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For Information

S.07-36

• ?

Simon Fraser University

Senate Graduate Studies Committee

Annual Report to Senate for 2006

February 2007

Submitted by Dr. Jon Driver, Dean of Graduate Studies

Composition and Mandate of the Committee

The membership of SGSC in 2006 consisted of the Dean of Graduate Studie(ch ir),

Librarian (or designate), the Director Graduate Records, Admissions and Regis tion,

chairs of the six faculty graduate program committees, one other faculty member from

each of the six graduate program committees, two graduate students, and the Graduate

Issues Officer of SFSS. The Dean of Graduate Studies' secretary serves as secretary to

the committee. The Associate Dean of Graduate Studies attends as a non-voting resource

person.

SGSC has established a regular monthly meeting schedule, in an attempt to spread the

workload of the committee more evenly over the year.

SGSC is responsible to Senate for admissions (delegated to the Dean), maintenance of

academic standards, changes to existing programs, evaluation of new programs (via a

. subcommittee), and administration of the graduate general regulations. SGSC approves

admissions under Special Arrangements (via a subcommittee), and may act as an appeal

body for student progress reviews (via a subcommittee).

Graduate Studies at Simon Fraser Universi

In 2006 masters programs and doctoral programs were being offered in each faculty

(except the newly created Faculty of Health Sciences, that does not yet have a doctoral

program). Graduate diploma programs were offered in all faculties. In addition, the Dean

of Graduate Studies office administers the Special Arrangements Program that provides a

home for students with individual interdisciplinary programs of study and research.

Summary statistics on enrollments and award of degrees are available from the Analytical

Studies web site (see Appendix B of this report for data on enrollments and credentials

awarded).

Enrollment and Graduation

Graduate enrollments in degree programs increased steadily from the late 1980's to the

mid- l990's, remained relatively stable for a few years, and saw renewed increases since

2000 (see Appendix B). The recent increases in graduate degree enrollments early in this

decade were probably due to a combination of factors: the development of new programs

(such as the Masters of Public Policy or the MBA in Global Asset Wealth Management),

the addition of programs at Surrey, the "Double the Opportunities" funding from the

provincial government, and the recruitment of graduate students by new faculty members

as they establish their research programs.

Total enrollments increased again in 2006 (12% increase fall 2005 to fall 2006, or a 6%

annualized FTE increase). Pecentage increases were highest in graduate diplomas and in

doctoral programs.

Data on credentials awarded are presented in the second table in Appendix B.

New Programs

Assessment Committee for New Graduate Programs (ACNGP) is a sub-committee of

SGSC, responsible for the detailed assessment of new graduate degree programs, of

which the most important element is an external review process. Since September 2004,

the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies has chaired this committee. In 2006 ACNGP

continued to be busy with new program development. Details are provided in Appendix

A, and a summary of all new programs since 1981 is provided in Appendix C.

Funding for graduate students

Financial support for graduate students continues to be a concern, particularly as we have

to compete for students with universities in provinces that provide a provincial

scholarship plan and other provincially-funded recruiting incentives. Locally, UBC's

policy of tuition scholarships for most PhD students has caused concerns about SFU's

ability to recruit doctoral students, and this has been reflected in comments in a number

of external reviews. In view of the increase in numbers admitted to our doctoral programs

this concern may be misplaced; however, the Dean of Graduate Studies has collected

evidence that some students do not attend SFU because of more competitive financial

offers from other universities.

Total held in fall 2006 from federal granting councils are summarized in the following

table. The number of awards held has increased by 34 since fall 2005. In addition to these

awards, it should be noted that in 2006 an SFU master's student was awarded a Julie

Payette NSERC scholarship. A doctoral graduate won an NSERC doctoral dissertation

prize (only 4 awarded annually), the sixth year in a row that SFU students have been

winners or runners-up of this prestigious prize.

In 2002 the Dean created a small working group to examine graduate student funding at

SFU. In 2003 the Working Group consulted with the university community on principles

of graduate funding, undertook a survey of graduate students, gathered data on graduate

student funding, and prepared a draft report. (See http://www.sfu.caldean-

gradstudies/survev.htm)

The report was made public (February 2004) and comments

were received. Based on these comments, a plan was prepared for consideration by

faculty deans, and following a number of discussions with that group a proposal was

submitted to SPCSAB in early 2005. In 2006 Graduate Fellowships (forming about 75%

of the SFU graduate scholarship budget) were allocated in a new way, with more

emphasis placed on programs' success in graduating students.

The Dean of Graduate Studies has also attempted to make graduate student enrollment

and funding management a more central concern of the University. As one step in this

process, all graduate programs are now required to present their graduate student funding

policy on a web site, so that potential applicants have clear information on financial

support.

