemption from registration for a term or terms has been approved by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, this period will be exempt from the overall time limit allowed for completion of the program.
Students who have been permitted to study off campus while registered full-time at Carleton, may register using Touchtone Telephone Registration or by mail.
A course change is the addition or deletion of one or more individual courses by a registered graduate student. This is the only acceptable procedure for revising or correcting a graduate student’s registration. All course changes must be approved by the student’s department. Note: The deadline dates for course changes are stipulated in the academic schedule of this Calendar.
A graduate student wishing to terminate his/her registration in a graduate program (that is, drop all courses) must consult with his/her department prior to withdrawal.
Note: This only applies to thesis or research essay registration.
Final examinations in courses will be held at the times indicated in the academic schedule. Graduate students must obtain grades that meet the standards outlined in Section 11, Academic Standing and that satisfy the specific requirements of the department concerned.
A graduate student who is unable to write a final examination because of illness or other circumstances beyond his/her control, or whose performance on the examination has been impaired by such circumstances, may apply to write a special or deferred final examination. Such an application will be considered only if it is submitted in writing to the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies within two weeks of the examination.
If the student has been seen at the University Health Services, the office of the Dean will confirm the illness by contacting the treating physician. If the student has consulted a physician outside the University, he/she will be required to submit a statement from the physician confirming the illness.
In cases other than illness, appropriate documents will be required.
Students with special needs may also apply for special/deferred final examinations by contacting the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
In addition to any examination which may be required in individual courses, a master’s candidate who is writing a thesis will be expected to undertake either an oral defence of the thesis or a comprehensive examination in his/her field of specialization, or both. Please refer to Thesis Specifications, Section 12.5, Master’s, for submission deadlines. When the degree is taken by course work, a comprehensive examination may be required. It is important to note that individual departments may have additional or particular requirements.
Some departments specify deadlines for the submission of thesis proposals and for comprehensive examinations. Students should check the Calendar entry for their department.
Doctoral candidates may be asked to pass a qualifying examination at the beginning of their residence at Carleton University.
A comprehensive examination covering prescribed fields will normally be undertaken one year prior to the thesis presentation. This examination (oral or written, or both) may include any material considered fundamental to a proper comprehension of the field of study.
After the thesis has been received and accepted for examination, a final oral examination on the subject of the thesis and related fields will be held. Please refer to Thesis Specifications, Section 12.5, Doctoral, for submission deadlines.
Some departments specify deadlines for the submission of thesis proposals and for comprehensive examinations. Students should check the Calendar entry for their department.
The date, place, and time of comprehensive examinations will be announced at least two weeks in advance. An examining board will be appointed according to the guidelines laid down by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
If the comprehensive examination is graded Unsatisfactory, the department may permit the candidate to repeat the examination. If the comprehensive examination is graded Unsatisfactory for a second time, a request by the department that the candidate be allowed to continue in the program would require the approval of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
The comprehensive and thesis examination processes must be conducted according to the principles and practices prescribed by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Carleton University employs the twelve-point system of letter grades to represent standing in graduate lecture courses, directed studies, seminars, tutorials, and some research essays and theses. The letter grades used and the grade point equivalents are as follows:
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The following percentage equivalents apply to all final course grades at Carleton.
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Under certain defined circumstances, notations are used instead of letter grades to represent standing. The only notations permissible in the Faculty of Graduate Studies are the following:
Grades can be accessed through the Touchtone Telephone System for each student as soon as the grades are available after the end of the fall and winter terms of the fall/winter session and after the end of the spring session. Transcripts required for professional and graduate schools should be ordered well in advance of any deadline set by these institutions. Students are advised that no official transcripts will be released by the University until all outstanding accounts due have been paid (see Delinquent Accounts, page 40).
Students should note that admission to the master’s program from qualifying year is governed by the admission requirements in Section 2, Admission Requirements and Eligibility.
