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

gradstudies/survey.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) will be allocated in a new way, with more

emphasis placed on programs' success in graduating students.

Student Information System

2005 was the second full year in which Graduate Studies operated under the new student

information system (Peoplesoft) (introduced in October 2003). It was also the second

year in which we administered new tuition rules that were implemented because of the

new information system. The second year of operation has been considerably smoother

than the first. Many 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 is being run parallel to the paper application process. If the on-line system

is successful, we will convert completely to electronic applications in 2006/2007. At the

time of writing (early February) more than 2000 applications had been processed

successfully through the new system.

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. We

plan to update these annually and to include five-year averages of important information.

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