Graduate Applications: Fees and Format
SGS #010, 2008-2009
To: Graduate Chairs, Directors, Coordinators, Administrators
CC: Cheryl Misak, Vice-President and Provost
Sally Garner, Executive Director, Planning & Budget
Council of Graduate Deans
From: Susan Pfeiffer, Dean of Graduate Studies and
Vice-Provost, Graduate Education
Date: June 18, 2009
Re: Graduate Applications: Fees and Format
As of this writing, we have received over 23,000 graduate applications for the 2009-10 academic year. The receipt and adjudication of these applications are significant annual activities in your units. In keeping with the costs associated with the adjudication of the applications, we have received permission to increase the application fee from $100 to $110. The School of Graduate Studies will reduce the amount that it retains from each fee, from $60 to $50 of each fee. This represents a substantial budget cut to SGS. The remainder of the funds generated will be distributed by the Office of Planning & Budget to the Faculties, proportional to the number of applications generated. The Faculties will have discretion over the use of these funds.
Also starting next year, we will be allowing all applicants to submit a scan of their unofficial academic transcripts with their application. The official transcript must follow, subsequent to an offer of acceptance that includes the condition of official transcript receipt and verification prior to registration. Applicants who do not receive offers will not incur the cost of requesting official transcripts. This new feature was tested during the current year, and was very well received by the participating units. At least for some applicants, this new feature will more than offset the increase in the application fee.
The scan of the applicant’s academic records will make a higher proportion of the applications completely electronic. This, in turn, will reduce the staff time that is annually directed toward preparation of the applications for adjudication. This initiative will not only reduce staff time but will also improve our response time to applicants, since applications will be complete at the time of submission and can be assessed more quickly, resulting in earlier offers to applicants. We will continue to support the needs of units that need to assess components of the application that cannot be submitted electronically, such as extensive writing samples and portfolios.
The module in the application process for letters of recommendation is also being improved over the summer, with the creation of referee accounts with complete lists of references requested, clearer submission mechanisms and document review. These various changes and improvements will enhance the crucial processes of application and adjudication at U of T.