S.13-19
SFU
Dean of Graduate Studies
Maggie Benston Student Sen-ices
TEl.778.782.3042
Centre 1100
FAX 778.782.3080
8888 University Drive
Burnaby,
BC
Canada V5A 1S6
www.sfu.ca/Dcan-
Ci radStudies
attention
Senate
date
9 January 2013
from
Wade Parkhouse, Dean of Graduate
No.
GS2013.03
Studies
RE:
Revision of GGR 1.3.5a Cohort Special Arrangements
LCK O^Ccm^-^-
Effective Date is Fall 2013
Revision to GGR 1.3.5 a Cohort Special Arrangements
[GS2013.03]
At its meeting of 7 January 2013, SGSC reviewed and approved a revision to GGR 1.3.5a Cohort Special
Arrangements. SGSC is recommending the revised regulation to Senate.
This gives rise to the following motion:
Motion:
That Senate approve the changes to GGR 1.3.5a Cohort Special Arrangements
end.
DEAN OF GRADUATE STUDIES
Suite 1100, Maggie Benston
Student Services Centre
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC
Canada V5A 1S6
MEMORANDUM
ATTENTION
FROM
RE:
Senate
Wade Parkhouse, Dean of Graduate
Studies
Motion GGR 1.3.5a revision
TEL 778.782.3042
FAX 778.782.3080
date
January 16,2013
PAGES
112
GS2013.03
www.sfu.ca/grad
At its meeting of 7 January 2013. SGSC reviewed and approved a revision of GGR 1.3.5a Cohort Special
Arrangements and is recommending the revised regulation to Senate.
The recommended changes include:
1) The addition of certificates and diplomas to GGR 1.3.5a.
2) The removal of the requirement that each cohort program shall integrate studies from across two or
more departments, schools or faculties.
3) Edits to the calendar language.
Justification
The creation of an option for graduate students to be directly admitted to certificates (GGR 1.3.2a;
Approved by Senate in 2012) as is the case for diplomas, and the revision
of the requirements for a
graduate certificate program (GGR 1.3.13: approved by Senate in 2012) provides an opportunity for
expansion of programming options under cohort special arrangements. Currently, the creation of cohort
special arrangements programs (GGR 1.3.5a) is limited to master's programs.
As is the case for some master's programs, the option of creating a cohort special arrangement graduate
certificate or graduate diploma would in some instances be the most appropriate mechanism to meet the
needs of academic units because
of the unique characteristics of these Senate-approved programs (see
S.97-68). The unique characteristics of the cohort special arrangements programs include a limited time
during which they remain active, resources are assured only for the life of the program and the program
ceases to exist (or is converted to a regular program subject to the usual program approval process) once
the cohort has completed. Review by SGSC ensuresthat the assessment of the proposed cohort program
is done in a timely manner, that the program has academic merit, and that adequate resources are
available. Expansion of cohort options to include certificates and diplomas would expand the ability of
SFU to respond quickly to opportunities that require the development of these types of credentials, and to
pilot potential new graduate certificates and diplomas.
Graduate certificates and diplomas do not require the integration
of studies from across two or more
departments, schools or faculties. In addition, a numberof approved master's cohort special arrangements
programs have not required that studies be integrated across morethan one academic unit. Most recently
the following programs were approved as cohort special arrangement master's programs: Master of
Financial Risk Management in 2005 (now the MSc in Finance); MA in International Leadership in 2005
(now the MA in International Studies); the Master of Population and Public Health in 2004 (now the
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
ENGAGING THE WORLD
MPH program in Health Sciences). None of these cohort special arrangement graduate programs spanned
more than one academic unit. Upon review, SGSCdoes not see the necessityof requiringthe integration
of studies across two or more departments in this program.
The essential features
of a cohort special arrangement programare that the program has coherence,
academic merit, falls outside or between existing programs, and is adequately resourced. They serve a
number of functions including: enablingnew and innovative programs to be offered to specific groups of
students, permittingprototypingof programs which mighteventuallybecome regular programs
established under normal procedures, and allowing the university to respond quickly and responsibly to
new areas of need. Collectively the addition of certificatesand diplomas, and the removal of the
requirementthat the program integrate studies from across two or more departments, schools or faculties
would expand programming options to meet the needs of both academic units and students.
