Committees
Standing committees of Graduate Education Council (GEC):
Other committees:
Standing Committees of Graduate Education Council (GEC)
Admissions and Programs Committee (A&P)
The Admissions and Programs Committee [PDF] is delegated the power from GEC to waive, or modify in individual students cases, the application of an SGS regulation concerning admissions, registration, or enrolment. The Committee also considers requests from graduate units on exemption from cases of non-standard admissions, leaves of absence, course extension deadlines, grading, program completion time limits, and posthumous degrees. The Committee is chaired by the Vice-Dean, Students.
A&P Committee Membership and Meeting Schedule TBA
Contacts
Professor Berry Smith
Vice-Dean, Students and Chair of the Committee
Phone: 416-978-5986
Fax: 416-971-2327
E-mail: sgs.vdeanstudents@utoronto.ca
Ms. Vesna Makarovska
Student Services Officer, Division II and
Secretary to the Admissions and Programs Committee
63 St. George Street
Toronto, ON M5S 2Z9
Tel: 416-946-3381
E-mail: v.makarovska@utoronto.ca
Graduate Academic Appeals Board (GAAB)
General Description
The Graduate Academic Appeals Board [PDF] is delegated from Graduate Education Council (GEC) the power to deal with and decide upon all academic appeals by students in connection with the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). Students registered in the SGS may appeal a ruling on an academic matter by a graduate department, centre, or institute of the School, or by a committee of the School, or by an officer of the School, which is to the detriment of the student. Academic appeals are heard only from a person currently registered in the School of Graduate Studies or who was registered at the time the ruling or action was taken. The decision of the GAAB Board may be appealed to the Academic Appeals Committee of the Governing Council only by the student.
Board Membership 2011-12 [PDF]
Initiating an Appeal to the Graduate Academic Appeals Board
Prior to making an appeal to Graduate Academic Appeals Board (GAAB), students must first attempt to resolve the matter with the instructor or other person whose ruling is in question. Should the matter not be resolved with the instructor, and should the student wish to pursue the matter, the student must discuss the matter with the graduate coordinator or associate chair of the graduate unit. Should such discussions fail to resolve the matter, the student may then make a formal appeal in writing to the Graduate Department Academic Appeals Committee (GDAAC) [PDF]. The student must complete a Notice of Appeal to the GDAAC [PDF]. Please refer to the appeals general regulations in the SGS Calendar for further information.
To initiate an appeal to GAAB, a student must file a Notice of Appeal [PDF] with the Secretary of the Board. Once this application for an appeal is approved, it is sent to the graduate unit, SGS officer, or any person concerned for a response which, when received by the Secretary of the Board, is copied to the student appealing (known as the appellant).
When all the evidence from both sides of the dispute is on hand and has been seen by all parties concerned, the Secretary arranges a hearing before the Board. An SGS representative, or any person adversely commented on in the applicant's written material (referred to for brevity as an "entitled person") may submit a written statement to the Board, may attend any hearing, and may be represented by counsel. Appellants are advised to consult the student legal assistance centre on campus (Downtown Legal Services) when preparing a statement of appeal since the hearing takes its cue from that statement and the statement is the basis of the case. All parties may consult the Secretary of the Board as to the procedures of the Board and the preparation of documents for the Board.
Hearing Procedures
The purpose of a hearing is to assist the Board in forming an understanding of the circumstances relevant to the application. A hearing is not an adversarial contest between the student and the department, or the student's supervisor, or thesis appraisers or committee, etc. Here is the usual procedure at a hearing:
- The applicant (or his/her counsel) may make a statement elaborating orally the applicant's written material.
- The applicant may be questioned by any member of the Board or by or on behalf of an entitled person. The applicant may call and examine witnesses in support of the application and any such witness may be questioned by any member of the Board and by or on behalf of an entitled person.
- An entitled person (or his/her counsel) may make a statement elaborating orally on the written material the entitled person has submitted or in respect of which he/she appears.
- An entitled person may then be questioned by any member of the Board or by or on behalf of the applicant. An entitled person may call and examine witnesses and any such witness may be questioned by any member of the Board or by or on behalf of the applicant.
- A final statement will be allowed by or on behalf of the applicant.
- The hearing will then terminate and the Board will go into closed session to discuss the disposition of the application.
- The decision of the Board will be communicated in writing to the applicant and the entitled person.
Contacts
Mr. Anil Purandaré
Governance and Policy Coordinator and
Secretary to the Graduate Academic Appeals Board (GAAB)
65 St. George Street
Toronto, Ontario M5S 2Z9
Tel: 416-946-3427
Fax: 416-978-1649
E-mail: anil.purandare@sgs.utoronto.ca
Other Committees
The following are not formal standing committees of Graduate Education Council (GEC) but have relevance to its work and draw their members from the GEC membership.