Student Information Sysy

2006 was the third full year in which Graduate Studies operated under the new student

information system (introduced in October 2003). It was the third year in which we

administered new tuition rules that were implemented because of the new information

system. The third year of operation has seen improvements. Most students who were

"grandfathered" under old tuition rules have graduated. Submission of electronic grades

has become routine. The quality of transcipts has improved.

In 2005 we introduced an on-line application process for graduate programs. For

2005/2006 this was being run parallel to the paper application process. For 2006/2007 all

applications are routinely received online. In 2006 more than 5000 applications were

received, most of them electronically.

We have also been taking advantage of the database function of the student information

system, and have supplied all programs with enrollment and completion statistics.

Appendix A Senate Graduate Studies Committee, Activities 2006

Meetings and content are described in the attached spreadsheet. Numerous minor

program details were approved (new courses, new Calendar language etc.)

New programs

There is a two-stage process for approving new degree programs. A notice of intent and

preliminary proposal is approved by SGSC and SCUP. The full program proposal is then

developed, reviewed by ACNGP (including external review), and then approved by

SGSC, SCUP and Senate. Graduate diploma programs and Graduate Certificates are

approved by SGSC, SCUP and Senate.

In 2006 the following programs were given preliminary approval by SGSC:

MA Humanities

MA Applied Legal Studies

MA Teachers of English

Master of Digital Media

Master of Financial Risk Management

No full program proposals were approved by ACNGP, although a number are currently

being considered, and will probably be approved in 2007.

No graduate diploma program was approved by SGSC.

Cohort S

p ecial Arrangements

These programs are offered on a short-term basis, either to fill an immediate need for a

specialized program or to allow a "trial run" of a proposed program. None was approved

in 2006.

The appeals subcommittee of SGSC heard two appeals in 2006.

F-]

Appendix B. Graduate Enrollment and Credentials Awarded

Note: figures refer to headcounts; no allowance is made for fill-time, part-time and on-

leave status

Graduate enrollments (headcounts in fall semester)

Faculty

05 to

97 to

06%

Applied

Sciences

Arts and Soc.

Sciences

Business

Admin

Education

n/a

Science

total headcount of all graduate students, including those enrolled in diploma

programs, plus exchange students. Note that there are very small numbers of graduate

diploma students in all faculties, but the above table only lists large diploma programs as

separate lines

* *

total headcount of all graduate students enrolled in masters and doctoral programs

# ?

the sudden increase is due to the incorporation of graduate programs from the

former Technical University of BC

$ ?

the sudden increase is due to the conversion of the post-baccalaureate diploma in

Education to the Graduate Diploma in Education

Credentials awarded by academic year

Faculty/credential

96/97 97/98 98/99 99/00

04/05

112

113

Arts

138

181

Business Administration

113

119

Education

151

166

Science

108

16.1

The number of doctoral degrees awarded seems to be increasing, and we would expect a

significant increase within the next few years, based on an overall increase in doctoral

enrollments. The number of master's degrees awarded declined in the Faculties of

Education and Business Administration. This is likely due to the dip in enrollments in

those programs in 2003-2005.

Appendix C. New program activity

Year of ACNGP approval

PhD, Computing Science

MBA, Business Administration

MA, Latin American Studies

PhD, Resource and Environmental Management

1994

MSc, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

1994

PhD, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

1995

MSc, Earth Sciences

1995

PhD, Political Science

1996

EdD, Education

1997

MET, Biological Sciences

2000

MBAMOT, Business Administration

2002

Masters of Public Policy

PhD, Business Administration

2004

MA, Interactive Arts and Technology

2004

MSc, Interactive Arts and Technology

2004

PhD, Interactive Arts and Technology

2004

MBA Global Assets and Wealth Management

2004

Master of Urban Studies

2005

MA Educational Technology

2005

PhD Educational Technology

2005

MSc Population and Public Health

2005

Graduate Diploma in Foundations of Global Health Studies

Note: all dates since 1985 refer to the year in which ACNGP approval was given. Dates

for final approval and first admission of students may be slightly later.

Rolling conferral of degrees - monthly

2006.01 Graduate Records

Passed

706-37

2006 Jan

GGR editorial changes 1.2. 1.8.2.1.3.12:

EDUC 867-5 prerequisite

2008.03 minor course change

Graduate diploma in advanced professional

2006.04 Calendar change -

Passed

studies in Education

course credit transfer

2006 Feb

GGR 1124 ?

time limits

2006.05!GGRA4NMgRjjW modification

2006 Feb

13 HSCI ?

MScPPH

Course requirements; course changes:

2006.06 curriculum changes ?

Diploma in Global Health: course

2006.07 Calendar changes ?

Passed

S.06-52

2006 Feb

DEV 801 - new course proposal

time limits -effective

2006.10 curriculum changes ?

2006.10 curriculum changes ?