FROM:
Current Calendar Language with edits
1.3.5a Cohort Special Arrangements
Cohort-based special arrangements programs aredesigned to meet theeducational needs of specific
student groups infulfilling therequirements for a master'sdegree graduate credential (certificate, diploma
or master'sdegree) where these needs cannot bemet within existing programs. Each program wiH
integrate studiesfrom across two or more departments, schools or faculties and will involve bee
comprised ofa curriculum and a setof program requirements recommended by each program'sgraduate
program committee, approved by the faculty graduate studies committee and approved bythe senate
graduate studies committee. Students may undertake this degree-program only through specific admission
tothe cohort program. Admission criteria, degree-credential requirements and any other special
conditions for a particular cohort special arrangements program must beapproved in advance bythe
senate graduate studies committee; these may notbebelow the minimum admission and degree-graduate
credential 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:
New Calendar Language
1.3.5a Cohort Special Arrangements
Cohort-based special arrangements programs are designed to meet the educational needs ofspecific
student groups in fulfilling the requirements for a graduate credential (certificate, diploma or master's
degree) where these needs cannot be met within existing programs. Each program will be comprised ofa
curriculum and a set ofprogram requirements recommended by each program'sgraduate program
committee, approved bythe faculty graduate studies committee and bythe senate graduate studies
committee. Students may undertake this program only through specific admission to the cohort program.
Admission criteria, credential requirements and any other special conditions for a particular cohort special
arrangements program must beapproved inadvance bythesenate graduate studies committee; these may
not be below the minimum admission and graduate credential requirements of regular graduate programs.
In some instances, tuition fees may differ from the regular graduate fee schedule published in the
Calendar, and willbe announced separately.
S.97
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT, ACADEMIC
MEMORANDUM
To:
Senate
From:
D. Gagan, Chair /^W
/fyty^^
Senate Committee on Academic Planning
Subject:
Special Arrangements - Cohort Option
(SGSC Meeting June 16, 1997)
(SCAP Reference: SCAP 97-36)
Date:
September 16, 1997
Action undertaken by the Senate Graduate Studies Committee and the Senate
Committee on Academic Planning gives rise to the following motion:
Motion:
"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of
Governors as set forth in S.97 -68
, a cohort option for the
Masters Degree under Special Arrangements."
y
97 - 36
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
MEMORANDUM
To: Alison Watt, Director
Secretariat Services
Subject: Cohort;;Option - Special
Arrangements
From: Phyllis Wrenn
Acting Dean, Graduate
Studies
Date:
August 14, 1997
The Senate Graduate Studies Committee, at their Meeting on June 16, 1997,
approved the following motion and it is now being forwarded to the Senate
Committee on Academic Planning for approval:
MOTION:
"That the Senate Graduate Studies Committee approves and
recommends to the Senate Committee on Academic Planning
the proposal described in the document dated March 25, 1997,
entitled "A Cohort Option for the Masters degree Under Special
Arrangements" with the following amendment:
Page 4, Item V. Approval Process
Add after sentence ending "...-..academic merits."
The Committee may decide that recommendations for admission
be subject to review by the Senate Graduate Studies Committee
or a sub-committee thereof."
m
ml
encl.
^uL,
\\.
Un*-
Phyllis Wrenn
Acting Dean, Graduate Studies
GS.97.10
SIMON FRASER
UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF GRADUATE STUDIES
Memorandum
TO:
Senate Graduate Studies Committee
FROM: Bruce P. Clayman
Dean of Graduate Studies
SUBJTECT: Cohort Option - Special Arrangements DATE: March 25, 1997
o
Ienclose aproposal for an expansion ofSpecial Arrangements. As you are aware, at present in
dividual students may submit proposals ofindividual programs of study for consideration by my
office and, ultimately, this committee.
Ihave assisted in the development ofthe attached proposal from Dean ofArts Evan Alderson to
expand the definition and applicability ofthis approach. As you will see, it provides an avenue for
innovation while retaining appropriate safeguards on university resources and academic standards.