A grade of B– or better must normally be obtained in each course credited towards the master’s degree. A candidate may, with the recommendation of his/her department and the approval of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, be allowed a grade of C+ in 1.0 credit (or the equivalent). Some departments do not permit the C+ option; students should check carefully to see if the department in question has a B– minimum rule.
Doctoral students must normally obtain a grade of B– or better in each course credited towards the degree.
In addition to the above requirements, departments will undertake a periodic evaluation of a student’s progress in his or her overall program of studies and research to determine whether that progress is satisfactory. In the event that progress is deemed unsatisfactory, the department may recommend to the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies that the student be required to withdraw.
The thesis is a major requirement of most programs and, in conjunction with the research for it, makes up at least one half of the time normally required for the program. The thesis must be expressed in a satisfactory literary form, consistent with the discipline concerned, and must display a scholarly approach to the subject and thorough knowledge of it. A critical review of previous work related to the subject should usually be given.
A candidate will not be permitted to submit a thesis for which he or she has previously received a degree; however, with the permission of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, he or she may incorporate into the thesis material that was included in a previous thesis.
The master’s thesis should embody the results of successful scholarly research in a specialized area. It should exhibit the candidate’s knowledge of recognized techniques of investigation and critical evaluation, and be presented in an organized and systematic way.
The doctoral dissertation must report, in an organized and scholarly fashion, the results of original research. The thesis must be a contribution to knowledge, and must demonstrate the candidate’s ability to undertake sustained research and to present his/her findings in an appropriate manner.
In the interest of facilitating research by members of the Carleton community and by interested outsiders, and in consideration of his/her having been accepted as a graduate student at Carleton, the student author of a thesis or dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for an advanced degree shall grant to the University and to the National Library of Canada a licence to make single copies or microfilms, solely for the purpose of private study and research, in response to written requests from individuals, libraries, universities, or similar institutions.
It is understood that the student author retains other publication rights, and that neither the thesis nor extensive extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author’s written permission.
If, at the time of submitting his/her thesis, the student elects to protect any rights to immediate commercial publication, or to obtain a patent which may arise from his/her research, or to keep his/her thesis out of circulation for other reasons, he/she may apply in writing to the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies requesting that the thesis be withheld from deposit in the library:
The student must submit any request for extension of the restriction one month prior to the termination of the previous period. The student and his/her supervisor will be required to justify the extension of the restriction. Subsequent requests must follow the same procedure.
There are maximum time limits for the completion of programs. Candidates may also be subject to time constraints prescribed by individual departments to ensure orderly progress through the stages of their programs.
When exemption from registration for a term or terms has been approved by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, this period will be exempt from the overall time limit allowed for completion of the program.
In exceptional cases, an extension of time permitting further registration (one or two terms) may be granted to a candidate whose recent progress, as judged by the department, has been otherwise satisfactory. Requests for extension of time should be directed to the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies through the department concerned.
A charge of $50 per term of extension beyond the normal time limit must accompany each request.
Within two weeks of the release of grades or the announcement of comprehensive examination results or thesis results, a graduate student may request, through the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, that one or more of his/her grades or results be reviewed. The charge for such a review is $50, which must accompany the review request. Note: The review process will not take place if the fee is not remitted. If the grade is raised, the $50 charge is refundable.
