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S.95-16

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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT, ACADEMIC

MEMORANDUM

Senate Committee on Academic Planning

Action undertaken by the Senate Graduate Studies Committee and the Senate Committee

on Academic Planning gives rise to the following motions:

Motion 1:

"That Senate approve

afid

re€ammend_approval to the

Boa-rd

Ge'ert,rs, as set forth in S.95

16 , the change to graduate regulation

1.4.2 on Registration."

Motion 2:

"That Senate approve

and recommend-approval to

the -Boa-rd_of-

Gne as set forth in S.95 -16, the change to graduate regulations

1.7.1 and 1.7.3 on Residence Requirements."

V ,

k(, &W,^o 

r--] 

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF GRADUATE STUDIES

Memorandum

TO: Senate Graduate Studies Committee

FROM: Bruce P. Clayman

Dean of Graduate Studies

SUBJECT:

Registration ?

DATE: November 21, 1994

Several recent problem cases and some changes in procedures have highlighted the need to mod-

ify graduate regulation 1.4.2.

At present, students who wish to enroll in a graduate course - or in fact any course - outside their

own department, need only to receive the approval of their own supervisor and Graduate Program

Committee. This has sometimes created problems for either the student or the host department or

both when the student is not qualified to enroll in the course or there is insufficient capacity in the

course.

Graduate registration now takes place over an extended period prior to the start of the semester

and may soon occur by tele-registration. This makes obsolete the wording of regulation 1.4.2. 1

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propose the following changes to remedy these problems:

Present Regulation 1.4.2

All students should arrive on campus one week before the beginning of classes in each semes-

ter. Registration takes place during that week. The course or thesis work for which the stu-

dent registers must have the approval of the Chair of the Graduate Program Committee and of

his/her Senior Supervisor once the Senior Supervisor is appointed. Student going on leave

are required to register.

Proposed Regulation 1.4.2

Registration occurs in the month preceding the start of each semester and must be complete

by the Friday preceding the start of classes; the academic calendar of events is contained in the

S.F.U. Calendar. New students are allowed an additional two weeks to finalize their registra-

tion, without financial penalty. The course or research-related work for which the student

registers must have the approval of the Chair of the Graduate Program Committee and of

his/her Senior Supervisor, once the Senior Supervisor is appointed. In addition, registration

for courses taken outside the student's department must have the approval of the course in-

structor. Students going on leave are required to register (see 1.8.4).

This proposal will be on the agenda of the next meeting of the Senate Graduate Studies Commit-

tee.

MN0I4SGS.DOC 21-Nov-94

SIMON FRASER

UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF GRADUATE STUDIES

Memorandum

TO: Senate Graduate Studies Committee

FROM: Bruce P. Clayman

Dean of Graduate Studies

and Vice President, Research

SUBJECT:

Residence Requirements ?

DATE: November 19, 1994

With the advent of part-time registration, several graduate programs which are conducted largely

away from the Burnaby and Harbour Centre campuses and the prospect of future programs that

have significant distance education components, an examination of our residence requirements is

in order. These are described in detail in sections 1.7.1 and 1.7.3 of the graduate regulations. In

summary, Master's students are required to be in residence for at least three semesters and doc-

toral students for at least five (with a previous Master's ) or eight (without). "Residence" is un-

defined other than implicitly in the phrase "undertaking study at this university." It was likely the

intent of the authors of these regulations that students be in close personal contact with their su-

pervisors, other faculty members and students for a period, so that they could absorb the 'culture'

of their disciplines... .in addition to learning the specific information and skills needed to complete

their degrees.

Since 1985, no Master's student has completed the program in fewer than three semesters and no

doctoral student has completed in fewer than seven. No student has requested transfer of time

spent at another university toward SFU's residence requirement. With the increasing use of inter-

net and other telecommunication, it is difficult and of questionable relevance, to monitor the ex-

tent to which a student is physically "at this university." ?

In view of this and discussion at the last SGSC meeting, 1 recommend a simplification and re-

definition -of our residence requirements:

• the present residence requirements, in terms of fill semesters, as described above would

be maintained.

• residence would be defined in terms of enrollment status only: a semester of part-time

registration would be equivalent to one-half a semester of full-time registration; on-leave

registration would not be counted toward the residence requirement.