I support this proposal and am placing it on the agenda ofthe next meeting ofthe Senate Gradu
ate Studies Committee with the following proposed motion:
lThe Senate Graduate Studies Committee approves and recommends to the Senate
Committee on Academic Planning the proposal described in the document dated March
C"\
25, 1997, entitled "A Cohort Option for the Masters Degree Under Special Arrange-
^''
ments."
Please consult members ofyour Graduate Program Committee and your Department Chair in
preparation for discussion ofthis matter.
c. M. McGinn (forimmediate distribution)
P.M. Wrenn
Faculty Deans
D. Gagan
MMR2JSGS.DOC 25-Mm-97
A COHORT OPTION
for the
MASTERS DEGREE UNDER SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS
This is a proposal that Graduate Admission under Special
Arrangements be amended to provide for a cohort option for the
Masters degree.
I. BACKGROUND
Graduate study under Special Arrangements is defined as work
toward a degree that falls "outside or between existing-programs" • -
"but which has a "well-developed plan of studies in an area which can
be shown to have internal coherence and academic merit and in
which the University has appropriate expertise and interests among
its faculty members." (Graduate Regulation 1.3.4)
Until this time, this mode of study has been open only to individual
students, but it is becoming clear that the flexibility to create a
program focused on a specific interdisciplinary goal need not be
limited to individual students. The opportunity to apply the Special
Arrangements designation to groups of students would be very
useful. It would enable new and innovative programs to be offered
to specific groups of students (as with the individual program), it
would permit the prototyping of programs which might eventually
be regularly established under normal procedures, and it would give
the university the opportunity to respond quickly and responsibly to
new areas of need without creating cumbersome infrastructures that
then must be maintained.
As with the individual Special Arrangements, the cohort option
would exist only for the life of the cohort Special Arrangement and
resources would have to be assured only for the duration of the
particular program. Once the cohort had completed its work, the
program would cease to exist. Any subsequent cohort program in
the same area would require its own separate approval. Because the
approval for Special Arrangements rests with the Senate Graduate
Studies Committee, the review process can be done in a timely way.
Approval will be given only if the committee is confident that the
proposed program has academic merit and that adequate resources
are available. The Dean of Graduate Studies will be responsible for
reviewing the program budget and insuring that all necessary
financial and other resource commitments are in place and are in
conformity with University policies. If the proposed tuition fees
differ from the normal university fee schedule, Board of Governors'
approval will also be required.
II. STEERING COMMITTEE
The Academic Steering Committee will be composed of at least four
SFU faculty members drawn from the departments relevant to the
course of studies, including at least one faculty member from each
constituent discipline. The members of the committee will create
and present the proposal for the program, administer the individual
program, and provide for instruction and supervision. It will be
their responsibility to construct the curriculum for the program as
well as to insure that it is adequately delivered. They are also
responsible for recommending admissions and reviewing students'
progress. The Steering Committee will function as the cohort's
Graduate Program Committee as set out in Graduate General
Regulation 1.2.
HI. PROPOSED CALENDAR ENTRY
1.3.4.a Cohort Special Arrangements
(to follow current 1.3.4,
attached)
These highly structured cohort-based programs are designed to meet
the educational needs of
specific student groups in fulfilling the
requirements for a Masters degree, where these needs cannot be met
within existing programs. Each program will integrate studies from
across two or more disciplines and will involve a curriculum and
requirements recommended by each program'sAcademic Steering
Committee and approved by the Senate Graduate Studies Committee.
Students may undertake this degree program only through specific
admission to the cohort program. The admission criteria, degree
requirements and any other special conditions for an individual
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 for these
programs may differ from the regular graduate fee schedule
published in the University Calendar, and will be announced
separately.
IV. FORMAT FOR PROPOSALS
Any proposal for a Cohort Special Arrangements Program will
include:
1. A statement of the field of study and its core areas to be
covered by the proposed arrangements and the rationale for the
program. This statement will indicate the academic merit and
coherence of the program; the expertise necessary to mount the
program and evidence that such expertise is present and available
within the SFU faculty and that the program cannot be pursued
within existing SFU graduate Programs.