A graduate student has the right to request a review of decisions made concerning his/her graduate status or any other ruling relating to his/her program. All such requests are to be made in writing to the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Since 1990 the University has implemented a records retention policy which provides for the destruction of student file folders and their contents after a period of ten years has elapsed since the last registration. This policy applies to those students who are formally admitted and registered in degree programs. Further information on this policy can be obtained by contacting the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
The Senate of the University has enacted the following regulations for instructional offences at the graduate level: Any student commits an instructional offence who:
(a) cheats on an examination, test, or graded assignment by obtaining or producing an answer by deceit, fraud, or trickery, or by some act contrary to the rules of the examination
(b) submits substantially the same piece of written work to two different courses. Minor modifications and amendments or changes of phraseology do not constitute a significant and acceptable reworking of an essay or paper
(c) contravenes the regulations published at an examination or which are displayed on the reverse side of a properly authorized examination booklet
(d) commits
an act of plagiarism. Plagiarism will be deemed to have occurred when a
student either:
(i) directly copies another’s work without acknowledgement; or
(ii) closely paraphrases the equivalent of a short paragraph or more
without acknowledgement; or
(iii) borrows, without acknowledgement, any ideas in a clear and recognizable
form in such a way as to present them as the student’s own thought, where
such ideas, if they were the student’s own, would contribute to the merit
of his or her own work
(e) disrupts
a class or other period of instruction if he or she:
(i) is a registered member of the class or period of instruction
(ii) is warned to discontinue any act or behaviour reasonably judged by
the instructor of the course or period of instruction to be detrimental
to the class, and having ignored such warning is ordered by the instructor
to leave and refuses to leave
(f) Any
student found in violation of these regulations may be:
(i) expelled
(ii) suspended from all studies at the University
(iii) suspended from full-time studies;and/or
(iv) awarded a reprimand
(v) refused permission to continue or to register in a specific degree
program, but subject to having met all academic requirements shall be permitted
to register and continue in some other program
(vi) placed on academic probation
(vii) awarded a Fail or Absent in a course or examination
Allegations of instructional offence may be investigated by instructors and/or departmental chairs and, in all cases, will be reported to the faculty dean. The dean will promptly advise, in writing, the student and the University Ombudsman of the allegation and of the student’s rights. The dean will review the allegation and if not resolved at that level, the allegation becomes subject to final disposition by a tribunal appointed by the Senate. Information about procedure governing tribunals is available from the Clerk of the Senate, Room 607, Robertson Hall.
The University has in place regulations and procedures to deal with allegations of misconduct made against students in the areas of discrimination and sexual harassment.
The University
has enacted the following regulation:
Any student commits a general offence who commits an act of discrimination
on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin,
national origin, creed, sex, age, marital status, family status, political
affiliation or belief, sexual orientation, or any handicap that is defined
as such in the Human Rights Code of Ontario.
The University has also approved the following procedures for enforcement of this regulation: 1. An allegation shall be made in writing to the Dean of the Faculty in which the program to which the respondent has been admitted belongs or, in the circumstances where the respondent has not been admitted to a program, to the Dean of the Faculty where the majority of courses in which the respondent has registered are administered. An allegation against a student in residence when made by another student in residence which involves the complainant’s enjoyment of her/his accommodation shall be made to the Vice-President (Academic).
The Dean or the Vice-President (Academic), as the case may be, shall cause to have an investigation conducted and, upon receipt of the report of the investigation, shall either
(a) dismiss the allegation on the grounds of insufficient evidence or lack of jurisdiction by the University, or
(b) accept that the allegation is founded and seek the agreement of the respondent to a remedy, or
(c) refer the matter to the President
A dean’s dismissal of the allegation may be appealed, within ten working days, to the Vice-President (Academic) who may, in turn, either
(a) again dismiss the allegation, or
(b) accept that the allegation is founded and propose a remedy to the respondent, or
(c) refer the matter to the President
In the case of students in residence, where the original allegation has been made to the Vice-President (Academic) and is dismissed, appeal shall be directly to the President who may either
(a) again dismiss the allegation, or
(b) accept that the allegation is founded and propose a remedy to the respondent, or
(c) refer the matter to a tribunal appointed by the Senate
2. In the instance where the matter has been referred to the President, the latter shall decide whether or not the University shall conduct a hearing before a tribunal appointed by the Senate.
If the allegation is proven, the tribunal shall decide upon one of the following sanctions:
The student may be:
(a) expelled
(b) suspended for a period of time from all studies at
the University
(c) restricted in his/her use of University facilities; and/or
(d) given a reprimand
Should the President decide not to conduct a hearing before a tribunal, the allegation shall be deemed to have been dismissed, but the President shall give written reasons for such a decision, and these reasons shall be communicated to the parties involved.
