Academic Council

About Academic Council

On December 10, 1974, the first Constitution for the Academic Council of the School of Graduate Studies ("Council", for short) was approved by the Senate and forwarded to the Board of Regents for final approval. This laid the groundwork for the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) to be founded in 1975.

Previously governed by the Senate Committee on Graduate Studies (SCGS), Council now serves as a legislative body that considers all matters relating to graduate studies at Memorial University.

Council ensures standards across all graduate programs by:

  • Considering all policies concerning graduate studies.
  • Approving regulation changes in the University Calendar.
  • Approving all courses and programs of study pertaining to graduate studies.
  • Recommending the award of graduate degrees to Senate.
  • Receiving reports of decisions approved by Council committees.
  • Discussing and making recommendations on any other matters affecting graduate studies.

Where required, the recommendations of Council shall be forwarded to Senate.

Governing Documents

Council's By-Laws and Constitution reflect our membership, meetings, and standing committees. Minutes for each Council meeting are uploaded as they are approved (normally at the next meeting).

Membership of Council

Officers of Council

Chair: Dr. Amy M. Warren (AVP/A and Dean of Graduate Studies)

Vice-Chair: Vacant

Secretary: Dr. Andrew Lang (Department of Biology)

Constituencies

Ex Officio Members

  • Vice-President (Academic)
  • Vice-President (Research)
  • Associate Vice-President (Academic) and Dean of Graduate Studies
  • Associate Dean of Graduate Studies
  • Director, Graduate Enrolment Services, School of Graduate Studies
  • Associate Vice-President (Academic), Students (or delegate)
  • University Librarian
  • University Registrar (or delegate)
  • Executive Director of External Affairs, Graduate Students' Union

Faculty/School Members

  • Three (3) seats each for the constituencies of Faculty of Education, Faculty of Science, Faculty of the Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Faculty of Business Administration.
  • Two (2) seats each for the constituencies of Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Faculty of Medicine, and the School of Social Work.
  • One (1) seat each for the constituencies of School of Nursing, Fisheries and Marine Institute, School of Music, School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, and the School of Pharmacy.
  • One (1) seat each for the Grenfell Campus constituencies of School of Science and the Environment, School of Arts and Social Science, and the School of Fine Arts.
  • One (1) seat for the Labrador Campus constituency of School of Arctic and Subarctic Studies.

Student Members

  • 6 graduate student representatives, as nominated by the Graduate Students' Union.

Standing Committees of Council

Academic Council Executive (ACE)

Authority: s.2 of the By-Laws

Formerly known as the Steering Committee, ACE is the screening committee for Council, and charged with the responsibility for:

  • Ensuring that new rules and regulations are compatible with University regulations
  • Soliciting information and ensuring that resources are available and are documented for new programs
  • Interdisciplinary programs administered by the School of Graduate Studies
  • Waiver of General Regulations
  • Waiver of Degree Regulations
  • Matters referred to it by Council, its Committees, and by the AVP(A) and Dean of Graduate Studies
  • Previewing reports or matters submitted to Council, and preparing documentation for Council debate
  • And such other matters presented to the Committee concerning graduate studies.

Appeals Committee

Authority: s.3 of the By-Laws and General Regulation 4.6.4

The Appeals Committee considers appeals by graduate students against a decision resulting from the application of University regulations.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism (EDI-AR) Committee

Authority: s.4 of the By-Laws

Established by Council on February 21, 2022, the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism Committee represents the diversity of views and lived experiences at Memorial University, and is responsible for advising the AVP(A) and Dean of Graduate Studies using an EDI-AR lens on SGS-related activities.

Investigations Board

Authority: s.5 of the By-Laws and General Regulation 4.12.6

The Investigations Board considers allegations of academic misconduct on behalf of Academic Council. Prior to the Board's creation as a standing committee, SGS investigations were conducted through ad hoc committees appointed specifically for an investigation.

Nominating Committee

Authority: s.1 of the By-Laws

The Nominating Committee is charged with preparing lists of nominees for Secretary to Council, and for membership on the Committees of Council.

 

Submitting Proposals to Council

For information on timelines relating to inclusion in the University Calendar, please review Submission of Proposed Changes to Academic Council.

All proposals for Academic Council should be submitted by the appropriate Faculty/School Council to sgs@mun.ca 2 (two) weeks ahead of the next Academic Council Executive (ACE) meeting; ACE meets every first Tuesday of the month. The proposal should include the following documents:

Calendar Changes

  • Approval memorandum with rationale (PDF)
  • Clean and strikethrough versions of Calendar changes (PDF and Word)
  • Consultations with other units, if required (PDF)

Regular Courses

  • Approval memorandum with rationale (PDF)
  • Clean and strikethrough versions of Calendar changes (PDF and Word)
  • Consultations with other units, if required (PDF)
  • Library report, if required (PDF)
  • Request for Approval of Graduate Course (PDF); please make sure all appropriate fields are filled out.
  • Syllabus (PDF)*

*For a cross-level course (i.e. one offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels), please submit the syllabus for both the undergraduate and graduate levels of the course where possible. This is so Council can confirm graduate students are expected to do more challenging coursework than undergraduate students in the course.

Special Topics Courses

*An available course number must be allocated from the relevant Calendar block for special topics courses. If none exists, you must request a calendar change for a new special topics course block, or to expand the existing one.