SGPS Membership
In accord with Senate regulations, only members of the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies may be involved in graduate student education. For each student writing a thesis, the program must provide a Thesis Supervisory Committee, consisting of a Supervisor, who must have membership in the graduate program of the student, and at least one additional SGPS member. The Graduate Chair for each program nominates individuals for Membership in SGPS.
Core Membership
Core Membership requires an Academic Appointment at Western as Assistant Professor or higher, OR a current Western Adjunct Academic Appointment, for example:
- Retired Western Faculty must have a current Adjunct Academic Appointment (Post-retirement) (maximum of 3 years duration)
- Individuals who are from off-campus and/or have no other academic appointment at Western (e.g., faculty at Brescia, Huron, or Kings) must have an Adjunct Academic Appointment (Continuous) (maximum of 5 years duration).
- Individuals at affiliated research institutes (e.g., Robarts, Lawson, and London Regional Cancer Centre) must have an academic appointment at Western.
Forms
Types of Membership
Core Membership
Non-Core Membership
Emeritus
Non-Thesis Membership
Criteria
- Nomination by a Western graduate program offering an OCGS approved graduate degree
- Ph.D. degree or equivalent qualification appropriate to the discipline
- An appropriate scholarly and/or professional record commensurate with program activities and responsibilities
- Appropriate for new faculty with no experience in graduate education
Privileges
- Participation as Thesis Supervisory Committee Member
- Participation as a thesis examiner:
- Chair of a Master’s Thesis Examination
- Program Examiner
- University Examiner
- Co-Supervisor of a Master’s Thesis (with a Master’s Supervisory Member)
- Graduate Course Activities: Includes all teaching activity incorporated under a graduate course number, such as instruction or service as a second reader on research projects (non-thesis), and instructor involvement in practicum courses, internships/co-ops, and field courses
- Participation as a reader on a major research paper and/or Ph.D. comprehensive examination
- Organizing/conducting/evaluating graduate colloquia, presentations, exhibitions, seminars, field trips/excursions, etc.
- Serving as a general or curriculum advisor for a graduate student (general mentoring/program counseling for students re: course selection, career paths)
Master's Supervisory Membership
Criteria
(In addition to the criteria for Non-Thesis Membership)
- Nomination by a Western graduate program offering an OCGS approved graduate degree with a Master's thesis
- An appropriate track record of peer-reviewed research publications or other evidence of peer-reviewed scholarly productivity appropriate to the discipline
- An established program of research or performance and, where appropriate, research funds from an external source
- A record of successful participation in graduate education (such as teaching a graduate course, serving on a supervisory committee, or thesis examination board)
- Appropriate for new faculty with some experience in graduate education
Privileges
(Includes all privileges listed under Non-Thesis Membership)
- Supervisor or Joint Supervisor of a Master’s Thesis
- Co-Supervisor of a Doctoral Thesis (with a Doctoral Supervisory Member)
- Chair of a Doctoral Thesis Examination (cannot be from the graduate program of the student)
Doctoral Supervisory Membership
Criteria
(In addition to the criteria for Master's Supervisory Membership and Non-Thesis Membership)
- Nomination by a Western graduate program offering an OCGS approved graduate degree with a Doctoral Thesis
- Satisfactory supervision of at least one Master's candidate (or other appropriate experience in graduate education and research)
Privileges
(Includes all privileges for Master's Supervisory Membership and Non-Thesis Membership)
- Supervisor or Joint Supervisor of a Doctoral Thesis
Non-Core Membership
Describes individuals providing limited graduate educational activities for limited time periods.
Limited Membership
Criteria
- Appropriate scholarly and/or professional record commensurate with the program activities and the nominee's responsibilities and for the period of graduate activity (up to 3 years)
Privileges
- Participation as Thesis Supervisory Committee Member
- Participation as a thesis examiner:
- Program Examiner
- University Examiner
- Graduate Course Activities: Includes all teaching activity incorporated under a graduate course number, such as instruction or service as a second reader on research projects (non-thesis), and instructor involvement in practicum courses, internships/co-ops, and field courses
- Participation as a reader on a major research paper and/or Ph.D. comprehensive examination
- Organizing/conducting/evaluating graduate colloquia, presentations, exhibitions, seminars, field trips/excursions, etc.
Emeritus Membership
All Professors Emeriti who, at the time of their retirement from the University, held either Doctoral or Master's level membership will be automatically granted Emeritus membership upon request. Emeritus membership allows one to chair Master's or Doctoral thesis examinations. This membership is permanent and does not need to be renewed.
Note: Processors Emereti may also request renewal of their membership at Doctoral, Master's or Non-thesis levels. Regular criteria will apply to such renewals.
Criteria
- To meet the criteria for Emeritus Membership, a professor, at the time of their retirement from the University, must have held either Doctoral or Master’s level membership
Privileges
- Participation as chair of Master’s or Doctoral thesis examinations
Resources
- Procedures for Adjunct Academic Appointments of Faculty at Western [PDF File]
