SGPS Membership

In accordance with  The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies’ Composition and Rules of Procedure, only members of the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) may be involved in graduate student education, supervision and formal teaching. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee that membership will be granted. The Graduate Chair for each program nominates individuals for Membership in SGPS. The categories of SGPS membership are Teaching/Advisory, Associate, Master’s and Doctoral.

Master's and Doctoral memberships are permanent in the home department. Master’s or Doctoral memberships held outside of the home department are not permanent and may be subject to audit and inactivation at each Institutional Quality Assurance Process review or at other timelines specified by the program. Consideration will be given to the potential for conflict of interest or bias in situations that may arise in the context of membership.

Teaching/Advisory Membership (TAM) is temporary up to a maximum of three years, renewable.  

Associate Membership is temporary, up to a maximum of five years, renewable.

Criteria for, and privileges associated with each category are listed below.

Forms

Levels of Membership

  • Teaching/Advisory Membership
  • Associate Membership
  • Master's Membership
  • Doctoral Membership

Nomination Process

  1. Determine the appropriate membership level
  2. Nominee completes Nomination Form and provides it to nominating department
  3. Department Administrator nominates Nominee for membership via Membership Approval Requests System in GradNet
  4. Nomination reviewed by Graduate Chair, Associate Dean (Graduate) and Associate Vice-Provost (SGPS) via GradNet

Resources

  • Procedures for Adjunct Academic Appointments of Faculty at Western (PDF File)

Summary of Privileges by Membership Level

Teaching/Advisory Associate Master's Doctoral
Supervise Doctoral Students No Yes* Yes* Yes
Supervise Master's Students No Yes* Yes Yes
Chair Doctoral Thesis Exam No No Yes Yes
Chair Master's Thesis Exam Yes Yes Yes Yes
Participate as Thesis Examiner Yes Yes Yes Yes
Participate as Supervisory Committee Member Yes Yes Yes Yes
Teach Graduate Course Yes Yes Yes Yes

*Only alongside another Supervisor holding the appropriate Master’s/Doctoral Membership 

Summary of Criteria and Qualifications Required by Membership Level

Teaching/Advisory Associate Master's Doctoral
PhD or Equivalent Yes Yes Yes Yes
Faculty Appointment No Yes Yes Yes
Satisfactory Supervision Record No No No Yes
Nomination by Program Yes Yes Yes Yes

Complete criteria for, privileges and responsibilities associated with each category are listed below:

Teaching/Advisory Membership (TAM)

Criteria and Qualifications

  • Nomination by a Western graduate program offering a Quality Assurance Council approved graduate degree
  • PhD degree or qualification appropriate to the discipline
  • Appropriate expertise and experience commensurate with program activities and responsibilities
  • Elders, Indigenous knowledge keepers and practicing professionals are eligible for SGPS Membership

Privileges May Include

  • Teach graduate courses
  • Serve as member of thesis supervisory committee
  • Participate as thesis examiner
  • Chair master's thesis examinations
  • May be involved in graduate student education (i.e., student advisor, teaching, non-thesis research paper reader) except sole thesis supervision.  

Responsibilities

  • A commitment to adhere to Senate Graduate Academic Policies and SGPS Regulations
  • A commitment and willingness to support graduate student learning with professionalism and integrity

Associate Membership

Criteria and Qualifications

  • Faculty appointment including adjunct, at Western or an Affiliate University College
  • Nomination by a Western or Affiliate University College graduate program offering a Quality Assurance Council approved graduate degree
  • Ph.D. degree or qualification appropriate to the discipline
  • Appropriate expertise & experience commensurate with program activities and responsibilities

Privileges

  • Supervise thesis (with another Supervisor holding appropriate membership (Master’s or Doctoral) in the student’s program)
  • Teach graduate courses
  • Serve as member of thesis supervisory committee
  • Participate as thesis examiner
  • Chair Master's thesis examinations
  • May be involved in graduate student education (i.e., student advisor, teaching, non-thesis research paper reader) except sole thesis supervision

Responsibilities

  • A commitment to adhere to Senate Graduate Academic Policies and SGPS Regulations
  • A commitment and willingness to support graduate student learning with professionalism and integrity

Master's Membership

Criteria and Qualifications

  • Nomination by a Western graduate program offering a Quality Assurance Council approved graduate degree with a Master's thesis
    • An established program of research or performance and, where appropriate, research funds from an external source
  • A record of successful participation in graduate education
  • A Full-time Academic Appointment at Western as Assistant Professor or higher, OR a current Full-time Academic Appointment with a Western Affiliated University College as Assistant Professor of higher with a Western Adjunct Academic Appointment.
  • Nomination by a Western graduate program offering a Quality Assurance Council approved graduate degree
  • Ph.D. degree or equivalent qualification appropriate to the discipline
  • Appropriate scholarly and/or professional record commensurate with program activities and responsibilities

Privileges

  • Supervise Master's theses
  • Supervise Doctoral Theses (with another Supervisor holding Doctoral membership in student’s program)
  • Chair Doctoral/Master's Thesis Examinations
  • May be given access to Graduate Application System
  • Teach graduate courses
  • Serve as member of thesis supervisory committee
  • Participate as thesis examiner
  • Other facets of graduate student education (i.e., student advisor, non-thesis research paper reader)

Responsibilities

  • A commitment to adhere to Senate Graduate Academic Policies and SGPS Regulations
  • A commitment and willingness to support graduate student learning with professionalism and integrity
  • Expected to serve as Chair of Thesis Examination Board at least once a year or as requested by Graduate Program or SGPS

Doctoral Membership

Criteria and Qualifications

  • A Full-time Academic Appointment at Western as Assistant Professor or higher, OR a current Full-time Academic Appointment with a Western Affiliated University College as Assistant Professor of higher with a Western Adjunct Academic Appointment.
  • Nomination by a Western graduate program offering a Quality Assurance Council approved graduate degree
  • Ph.D. degree or equivalent qualification appropriate to the discipline
  • Appropriate scholarly and/or professional record commensurate with program activities and responsibilities
  • Nomination by a Western graduate program offering a Quality Assurance Council approved graduate degree with a Doctoral thesis
  • Satisfactory supervision of at least one Master's candidate.

Privileges

  • Supervise Doctoral/Master's theses
  • Chair Doctoral/Master's Thesis Examinations
  • May be given access to Graduate Application System
  • Teach graduate courses
  • Serve as member of thesis supervisory committee
  • Participate as thesis examiner
  • Other facets of graduate student education (i.e., student advisor, non-thesis research paper reader)

Responsibilities

  • A commitment to adhere to Senate Graduate Academic Policies and SGPS Regulations
  • A commitment and willingness to support graduate student learning with professionalism and integrity
  • Expected to serve as Chair of Thesis Examination Board at least once a year or as requested by Graduate Program or SGPS