Approved by Senate on 16 May 2007 upon recommendation by the Academic Policy Committee.
Introduction
The Faculty of Graduate Studies is dedicated to maintaining a rich academic environment for every student in the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of British Columbia. Among other things, the Faculty oversees the academic quality and integrity of its graduate programs, and ensures that graduate students are provided with training in research and other scholarly activities of the highest standard.
Faculty membership in the Faculty of Graduate Studies
The Faculty of Graduate Studies consists of the President, Vice-President Academic, Vice-President Research, the Dean and Associate Deans of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Deans of other Faculties and appropriately qualified members of the University Faculty.
Members of the Faculty of Graduate Studies must be tenured or tenure track (including grant tenured or grant tenure track) faculty members holding the rank of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor. They must be approved by their disciplinary Faculty (or functional equivalent) for membership in the Faculty of Graduate Studies and must meet the criteria established by the graduate program with which they are affiliated. Members of the Faculty may supervise graduate students, chair examining committees, and vote at the Faculty of Graduate Studies general meetings.
Members of the Faculty of Graduate Studies may continue as members upon retirement, provided they are approved by their disciplinary Faculty (or functional equivalent) for membership in the Faculty of Graduate Studies and continue to meet the criteria established by their graduate program for membership in the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Membership notwithstanding, a retired faculty member may supervise or co-supervise graduate students as provided for by their disciplinary faculty.
Supervision of graduate students by other faculty
Other appropriately qualified individuals (e.g., clinical professors, adjunct professors, professors of teaching, senior instructors or visiting professors) who are actively engaged in research and experienced with graduate education may be approved, upon the recommendation of their Head, Director or Dean (or functional equivalent) of the graduate program with which they are affiliated and the approval of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, to supervise or co-supervise master’s and doctoral students and/or serve on doctoral student supervisory committees provided they meet the relevant criteria. These individuals are not members of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Approval for individuals who are not members of the Faculty of Graduate Studies to serve as members of master’s student supervisory committees is the responsibility of the graduate program concerned.
Teaching
Teaching of graduate courses is the responsibility of the disciplinary unit, Department or Faculty.
This information is for quick reference. For the full text of the Minutes of Senate, which include the motions and discussion, please see the Minutes Archive.