3. In the instance where the complainant wants redress from the University without the involvement of the respondent, or where the respondent is unknown or is not a member of the university community, and/or where there is a claim that the University has failed or has been negligent in providing a safe, non-hostile environment, the allegation of an offence shall be made in writing to the President, who shall cause an investigation to be conducted. Upon receipt of the report of the investigation, the President may order any relief he/she deems fit, and shall give written reasons for the decision, which reasons shall be communicated to the complainant.
Information about procedure governing tribunals is available from the Clerk of the Senate, Room 607, Robertson Hall.
The University has approved a Sexual Harassment Policy which defines sexual harassment as follows:
1. Sexual harassment may occur irrespective of gender and is:
(a) unwanted attention of a sexually oriented nature, made by a person who knows or ought reasonably to know that such attention is unwanted; and/or
(b) an implied or expressed promise of reward for complying with or submitting to a sexually oriented request or advance; and/or
(c) an implied or expressed threat or reprisal for not complying with or submitting to a sexually oriented request or advance
Sexual harassment may include, but may not be limited to, behaviour such as
2. Sexual harassment may also be engaging in a course of sexual comment or conduct that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome. This form of sexual harassment may affect individuals or groups. It may take the form of excluding an individual or a group from rights and/or privileges to which they are otherwise entitled. 3. Sexual harassment may be psychological, verbal, or physical, and may be all of these. It is behaviour prohibited by the University for all persons and circumstances over which the University has jurisdiction. In some of its forms it may contravene the Human Rights Code of Ontario. Sexual assault is a crime pursuant to the Criminal Code. 4. Regulations governing the conduct of students and employees of the University are applied to those times and places at which the actions of such employees and students relate to or impinge upon their function as such.
The University’s sexual harassment policy provides for advisory and mediation services to assist in resolving perceived situations of sexual harassment before they reach the level of formal allegation. Attention is drawn, in this regard, to the role of the University’s adviser on sexual harassment complaints, Dr. Nancy Adamson, Coordinator for the Status of Women. The Coordinator can be reached at 520-5622.
The University has enacted regulations under which allegations of general offence (sexual harassment) may be made against students. These regulations state that a student commits a general offence who engages in conduct which constitutes sexual harassment as defined in the University’s sexual harassment policy.
The University has also approved procedures for the handling of allegations of general offence (sexual harassment) against a student. These procedures, as well as the sanctions which a tribunal can impose, are the same as those outlined above for acts of discrimination, save and except that the investigators charged with the investigation which the Dean, the Vice-President (Academic), or the President, as the case may be, shall cause to have conducted, must be selected from the Panel of Investigators provided for under the terms of the University’s sexual harassment policy.
Assuming that a graduate student has exhausted all avenues of appeal and petition with the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies (questions regarding the appeals process can be directed to the Office of the Dean at 520-2525), a graduate student may appeal the decision of the University to deny the award of degree or the required withdrawal of the student to the Senate upon certain specific grounds.
Such grounds are the allegation by the student that the student has been denied a degree or forced to withdraw because of some mistake, error, or improper conduct by the University, its officers, or employees.
A graduate student may petition the Senate to grant a degree or to stay a decision of required withdrawal on compassionate grounds.
Such appeals and petitions must be submitted in writing, within ninety days of receipt by the student of the decision which is to be appealed or petitioned, to the Clerk of the Senate, Room 607, Robertson Hall.
On the recommendation of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and with the approval of the Senate of the University, degrees are conferred by the Chancellor in the spring and fall of each year.
Candidates may have their degrees certified in February each year; they must apply by December 1. Students expecting to graduate at the Spring Convocation must apply for graduation in the Graduate Studies and Research office by February 1. Those expecting to graduate at the Fall Convocation must apply by September 1.