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S.93-22

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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

Office

the Vice-President, Academic

MEMORANDUM

To:

Chair, Senate Committee

Subject:

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

on Academic Planning (SCAP 93 - 4) gives rise to the following motion:

Motion: ?

"That Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of Governors as

set forth in S.93 - 23, the following change to Graduate Regulation 1.5.4

From: ?

A graduate student is required to maintain a CGPA of at least 3.0.

A student failing to maintain a CGPA of 3.0 is automatically

dropped from the program and required to withdraw from the

University unless the Supervisory Committee or the Chair of

the Graduate Program Committee recommends continuation in

the program. Such recommendation is made to the Graduate

Program Committee which, if it concurs, sends it to the Faculty

Graduate Studies Committee for approval.

To: ?

A graduate student is required to maintain a CGPA of at least 3.0.

Failure to do so is evidence of unsatisfactory progress and the

matter will be considered by the Graduate Program Committee

as required under the Procedure for the Review of Unsatisfactory

Progress in Regulation 1.8.2."

A&VAo

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

' ? DEAN OF GRADUATE STUDIES

Memorandum

TO:

Graduate Program Chairs

FROM: B.P. Clayman

Dean of Graduate Studies

SUBJECT:

Minimum CGPA

DATE:

November 16, 1992

Graduate Regulations require maintenance of a CGPA of at least 3.0. A student whose çGPA drops

below this value is automatically dropped from the program unless the departmental Graduate Program

Committee recommends continuation and the Faculty Graduate Studies Committee approves the

recommendation; I know of no case in which a Faculty committee has turned back such a recommen-

dation. There have been several cases in which the department has decided not to make such a rec-

ommendation and the student has appealed that decision. Because it is actually an appeal of a decision

not to do something, such an appeal falls into an area of ambiguity.

I propose to remove that ambiguity and remove the need for action at the Faculty level (saving some

unnecessary paperwork) by changing the regulations to make a CGPA of less than 3.0 evidence of

unsatisfactory progress. The question of continuation would then be handled under Regulation 1.8.2

"Procedure for Review of Unsatisfactory Progress." This would be accomplished by the following

change to the first paragraph of Regulation

1. 5.4

as follows:

Present 1st Paragraph of Regulation 1.5.4:

Proposed 1st Paragraph of Regulation 1.5.4:

"A graduate student is required to maintain a

CGPA of at least 3.0. A student failing to

maintain a CGPA of 3.0 is automatically

dropped from the program and required to

withdraw from the University unless the Su-

pervisory Committee or the Chair of the

Graduate Program Committee recommends

continuation in the program. Such recommen-

dation is made to the Graduate Program

Committee which, if it concurs, sends it to the

Faculty Graduate Studies Committee for final

approval."

"A graduate student is required to maintain a

CGPA of at least 3.0. Failure to do so is evi-

dence of unsatisfactory progress and the matter

will be considered by the Graduate Program

Committee as required under the Procedure for

the Review of Unsatisfactory Progress in

Regulation 1.8.2."

This matter will be on the agenda of the next meeting of the Senate Graduate Studies Committee.

c.c. M. McGinn

I ^ ^^, (: ^,). G^ ^ 1 

^ ^ ^ 

(for distribution with SGSC agenda)

MN016GPC.DOC 11/16/92

244 Graduate General Regulations

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

t h is end, astudent shall be registered in an approved program and undertaking

study at this University as a Master's student for

minimum of three semesters.

Normally, this residence requirement will be fulfilled in consecutive 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 Master's student.

Under exceptional circumstances, a Master's student at Simon Fraser

University 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 oft campus under these provisions, the student

: ?

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

1.7.2 , Course.Requirements for the Master's Degree

Master's candidates must complete the University minimum requirement of

30 semester hours work in one of the following ways:

successfully complete a minimum of 12 semester hours of gréduate course

work and submit an original thesis':

'•.

successfully complete a minimum of 20 semester hours of griduate course

work and submit

at least two extended essays or a project

sucessfully complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate course

work and pass a final examination

r ?

Depending on the requirements of the program; all three alternatives may not

be available. A Graduate Program Committee may reqUire work in addition to

the minimum requirements, either on an individual basis or, with Senate

ratification for all students in its program;

The following constraints apply to the minimum course work requirement

One-half of the minimum course work of the departmental degree require-

ments must be taken at this University.

On the recommendation of the Graduate Program Committee and approval

of the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, up to one half of the departmental

minimum may be transfer credit from another institution.'

