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S-05-69
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
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Senate Committee on University Priorities
Memorandum
TO:
Senate
FROM:
John Waterh
Chair, SCUP
Vice Preside
RE:
Cohort Special Arrangements
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DATE:
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April 22, 200
(SCUP 05-037)
At its April 20, 2005 meeting SCUP reviewed and approved the proposal from the Dean
of Graduate Studies for a new Calendar entry and a set of procedures for the
development and administration of Cohort Special Arrangements programs, which is
now forwarded to Senate for approval. These proposed procedures replace the
procedures approved by Senate in October,
1997
Motion
That Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the proposal for a new
Calendar entry and new procedures for the development and approval of Cohort
Special Arrangements programs.
end.
C: J. Driver
G. Nicholls
SOUP 05-037
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
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DEAN OF GRADUATE STUDIES
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MEMORANDUM
TO:
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SCUP
FROM: ?
Jonathan Driver, Dean of Graduate Studies
SUBJECT: Cohort Special Arrangements
DATE:
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21 st
March 2005
cc:
At the March 2005 meeting of SGSC the committee approved a new Calendar entry for
Cohort Special Arrangements programs, and a set of procedures for the development and
administration of such programs. I recommend that SCUP approve both these items.
Background
Experience over the last five or six years has shown that CSAR programs have been
• undertaken mainly for the purpose of "prototyping" new graduate programs, a function
that was envisioned in the 1997 proposal approved by Senate. These have included two
MBA programs (MOT and GAWM), both of which have been converted to permanent
programs, as well as the temporary graduate programs used for students making the
transition from the former Technical University of BC to the School of Interactive Arts
and Technology. A number of other CSAR programs were approved by SGSC in the last
year, and will begin admitting students in 2005.
Recent discussion at SGSC, as well as recent experience, confirms the value of CSAR.
However, a number of SGSC members have been concerned that CSAR programs are
brought forward without adequate consultation. I therefore propose the adoption of a new
calendar entry and a new set of procedures for development and approval of CSAR
programs.
A. Proposed changes to Calendar entry
From
1.35.a Cohort Special Arrangements
Cohort-based special arrangements programs are designed to meet the educational needs
of specific student groups in fulfilling the requirements for a master's degree where these
needs cannot be met within existing programs. Each program will integrate studies from
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across two or more departments, schools or faculties and will involve a curriculum and
requirements recommended by each program's graduate program committee and
I.
approved by the senate graduate studies committee. Students may undertake this degree
program only through specific admission to the cohort program. Admission criteria,
degree requirements and any other special conditions for a particular cohort special
arrangements program must be approved in advance by the senate graduate studies
committee; these may not be below the minimum admission and degree requirements of
regular graduate programs. In some instances, tuition fees may differ from the, regular
graduate fee schedule published in the Calendar, and will be announced separately.
To
1.3.5.a Cohort Special Arrangements
Cohort-based special arrangements programs are designed to provide a master's degree
program to specific groups of students whose educational needs cannot be met within
existing programs. Such programs run for a limited time, and students must obtain
specific admission to the cohort program. In some instances, tuition fees may differ from
the regular graduate fee schedule published in the Calendar, and will be announced
separately.
B. Procedures for development and approval of CSAR programs
SGSC recommends approval of the attached document.
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Approval and Administration of Cohort Special Arrangements Programs
Jonathan C. Driver
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Dean of Graduate Studies
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March 2005
Purpose and characteristics
CSAR programs are short-term graduate programs established for one or both of the
following purposes:
(a)
To provide a unique program, not available elsewhere in the University, to a specific
group of students
(b)
To prototype programs that are being considered for development by an academic
unit
CSAR programs are masters programs, they run for a maximum of three years, and offer
degrees that have already been approved for SFU (e.g. MA, MSc etc.). Normally, CSAR
students are not eligible for awards adjudicated by the Senate Graduate Awards
Adjudication Committee.
Approval process
1. CSAR proposals are developed either by an existing academic unit or by a group of
faculty members from different units.
2. The proposal is approved by the department or school (not required for non-
departmentalized faculties, or for CSAR proposals that do not require a departmental
home), and submitted to the Faculty Graduate Program Committee.
3. The chair of the Faculty GPC sends the proposal to the following for review and
comment:
(a)
Dean of the Faculty that will house the program, for approval of budget, space
and other required resources
(b)
GPCs of other faculties, for evaluation of potential overlap with existing
programs
(c)
the Library, if new course proposals are part of the package
4. Following approval by the faculty GPC, the proposal is sent to SGSC for approval,
together with the Library report and copies of memos from other faculties and the
dean of the home faculty.
5.
If SGSC approves the proposal it is forwarded to SCUP and Senate for information.
and (if necessary) to the Board of Governors for approval of fees.
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1iIlistratR'1 ?
-
This
Format
format
of
is
CSAR
modified
proposals
from that required
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for the development of new, permanent
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graduate programs.
Executive Summary
The executive summary should present, in one page, the purpose of the proposal and a
summary of the proposed program structure.
Curriculum
I. Describe what the student will gain from this program. Explain why this cannot be
achieved in an existing SFU program.
2.
Describe the courses and other curriculum requirements of the program, and a model
for their offering.
3.
Include individual course descriptions in an appendix (see below)
4.
If applicable, discuss research expectations, such as a project or thesis.
5.
Include any other additional relevant comments.
Learning Methodologies
Describe briefly the intended mix of pedagogies in the program (e.g. extent of web-based
courses; co-op or intemships)
Faculty
1.
Indicate the number of faculty and other staff required to mount this program and
their qualifications. Indicate if any of these positions will be new to the institution.
2.
Include a curriculum vitae for each faculty member in an appendix (see below).
Need for program
Provide a justification for development of the program in terms of demand from students.
Admission
Describe the admission requirements for the program. These must conform to the
University minimum standards.
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Appendices
Appendix I. Each new course will require properly completed new course proposal
forms, available on the Graduate Studies website. Each new course must be reviewed by
the Library. An appendix of new course approval forms, sample course outlines, and
library reviews must be included in the proposal. Remember that projects/theses, co-op
semesters and internships all require course numbers and credit values.
Appendix 11. The complete proposed Calendar entry must be attached as an appendix.
Appendix III. (a) In conjunction with the relevant faculty dean, a budget for running the
program, and recommendation for tuition fees (if different from regular fees) should be
included as an appendix. (b) Provide start and end dates for the program. Normally,
CSAR programs should not run for more than three years.
Appendix IV. List the members of the steering committee, and of faculty members
associated in other ways with the program (e.g. teaching faculty)
• Appendix V. Provide a short c.v. for each faculty member.(Jn the case of cross-
disciplinary programs, include a curriculum vitae for each member of the steering
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committee and for each faculty member likely to be teaching core courses). It is strongly
suggested that short (e.g. 2 pages), standardized c.v.s be submitted, providing brief
information on: current position; credentials; research interests; publications, grants and
graduate supervision over a defined period (e.g. last seven years).
S
CS:R administration