• - -
"
2. The names and curricula vitae of all members of the Steering
Committee. For each member, a brief statement of research interests
and their relevance to the proposed program must be provided. Each
member should indicate willingness to participate and each relevant
Department Chair should provide explicit assurances that the
required teaching and other resources will be made available, in
accordance with point #5, below.
3. The criteria for admission into the program, including
provision for and scheduling of any qualifying work that may be
required of some students.
4. The minimum academic requirements for the degree, e.g.
courses, examinations, field work and/or thesis. To the maximum
extent possible, the academic requirements should resemble those of
graduate programs in relevant areas and should include where
possible regular SFU graduate courses.
5. A timetable for the completion of the requirements. This
statement should include provision for students
who may be unable
to complete the requirements in a timely fashion for unexpected
reasons.
6. A statement as to what University facilities will be needed
with approvals for their use by the appropriate authorities.
7. A budget for the program which specifies any additional
direct costs and details the revenue sources through which these will
be met, including any unusual fee structure. The budget will be
reviewed by the Dean of Graduate Studies before the program is
considered by the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, in order to
assure that all necessary commitments are in place. The adequacy of
library resources must be confirmed by the University Librarian.
V. APPROVAL PROCESS
If the Dean of Graduate Studies is satisfied with the financial
arrangements for the program, the Senate Graduate Studies Committee
will consider the program on its academic merits.
The Committee may
decide that recommendations for admission be subject to review by the
Senate Graduate Studies Committee or a sub-committee thereof.
Approved programs will be forwarded to the Senate Committee on
Academic Planning for information.
Programs which involve
international activities will be forwarded to the Senate Committee on
International Activities for relevant approvals.
Any exceptional fee
structure will be forwarded to the Board of Governors for approval.
Following all required approvals, the program may be advertised and
implemented.
VH. FINAL REPORT
At the conclusion of the cohort special arrangements program the
Steering Committee will submit a final report to the Senate Graduate
Studies Committee. In addition to detailing the outcome of the
program for individual students, the Committee will assess the
success of the program and advise on its suitability for repetition
with a new group of students. This report will be forwarded to the
Senate Committee on Academic Planning for information.
March 25,1997
Full Special Arrangements Calendar entry:
1.3.4.
Admission Under
Special
Arrangements.
Exceptionally able applicants, who wish to work (or aMasters or Doctoral
degree outside orbetween existing programs atSimon Fraser University,
may apply to work under Special Arrangements. Astudent applying lor
Special Arrangements must have awell-developed plan ol studies man
area which canbeshown tohave Internal coherence and academic ment.
.
and in which the University has appropriate expertise and interests among •
its faculty members."•'
Graduate students applying orworking under Special Arrangements are
required toconform to Senate regulations for graduate students. However,
there areadditional regulations which concern only students epptying or
working under Special Arrangements. Enquiries aboul these regulations •
should bedirected tothe Dean ofGraduate Studies by January 1stofeach
yearfor admission totheFall semester.
Students working under Special;Arrangements may be required to take a
selection ofcourses from existing programs. Other courses open toSpecial
Arrangements students are:•
•'•
\"'~
* "
_ SAR
89S-3 Special Topics to be selected by the Student and the
Supervisory Committee,
SAR
898-6 Special Topics tobe selected bythe Student andthe
Supervisory Committee. •
SAR
897-5 Special Topics tobeselected by the Student and the
Supervisory Committee. •
Special Arrangements Masters and Doctoral thesis work are assigned the
following numbers:
:.-.•••
SAR:--898-Masters Thesis
. '
SAR.-- 899 PhD Thesis
1.3.4.a Cohort Special Arrangements
These highly structured cohort-based programs are designed to meet
the educational needs of specific student groups in fulfilling the
requirements for a Masters degree, where these needs cannot be met
within existing programs. Each program will integrate studies from
across two or more disciplines and will involve a curriculum and
requirements recommended by each program's Academic Steering
Committee
and approved by the Senate Graduate Studies Committee.
Students may undertake this degree program only through specific
admission to the cohort program. The admission criteria, degree
requirements and any other special conditions for an individual
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.
Back to top
