SGPS Membership
Effective Date: June 20, 2023, superceding previous regulation
Approval Authority: Graduate Education Council; Senate (for information)
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.
1. Categories of Membership
The categories of membership are:- Teaching/Advisory
- Associate
- Master’s
- Doctoral
2. Duration
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.
3. Privileges, Criteria and Qualifications
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, and privileges 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
- Ph.D. 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 second reader) except sole thesis supervision.
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 second reader) except sole thesis supervision
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 Students theses
- Supervise Doctoral Students Theses (with another Supervisor holding Doctoral membership in student’s program)
- Supervise Master's Visiting Graduate Students - Research Only
- Supervise Doctoral Visiting Graduate Students - Research Only (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 second reader)
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 Student's theses
- Supervise Doctoral/Master's Visiting Graduate Students - Research Only
- 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 second reader)
4. Retirement
Upon retirement:
- Faculty members with continuing students and masters or doctoral membership, who hold an adjunct appointment and emeritus status can supervise their continuing students for a maximum of two years while the student(s) complete their degree without changing their membership status of doctoral or masters.
- Faculty members without continuing students will have their current membership converted to TAM membership, which would need to be renewed every three years.
To supervise students for more than two years after retirement, the following must be in place:
- an adjunct appointment, and
- emeritus status, and
- nomination from the program for Associate Membership or higher*, and
- an additional supervisor holding the appropriate membership.
*Two years after retirement, with program nomination, emeritus faculty can only hold Associate Membership.
To be a supervisory committee member, emeritus faculty must have TAM membership or higher. TAM membership does not require an adjunct appointment.
5. Faculty Members Who Leave Western for Reasons Other Than Retirement
Membership status is automatically terminated for faculty members who leave Western. To continue to
supervise continuing or new students, the following must be in place:
- an adjunct appointment
- nomination from the program for Associate membership
- an additional supervisor holding the appropriate membership
