Graduate Studies Glossary of Terms
Course-Fee-Based Graduate Students: Only applies to students in select Commerce Masters programs (e.g. MBA, MMCCU), all other students are Program-Fee-Based students, see definition below. Tuition fees are based on a cost-per-course basis. Students who have completed all course work, but still enrolled in their programs to complete their thesis or master research project (MRP) should register in the appropriate Thesis Continuation course for their program.
Extensions to Graduate Programs: If a graduate student has been unable to complete their graduate program within the maximum allowable time-to-completion for their program due to circumstances beyond their control, they normally may apply for an extension to their program for up to one year. Please note that this does not apply to some "lock-step" programs such as the EMBA and Master of Finance.
FGSR9000: A "pseudo-course" in which Program-Fee-Based Graduate Students should register when they have completed all their course work, but are still completing their thesis research. There is no FGSR9000 course per se (i.e. no class to attend or credit to receive). Registering in FGSR9000 simply indicates to the computerized registration system that you are still an enrolled graduate student, but only involved in thesis research in your program.
Financial Services: The money people. Located off the foyer of McNally Main, Financial Services oversees the assigning and collection of tuition and student fees. Students who have questions about their fees are advised to first contact the Graduate Studies Officer.
Graduate Program Coordinator: Each of our graduate programs has a Graduate Program Coordinator. Each of these Coordinators is the Chair of the respective Graduate Program Committee. The Graduate Program Coordinators are very important contacts for all graduate students and the main liaison between the graduate program and the FGSR. In case of questions about your program, the Graduate Program Coordinator should be the first contact.
Graduate Studies Officer: Housed within the Offices of the FGSR, the Graduate Studies Officer, Heather Taylor and Leah Ray (Atrium 210), are the coordinators for the application process for all graduate programs and is instrumental in working with Financial Services in setting up the accounts from which students are paid their scholarships/stipends.
Leave of Absences: Students who, due to exceptional personal circumstances, are prevented from actively pursuing their course of study and research within the normal period of their Graduate Program may apply for a Leave of Absence during the course of their absence. At the end of the period of approved Leave of Absence the student must reactivate their program by completing the application form for "Visiting, Upgrading and Reactivation Students" available on the FGSR web site.
Program-Fee-Based Graduate Students: Tuition fees are based on the entire program (i.e. NOT on a per-course basis) and are charged at the start of each semester during a student's Residency Period. Students still enrolled their programs and completing their thesis, but have completed all of their course requirements, must register in FGSR9000 to indicate to the computerized registration system that they are still enrolled as graduate students, but only involved in thesis research in their program.
Reactivation of a Graduate Program: Any student who does not register in for a semester for any reason (e.g. withdrew for program; was granted a Leave of Absence), must apply for a reactivation of their graduate program by filling out a "Visiting, Upgrading and Reactivation Students" form available on the FGSR web site and submitting it FGSR prior to attempting to re-register.
Registrar: The transcript people. If graduate students have any questions associated with what is on their transcripts (i.e. the student's academic record), they should contact the Registrar, located at McNally Main 134.
Residency Period: The minimum allowable time-to-completion of a graduate program and is normally coincident with the minimum period to complete all required course work in a graduate program. Residency periods vary with program and are identified in the Academic Calendar for each Program.
Supervisor: For thesis-based programs, graduate students will be assigned a Supervisor of their thesis research. Depending upon the program, the Supervisor may be assigned at the time of acceptance into the program, or within a specified period once the student has commenced her/his Program.
Supervisory Committee: For thesis-based programs, and depending upon the program, a Supervisory Committee normally consists of one to three other faculty members, aside from the Supervisor, who aids in the supervision and ultimately, the examination of the thesis research.
Time-to-Completion: The normal time allowed for completion of a graduate program. This period includes the Residency Period, plus time allowed for the completion of the thesis. Time-to-completion varies with program and is identified in the Academic Calendar for each Program.