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).
- Academic Council Minutes
- By-Laws (as of February 2025)
- Constitution (as of October 2021)
- Submission of Proposed Changes to Academic Council
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 |
|
Assistant Secretary (non-voting) |
Ms. Katrielle Edmond, School of Graduate Studies |
|
Ex Officio Members | |
|---|---|
| Provost and Vice-President (Academic) |
Dr. Jennifer Lokash |
| Vice-President (Research) | Dr. Tana Allen |
| Associate Vice-President (Academic) of Students |
Dr. Christine Arnold (interim) |
|
Associate Vice-President (Academic) and Dean of Graduate Studies |
Dr. Amy M. Warren |
|
Director of Grad. Enrolment Services |
Andrew Kim |
|
Dean of Libraries (University Librarian) |
Dr. Dianne Keeping |
|
University Registrar |
Dr. Echo Pittman (delegate) |
|
ED External Affairs, GSU |
Saravanan Ganesan |
|
Faculty Members from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Humanities & Social Sciences |
Dr. Danine Farquharson Dr. Meghan Burchell 1 (one) vacancy |
| Business Administration |
Dr. John Peters Dr. Peggy Coady Dr. Rachelle Shananhan |
| Education |
Dr. Cecile Badenhorst Dr. Beth Tuinstra Dr. Rhonda Joy |
| Engineering |
Dr. Bing Chen Dr. Xili Duan |
| Human Kinetics & Recreation | Dr. Duane Button |
| Labrador (Arctic & Subarctic Studies) | Chelsee Arbour |
| Fisheries & Marine Instiutte | Charlene Walsh |
| Medicine |
Dr. Ann Dorward Dr. Deepak Kaushik |
| Music |
Dr. Meghan Forsyth |
| Nursing |
Dr. Karen Parsons |
| Pharmacy |
Dr. Noriko Daneshtalab |
| Science |
Dr. Adrian Fiech Dr. Andrew Lang Dr. Asokan Variyath |
| Social Work |
Dr. Paul Issahaku Dr. Sulaimon Giwa |
| Grenfell (SSE) |
Dr. Sean Boyle |
| Grenfell (Arts) |
Dr. Adam Beardsworth |
| Grenfell (Fine Arts) |
Dr. Larry Weyand |
|
Student Members from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025 | |
|---|---|
| ED Academics, GSU | Md. Shaheen Shah |
| ED Campus Life, GSU |
Azmat Ullah |
| ED Communications, GSU |
Oluleye Adewale |
| ED Finance, GSU |
Harshal Pravin Patel |
| Member-at-large |
Afia Fariha |
| Member-at-large |
Matt Drodge |
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
- Approval memorandum with rationale (PDF)
- Request for Approval of Graduate Course (PDF); please make sure all appropriate fields are filled out.*
- Syllabus (PDF)
*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.
Please do not submit attachments in a PDF portfolio (as this may cause documents to be lost during processing).