Supervision

Supervisory Committee Composition:

  • MAg, MEng, MSc Course-Based:  Supervisor ONLY required. At the oral exam one additional faculty member (can be from AFNS; must be from the University of Alberta) will be added (appointed by the supervisor).
  • MSc Thesis-Based: 2 supervisory committee members (supervisor + one supervisory committee member). The supervisory committee member can be a Retired Professor, Clinical Appointee, Adjunct Professor and/or FSO. If appointing a supervisory committee member who is a Sessional, Research Associate, PDF, or from outside the University of Alberta (other than an Adjunct Professor) the supervisor must submit justification for the appointment plus the academic's CV. Final Exam composition - a minimum of 3 examining committee members (the two supervisory committee members plus one "arms-length" member who can be from AFNS). A minimum of 2 examining committee members must be from the University of Alberta. A committee member who is a Sessional, Research Associate, PDF or from outside the University of Alberta (other than an Adjunct Professor) can participate on supervisory committees but is in addition to the 3 examining committee members required for the final exam.
  • PhD:  A minimum of 3 supervisory committee members (supervisor + two supervisory committee members). The supervisory committee members can be a Professor Emeritus, Clinical Appointee, Adjunct Professor, and/or FSO. If appointing a supervisory committee member who is a Sessional, Research Associate, PDF, or from outside the University of Alberta (other than an Adjunct Professor) the supervisor must submit justification for the appointment plus the academic's CV. Candidacy Exam composition - supervisory committee plus 2 new examining committee members (minimum 5 examining committee members; both new committee members must be "arms-length" and can be from AFNS). A minimum of 3 examining committee members must be from the University of Alberta. Final Exam composition - supervisory committee plus 2 new examining committee members (minimum 5 examining committee members; one of new committee members must be "arms-lenghth" and can be from AFNS; the other is the External Examiner). A minimum of 3 examining committee members must be from the University of Alberta.

NOTE: There cannot be fewer UofA Examiners than non UofA Examiners on candidacy or final exams.

Responsibilities of Supervisor:

  • assist the candidate in the development of academic and research programs;
  • arrange and chair meetings of the Supervisory Committee and to record its assessment of academic and research progress in writing following each meeting with copies to the student, committee members, and the student's file. 
  • arrange the candidate's stipend at a level consistent with Department policy; 
  • provide adequate facilities and funding to support the candidate's research project; 
  • assist and direct the student in the preparation of the thesis.

Responsibilities of Supervisory Committee:

  • offer academic support throughout the program; 
  • develop a program of courses which will prepare the candidate for thesis work and career development; 
  • provide critical comments on the research proposal; 
  • review academic and research progress; 
  • recommend academic promotion (on the basis of the Candidacy examination in the case of provisional PhD candidates); 
  • for PhD programs, recommend whether the thesis is of acceptable standard to be distributed to the examining committee; 
  • ensure that all Departmental and FGSR procedures associated with examination of the candidate's thesis and defense are adhered to.

Committee Meetings:

  • Regular meetings must be held to monitor and record the candidate's progress in course work and research. Minimum of one supervisory committee meeting every 6 months recommended (one meeting per year required) to determine if sufficient progress has been made. A copy of the meeting should be submitted, using the Committee Meeting Form, to the AFNS Graduate Program Secretary. These meetings should include at least the following:
    • Initial meeting, within two months of registration. The purpose of the initial meeting includes a review of the selected research area and approval of courses for the program. At the initial meeting, the student's competency in the English language should be verified by the Supervisory Committee;
    • Candidacy examination for PhD. This examination is normally held within 2 years of the start of a program and at least six months prior to PhD final examination; 
    • Final oral examination.