- None of the

University minimum may be taken on an S/U basis.

None of the University minimum may be courses taken in order to qualify for

admission. ?

•'

None of the University minimum may be undergraduate courses.'.

. A graduate

student may apply to take one

or more courses at another

university

for

credit towards a degree at Simon Fraser University. Such

applications shall be made at least one month before the course/courses start

and shall be, approved by the student's Supervisory Committee and Graduate

Program Committee and be sent to the Senate Graduate Studies Committee

for final approval. No more than one half of the minimum course work

requirement for the Master's degree may be taken at another university. While

taking a course/courses at another university under these provisions, the

student shall maintain normal registration at this University, not registration on

leave.

Doctoral Students

11.7.3.' '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 Master's degree shall be in

residence for five semesters.

Doctoral students entering the program with a Bachelor's degree shall be

in residence for eight semesters

students who have transferred to the Doctoral degree program from' a

Master's degree program at Simon Fraser University without completing a

Master's 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 goon 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 studéntat Simon Frasr Uni

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

applications shall be 'made at least

one month before the beginning of

semester in which the student proposes to work off campus

hall

approved by the student's Supervisory Committee and.,Gra ogi

Committee and sent to the Senate Graduate Studies Comm.. , or I

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

shall maintain normal registration at this University, not registration on 'le

1.7.4 Course Requirements for the Doctoral Degree

There are no University course 'requirements for' the 'Doctoral degi

However, a student's Supervisory Committee, Graduate Program Commil

or the Faculty Graduate Studies Committee, may require a student to

specified courses or semester hours as part of the degree program.

1.7.5 Doctoral Thesis

All Doctoral programs require a Doctoral thesis based on substantial ongi

research

1.8' Progress, 'Withdrawal and Leave'.'

Master's and DoctoralStudents'

1.8.1 Progress Evaluation

At !east once

each year, the Supervisory Committee will report on I

student's progress. This report will be sent, in writing, to the Graduate Progn

Committee with a copy to the student;

1.8.2 Procedure for Review of- Unsatisfactory 'Progret

If a student's progress appears to be unsatisfactory, the Supervisory Comn

tee or the Chair of the Graduate Program Committee shall make a written rep

to the Graduate Program Committee. That Committee shall consider whett

or not the student's progresshas been satisfactory. Should the student's progre

be found to be unsatisfactory, the Committee, on consultation with the

pervisory .Committee,.if one'.hasbeen appointed, may:'

require the student to withdraw or

inform the student of the'unsatisfactory progre s and

' require ?

studE

to improve in specific ways in a specific amount of time

The student concerned has the right to appear before the Graduate Progr.

Committee when the case is

-'considered,and may submit any materi€

relevant to the case.'A student who is required to withdraw shall be informE

in writing, with copies to the Dean of Graduate Studies and the Assists

Director—Graduate Studies, If required to improve within a specific amount

time, the student shall be informed, in writing, as to what precisely is require

with copies to the Dean of Graduate Studies and .the Assistant Directoi

Graduate.Studies.

Any decision of the Graduate Program Committee under the provisions of it

section may be appealed to the Senate Graduate Studies Committee throu

the Dean of Graduate Studies. The student has the right to appear before

Senate Graduate Studies Committee when the case is heard. The decision

that Committee shall be final.

1.8.3' Withdrawal from Courses and from the -'

UnIversity

Permission of the Senior Supervisor and the Chair of the Graduate Progra

Committee is required to withdraw from a course. If the Senior Supervisor is n

yet appointed, permission of the Chair of the Graduate Program Committee

required. If Such permission is granted, a student may withdraw from a cour

without academic penalty up to the, end of the ninth.wèek of classes in ar

semester.

Under extenuating circumstances, a student may withdraw from a cour5

without academic penalty during the tenth to the twelfth week of classes. Suc

circumstances must be' beyond the control of the student (e.g;; medical i

financial crisis); under such circumstances, therefore, 898 (Master's' thes

research), 899 (PhD, research) or.a similar course maybe added, as appropr

ate. The permission of the Senior Supervisor and the Chair of the Gradual

Program Committee is required.

A student may withdraw from the University-at anytime by

notifyinAjhjLCha

Studies.

of his Graduate Program Committee and the Assistant Director

lWal

- A student who has withdrawn from the University and who wishes to re-entE

shall apply for permission

under the-same conditions as any other applicani