SGSC 2005 annual report to Senate

GGR 1.8.2 - Review of unsatisfactory

Norrnalgradingsystem -

SGSC membership (Stagger 2-Y terms for

2006.13 SGSC membership - ?

for lnfiiion

elected FGSC faculty) (S.04-40)

Senate's specification

2006 Apr

10 BUS ?

(SA'dM

BUS 823-2 - new course proposal

BUS 818-2,865-2,869-2

2006.14 minor course changes ?

DEV 801 - course proposal

2006.16 Course proposal -

%r nforniatln

deans' council advice

new program proposal - Passed

in Applied Legal Studies (Notary

2006.18

NOt

new program proposal - Passed

committeecommittee 2006.19rGR

PSYC Experimental Psychology curriculum 2006.21 cumculum changes ?

PSYC - Satisfactory Performance

2006.21 curriculum changes ?

GGR 1.6.4 Time limit for formation of

2006.23lGGR,cjferes

Deferred

supervisory committees

2006 Jul

GGR: CGPA calculation - WDA courses

2006.24(f3GR changes ?

MA for Teachers of English - NOl

2006.25 new program proposal - Deferred

NOI

2006 Jul

10 EDUC EDUC

EDUC 879-5 - new course proposal

PHYS 864-3 - new course proposal

Specialist MBA program - deletion

2006.28 curriculum changes

PhD program - new course proposals

New courses GLOH 615-3, 635-3: minor

2006.30 curriculum changes

Passed

course changes GLOH 640-3, 690-3

2006 Jul

10 HSCI ?

MPPH

New courses HSCI 893-3,8944, PPH 898-

2006.31 curriculum changes

Passed

0: minor course changes HSCI 691-0,891-

SGSC/ACNGP terms of reference - review

2006.32 senate committees

No change

2006 Sep

SGSC appeals subcommittee

2006.33 ad hoc committee to

a-establish ad hoc

hear a student appeal

committee

2006 Sep

Visiting research students - Canadian

\j.:

Passed

S.06-115

Graduate Student Research Mobility

Agreement: new course GRAD 800-0

Fam&orosieory-'

2006 Sep

Management of graduate student academic

2006.35 Graduate Records -

Passed

files - retention & disposal guidelines

policy

2006 Sep

Quest University - recognition of bachelor's

admission requirement

DE grade - calendar language

Course changes: EDUC 845-4 to 845-5,

2006.39 minor course changes

EDUC renumbered 831-5 to 921-5,936-5

2006.39 minor course changes

PhD in Curriculum Theory &

2006.39 new stream - PhD

Passed

Implementation:

Philosophy of Education

STAT 602-3 - prerequisite

2006.40 minor course change

Master of Digital Media program - NOl -

2006.41 new program proposal -

SGSC

terms of reference - addition as ?

2006.42 SGSC - addition

Passed

recommended by University secretariat -

Course change: [AT 801-3: new courses:

2006.43 curriculum changes

Passed

tAT 802-3. tAT 805-0 ?

LAS program curriculum revisions; course

2006.44 curriculum changes

Passed

changes: LAS 800-4. 815-4, 824-4, 835-4,

LING requirements: MA coursework, PhD

admission

2006.45 curriculum changes

Passed

2006 Nov

20 EDUC

- GGR 1.3.12 change - Language proficiency 2006.46 GGR 1.3.12 change -

SA program changes; minor course

2006.47 curriculum changes

Course changes; new courses; courses for

2006.48c curriculum changes

MPPH, GD-GLOH New M.Sc. concentration in Global Health;

2006.48 New stream - M.Sc.;

Passed

Grad diploma - from Health Studies to

grad diploma name

Global Health; method of transfer from MA

change; transfer method

SCUP 07- ?

c: for info,

cohort to new M.Sc. Concentration

Newcourses,calendarthange

New program proposal - NOl

MBA - revised program description, new

2006.49, curriculum changes

Passed

courses - to replace the SMBA program

Minor course changes: BUS 802-805, 809- 2006.50, curriculum changes

Passed

FRM

811.814,816,818-819,857,863,864-866,

50b

S.07-

868-870 - credit hours, titles, descriptions;

new course: BUS 821-2

2006 Dec

II BUS ?

MBA-MOT

New courses: BUS 7514, 753-2, 755-2;

2006.51 curriculum changes

Passed

minor course changes: BUS 7584, 764-2,

S.07-

766-2, 7764; calendar language change

2006 Dec

11 BUS ?

MBA-FRM

MBA-FRM - new program proposal - NOt

2006.52 new

NOl

program proposal - Passed

EASC 605-3: new course proposal

ENSC courses for deletion; new courses,

2006.54 curriculum changes

Passed

minor course changes; minor change to

REM 614-5: new course

CMNS 845-5: minor course change

2006.56 Minor course change

Passed

S.07-

FASS=Asts & Social Sciences