Membership in the Faculty of Graduate Studies
The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) is committed to excellence in the supervision of graduate students. Our members demonstrate commitment to scholarship, professional achievement, credentials and artistic achievement.
Supervising graduate students is a privilege and as members of supervisory committees, FGS members play a key role in guiding graduate students to success. Appointments to membership in the FGS are made by its dean.
All members of the FGS must observe the policies and procedures of UVic. Their work may include supervision of graduate students, service on graduate student supervisory committees and teaching graduate courses.
Membership categories
Regular
Regular membership is restricted to tenured and tenure track faculty members appointed at the University of Victoria. Membership will normally be granted for the length of the member’s academic appointment and with all supervisory privileges within their home academic units. Within the Regular membership category, membership privileges may include sole supervision or may be limited to co-supervision.
Associate
Associate membership is restricted to adjunct and limited term faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and *sessional instructors appointed at the University of Victoria who wish to serve on supervisory committees or to supervise graduate students. Membership will normally be granted for the length of the member’s academic appointment to a maximum of 5 years, renewable as appropriate, and with only those privileges that the academic unit recommends and the Dean of Graduate Studies approves. Associate members are normally restricted to co-supervision with a Regular member. Associate members may be granted sole supervision privileges based on the supported recommendation of the nominator, and with the approval of the Dean of FGS.
Regular members who have resigned their position at the University of Victoria (including Emeritus professors) who wish to continue to supervise or co-supervise graduate students must secure and maintain an Adjunct appointment to qualify for Associate membership.
*Sessional instructors who are also active graduate students at UVic are not eligible for FGS membership.
Affiliate
Affiliate membership is intended for appropriately qualified individuals who do not hold academic appointments at the University of Victoria but wish to serve as inside or outside members on supervisory committees. Membership will normally be granted upon the request of the academic unit, either for the duration of study of a particular student or, in the case where the individual may be asked to serve on several student committees, for a maximum of 5 years, renewable as appropriate, and with only those privileges that the unit recommends and the Dean of Graduate Studies approves. Affiliate members may not supervise or co-supervise graduate students.
Regular Members who have resigned their position at the University of Victoria (including Emeritus professors) and do not have Adjunct appointments are eligible for Affiliate membership.
Inside/Outside Status of Membership
Regular and Associate membership is designated with respect to their home academic unit. Regular and Associate members are said to be ‘inside’ members of supervisory committees within their academic unit, and as ‘outside’ members for supervisory committees in academic units in which they do not hold an appointment.
Affiliate members may serve as ‘inside’ or ‘outside’ members of a supervisory committee.
Sole and Co-supervision Privileges
Sole supervision is typically restricted to the home academic unit in which FGS membership is granted. Regular and Associate members who wish to supervise students outside their home academic unit must be nominated for membership through the outside unit.
Becoming a member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies
All members of the Faculty of Graduate Studies must observe the policies and procedures of the University of Victoria that are relevant to the work they carry out under their membership (such as, but not limited to, supervision of graduate students, service on graduate student supervisory committees, and teaching graduate courses).
All members of the Faculty of Graduate Studies who supervise or co-supervise students must hold a current academic appointment with the University of Victoria.
All members must demonstrate (i) expertise, (ii) commitment to, (iii) capacity, and (iii) resources for the supervision of graduate students.
Appointments are based on a nomination from the head of the academic unit.
The nominator will complete and submit a recommendation for membership form (listed below) based on the type of membership:
The nominator is responsible for ensuring that the nominee meets all criteria in sections 1.3 and 2 of the Faculty of Graduate Studies Membership Policy.
On the nomination form the nominator shall indicate only those privileges to be granted and may limit supervision privileges and duration of the membership. Any restriction on nominees for Regular membership shall be justified in writing.
Nominees for Associate membership who want to supervise graduate students are normally restricted to co-supervision with a Regular member as co-supervisor. The head of the academic unit may request sole supervisoin for Associate member and such request must be justified in writing.
The nominator will submit the completed nomination form and all supporting documents listed on the form to fgssec@uvic.ca
All recommendations for membership are approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies or their designate. While such appointments will not unreasonably be withheld, the Dean of Graduate Studies may decline to appoint an individual where there is not sufficient evidence that the nominee meets the criteria for membership commensurate with the requested category of membership, as defined in sections 1.3 and 2. of the Faculty of Graduate Studies Membership Policy.
Affiliate members must accept the terms and conditions of Affiliate membership outlined in the letter of appointment sent from FGS upon approval of their nomination.
Nomination for membership of the head of an academic unit is made by the dean of the nominee’s faculty. This includes cases where the dean is the head of the academic unit.
All Regular members of FGS may attend FGS council meetings and take part in debate.
Only graduate advisors or equivalent, ex officio members with voting rights and appointed/elected student representatives may vote at the FGS council.
Only Regular members of the FGS are eligible for membership on the Graduate Executive Committee. The chair of the Graduate Students’ Society is a member ex officio.
For full details see the Faculty of Graduate Studies Constitution and Bylaws
The decision of the head of an academic unit not to nominate someone for an Affiliate appointment is final. It may not be appealed.
The decision of the head of an Academic unit not to nominate an individual for Regular or Associate Membership, or to not recommend full supervisory privileges, may be appealed. The individual shall submit a written appeal to the Office of The Dean of Graduate Studies. The appeal shall provide justification in relation to relevant criteria in Sections 1 and 2 of this Policy. The Dean will make a final decision based on the written submissions of the individual as well as that of the Academic Unit head, after consulting with the FGS Associate Deans, the head of the Academic Unit, and the individual as necessary. Appeal requests will normally be responded to within twenty working days of receipt in the Dean’s Office.