RESPONSIBILITIES OF GRADUATE STUDENTS TO THE UNIVERSITY
Just as the University has responsibilities to graduate students, they have responsibilities to the University. The student’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to: registering annually until graduation, withdrawal, or withdrawal in good standing due to time limit; paying fees as required; complying with the regulations of the School of Graduate Studies as set out in the School of Graduate Studies Calendar. Where applicable, students are responsible for complying with such conditions as may be laid out in an accepted letter of offer. Students are also responsible for complying with the regulations of the Ontario Council of Graduate Studies, and McMaster University with respect to full-time and part-time status and , in particular, for informing the School of Graduate Studies of any change in employment status. Students are further responsible for informing the School of Graduate Studies, which acts as the official keeper of student records, of any change in personal information such as address, name, telephone number, etc. Students are also responsible for reporting through the department any change in student status, course registration, or withdrawal. With regard to research and study, students are responsible for maintaining contact and meeting regularly with the faculty advisor, thesis/project supervisor or supervisory committee, for observing departmental guidelines, and for meeting the deadlines of the department and the School of Graduate Studies.
If there is a problem with supervision, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the Department Chair.
Students who undertake to write Master or Doctoral theses assume responsibility both for creating drafts of the thesis and for responding to direction from the Supervisory Committee. The student shall have the responsibility to write and ultimately to defend the thesis and the Supervisory Committee has the responsibility to offer guidance in the course of the endeavor, and to recommend or not recommend the completed thesis for defense.
In order to receive a degree, the student must fulfill all departmental or program requirements and all University regulations, including those of the School of Graduate Studies. Students who have outstanding financial accounts at the end of the academic year will not receive their academic results, diplomas, or transcripts.
Since registration permits access to libraries and certain other academic facilities, it also implies a commitment on the part of each graduate student to use such facilities in accordance with applicable rules.
Full-time students are obliged to be on campus, except for vacation periods or authorized off-campus status, for all three terms of the university year. Students who absent themselves from campus for more than two weeks during the fall or winter terms or four weeks in the summer term, without permission from the Department and the appropriate Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, will be deemed to have withdrawn voluntarily from graduate study. Students may arrange, through the Department and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, to be “full-time off-campus” for periods of up to a year. In cases of unauthorized absence the student will have to petition for readmission. The appropriate Committee on Graduate Admissions and Study will rule on each request on a case-by-case basis. No guarantee of readmission or of renewal of financial arrangements can be made.
Leaves of Absence
Leaves of absence are normally granted on a term-by-term basis and, whenever possible, should commence at the beginning of a term (i.e., January 1 May 1 or September 1). During the period of a Leave the students cannot expect to be given guidance on the thesis or be entitled to use the University’s facilities. During a Leave of Absence no tuition will be charged, nor will the student be eligible for any scholarship support. The length of time for completing the degree and for eligibility for scholarship support will be extended by the duration of the Leave on the resumption of studies. A student should resume studies at the beginning of a term. Leaves of Absence affecting Teaching Assistantship duties are covered by the Collective Agreement with Local 3906 (Unit 1) of the Canadian Union of Public employees.
Students should be aware that in the event of Leaves of Absence continuation of the same research project and/or supervisor cannot be guaranteed.
Reasons for Leaves of Absence
A Leave of Absence for up to one year is permitted for reasons of illness or for reasons related to family responsibilities such as pregnancy and child rearing.
Students who have successfully completed at least one full year in a graduate program may apply for a Leave of Absence for up to one year for other personal circumstances, including severe financial problems, provided that the student’s supervisor and the department support the request.