• transferability of residence "credit" from other institutions would be eliminated.

The enclosed page shows the present and proposed new graduate regulations that reflect these

recommendations. I will place this matter on the agenda of the next meeting of the Senate

Graduate Studies Committee.

MNOI2SGS.DOC 19-Nov-94

Page

Present Regulations:

1.7.1 Residence Requirement for the Masters Degree

The aim of the residence requirement is that a student spend a period of time

in contact with faculty members and with other students at the University. To

this end, a student shall be registered in an approved program and undertaking

study at this University as a Masters student for a minimum of three semesters.

Normally, this residence requirement will be fulfilled inconsecutive semesters,

but exceptions to this general rule are permitted for students registering in

programs which are discontinuous by design (see

1.4.3)

and for students who

go on leave (see 1.8.4).

No part of the residence requirement may be waived for work performed

before admission to the University as a Masters student.

Under exceptional circumstances, a Masters student at Simon Fraser Univer-

sity may apply for residence credit for work to be done off campus. Such

applications shall be made at least one month before the beginning of the

semester in which the student proposes to work off campus and shall be

approved by the student's Supervisory Committee and Graduate Program

Committee and shall be sent to the Senate Graduate Studies Committee for

final approval. While doing work off campus under these provisions, the student

shall maintain normal registration at this University, not registration on leave.

Proposed Regulations:

1.7.1

Residence Requirement for the Mas-

ter's Degree

The aim of the residence requirement is that the

student spend a period-of-.time in contact With

faculty members and other students. To this

end, the student shall be registered in a Master's

program at the University for a minimum of

three full-time equivalent semesters. Semes-

ters of part-time registration will be counted as

one-half of a full-time semester; on-leave se-

mesters will not count toward this minimum. No

part of the minimum may be waived for work

performed before admission to the University as

a Masters student.

1.7.3 Residence, Requirement for the Doc-

toral Degree

The aim of the residence requirement is that the

student spend a period of time in contact with

faculty members and other students. To this

1.7.3 Residence Requirement for the Doctoral Degree

The aim of the residence requirement is that students spend a period of time

in contact with faculty members and with other students at this University.

The following regulations apply.

Doctoral students entering the program with a Masters degree shall be in

residence for five semesters.

Doctoral students entering the program with a Bachelors degree shall be

in residence for eight semesters.

students who have transferred to the Doctoral degree program from a

Masters degree program at Simon Fraser University without completing a

Masters degree, shall be in residence for eight semesters in the combined

programs, at least five of which must be in the Doctoral degree program.

While in residence a student shall be registered in an approved program at

Simon Fraser University. Normally, the residence requirement will be fulfilled

in consecutive semesters but exceptions to this general rule are permitted for

students who go on leave (see 1.8.4).

No part of the residence requirement may be waived for work performed

before admission to the Doctoral degree program.

Under exceptional circumstances a Doctoral student at Simon Fraser Univer-

sity may apply for residence credit for work to be done off campus. Such

applications shalt be made at least one month before the beginning of the

semester in which the student proposes to work oil campus and shall be

approved by the student's Supervisory Committee and Graduate Program

Committee and sent to the Senate Graduate Studies Committee for final

approval. While doing work off-campus under these provisions, the student

shafl maintain normal registration at this Univers1ty, not registration on leave.

end, the student shall be registered in a Doctoral

program at the University for a minimum period

as follows:

Doctoral students entering the program with

a Masters degree shall be in residence for

five full-time equivalent semesters.

Doctoral students entering the program with

a Bachelors degree shall be in residence for

eight full-time equivalent semesters.

c) Students

who

have transferred to the Doc-

toral program from the Masters degree pro-

gram at Simon Fraser University without

completing the Masters degree, shall be in

residence for a total of eight full-time

equivalent semesters, at least five of which

must be in the Doctoral program.

Semesters of part-time registration will be

counted as one-half of a full-time semester: on-

leave semesters will not count toward this mini-

mum. No part of the minimum may be waived

for work performed before admission to the Uni-

versity as a Masters or Doctoral student.

MN0I2SGS.DOC 19-Nov-94