Committee on Program Matters (CPM)
The Committee on Program Matters reviews, discusses, and recommends on matters of University-wide graduate policy prior their consideration by the Graduate Education Council. The Committee may discuss and/or recommend new initiatives and improvements to current practice in graduate education at the University of Toronto.
The Committee considers matters including, but not limited to: admission and program regulations, policies and procedures; new programs; program performance indicators; final oral examinations; and matters referred from the Committee on Student Matters. While the Committee on Program Matters does not play a formal governance role, it performs an important function in policy development and in other initiatives.
CPM Membership
- (Chair) the SGS Vice-Dean, Programs
- six graduate student members from among the elected graduate student members of the Graduate Education Council; each of the twelve elected student members of the Graduate Education Council shall serve on either the CPM or the Committee on Student Matters for a total of six members on each committee
- one Graduate Coordinator each, from one quarter of the total number of graduate departments, centres or institutes with proportional representation from each SGS Division (Humanities, Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Life Sciences)
- the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies
- secretary
- the SGS Director of Quality Assessment and Governance, or designate
- the SGS Director of Student Services, or designate
- the SGS Director of SGS Information Systems, or designate
Meeting Schedule 2011-12 [PDF]
Committee Membership 2011-12 TBA
Contacts
Professor Elizabeth M. Smyth
Vice-Dean, Programs and Chair of the Committee on Program Matters
Phone: 416-978-5986
Fax: 416-971-2327
E-mail: sgs.vdeanprograms@utoronto.ca
For information regarding agendas and notes, contact:
Ms. Angelique Plata
Executive Assistant to the Vice-Deans and
Secretary to the Committee on Program Matters
Phone: 416-978-2384
Fax: 416-971-2327
E-mail: sgs.vdeanea@utoronto.ca
Committee on Student Matters (CSM)
The role of the Committee on Student Matters is to review, discuss, and recommend on matters of University-wide graduate regulation or policy prior their consideration by the Graduate Education Council. The Committee may discuss and/or recommend new initiatives and improvements to current practice in graduate education and the graduate student experience at the University of Toronto.
The Committee considers matters including, but not limited to, the following areas: fellowships and bursaries; recruitment, diversity and community; student progress to degree; student experience; and matters referred from the Committee on Program Matters. While the Standing Committee on Student Matters does not play a formal governance role, it performs an important function in policy development and in other initiatives.
CSM Membership
- (Chair) the SGS Vice-Dean, Students
- six graduate student members from among the elected graduate student members of the Graduate Education Council; each of the twelve elected student members of the Graduate Education Council shall serve on either the CPM or the Committee on Student Matters for a total of six members on each committee
- one Graduate Coordinator each from one quarter of the total number of graduate departments, centres or institutes with proportional representation from each SGS Division (Humanities, Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Life Sciences)
- the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies
- secretary
- the SGS Director of Quality Assessment and Governance, or designate
- the SGS Director of Student Services, or designate
- the SGS Director of Information Systems, or designate
Meeting Schedule 2011-12 TBA
Committee Membership 2011-12 TBA
Contacts
Professor Berry Smith
Vice-Dean, Students and Chair of the Committee on Student Matters
Phone: 416-978-5986
Fax: 416-971-2327
E-mail: sgs.vdeanstudents@utoronto.ca
For information regarding agendas and notes, contact:
Ms. Angelique Plata
Executive Assistant to the Vice-Deans and
Secretary to the Committee on Student Matters
Phone: 416-978-2384
Fax: 416-971-2327
E-mail: sgs.vdeanea@utoronto.ca
Awards Committee
The SGS Awards Committee is composed of Graduate Coordinators who currently are not serving on the Committee on Program Matters or the Committee on Student Matters. Members of the Awards Committee serve, as appropriate, on subcommittees assessing applications for awards from the major granting councils; smaller subcommittees are also drawn from the Awards Committee for adjudication of internal awards. The Awards Committee may also provide advice on procedures and policies concerning graduate awards.
Procedures for Award Adjudications [PDF]
Membership TBA
Contacts
Professor Berry Smith
Vice-Dean, Students and Chair of the Awards Committee
Phone: 416-978-5986
Fax: 416-971-2327
E-mail: sgs.vdeanstudents@utoronto.ca
Ms. Laura Stathopoulos
Senior Awards Officer
Secretary to the Awards Committee
63 St. George Street
Toronto, ON M5S 2Z9
Phone: 416 978-8576
E-mail: laura.stathopoulos@utoronto.ca