SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
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S.99-12
OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF GRADUATE STUDIES
SMemorandum
TO:
Senate
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FROM: Bruce P. Clayman
Dean of Graduate Studies
SUBJECT:
Calendar Revision - History ?
DATE: December 22, 1998
At its meeting of September 14,1998, Senate tabled the motion contained in paper S98-69 to ap-
prove calendar revisions for the department of History, that had been approved by the Senate
Graduate Studies Committee and SCAP, pending delivery Of the report of the Graduate Student
Survey Implementation Task Force That report has now been received and is available to all in
the community at: http://www.sfu.calvpacademic/planninglgssitfYindex.html
My reading of the report reveals no recommendation that specifically relates to expectations of
time for degree completion. However, the following quotations from the section of the report de-
scribing an "ideal department" are highly germane and support the adoption of the proposed cal-
endar revision:
"Prior to accepting an offer of admission the student is made fully aware of expected
times of completion, planned course offerings in the next year, and of funding and other
resources (office, supplies etc.) that will be made available to them during their time in
the program."
"Program requirements The unit has developed clear descriptions of precisely what is re-
quired to graduate including the expectations of each requirement (e.g., of courses, pro-
jects, theses, seminar presentations, oral examinations, and depth, field and comprehen-
sive examinations) which are made available to the graduate students."
As I have in the past, I support very strongly making available to students and prospective stu-
dents a clear statement of the expectations of the department. Our graduate regulations require
that the academic progress of every student be evaluated annually and, if progress is found to be
unsatisfactory, require remedial action or withdrawal. A clear statement of what constitutes satis-
factory progress is extremely helpful to both students and departments when making this deter-
mination. The calendar language proposed by History comprises part of that clear statement and
should I believe be approved by Senate. I also continue to encourage other departments to con-
sider similar statements of expectations for inclusion in the calendar.
Motion: ?
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"that Senate approve aiy-fecommend to the Board of Governors as set forth in
S.99-12 and amend5dby SCAR, the following addition to the Calendar entry for
Graduate Studieytn the Department of History:
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Full-time)f.A. thesis-option students are expected to complete their degree re-
quiren)ints in a maximum of five semesters, and project-option students in a
maxi1um of three semesters. Part-time thesis-option students are expected to
Macintosh HD: IAIisonJ: WORD: SENATE:SCAR:SC
AR
1998:BPC HisS cur. 22dec98 22-Dec-98
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complete their degree requirements in a maximum of eight semesters and part-
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time project-ption students in a maximum of six semesters."
I shall be pleased to address this matter when it is placed on Senate's agenda and ask that Dr.
Jack Little, whose memorandum of April 7, 1998 is appended to paper S98-69, be invited to par-
ticipate in the discussion.
c. J. Little
.
S
BPC Hist cur. 22dec98 22-Dec-98
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
MEMO R A N D U M
'a
DATE:
April
7,
1998
TO:
?
Roger Blackman, Associate Dean of Arts
FROM:
Jack Little, Chair History GPC
RE: ?
Addition to Calendar Text
CC:
With the support of the Dean of Graduate Studies, a number of years ago the History
Department stipulated that the expected MA completion time was five semesters for full-time
thesis students, and three semesters for full-time project-option students.
Part-time students can take an extra year. These requirements appear in the department's
Graduate Brochure, but we now wish to add them to the Calendar. The rationale for having
such a time limit is quite simply to encourage students to complete their degrees within a
reasonable amount of time. Though the policy has not been rigorously enforced, our
completion times have improved dramatically since it was introduced. The reason we wish to
add this policy to the calendar is to ensure that students and supervisors realize that it has the
university's sanction.
The exact wording of the calendar text which we wish to add is as follows:
Full-time thesis-option students are expected to complete their degree requirements in a
maximum of five semesters, and project-option students in three. Part-time students may
take one additional year fompletion.0
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