Faculty of Graduate Studies

Faculty Information

Contact Information

(Return to Top)

Location

Earth Sciences 720

Student Information

Requests for information about graduate programs should be directed to the unit offering the program. The Faculty website contains direct links to units offering graduate programs.

Web page URL

http://www.grad.ucalgary.ca/

Introduction

(Return to Top)

The Faculty of Graduate Studies works with faculty and staff in the teaching units to administer and support 50 graduate programs with an enrollment of over 5000.

Throughout this Calendar, the term "graduate program" refers to the department, Faculty, or appropriate academic unit offering a graduate degree program.

Objectives

(Return to Top)

A major objective of the Faculty is to provide leadership and support for excellence in graduate education and research. An important responsibility is to ensure that graduate degrees granted by the University of Calgary meet high national and international standards. The Faculty works to ensure that the best students are recruited and admitted to the University of Calgary by, for example, setting admission and program standards and through the administration of over $35 million annually in financial awards for graduate study. It also promotes uniform standards of excellence across programs through, for example, establishing degree requirements and approving supervisors and examiners.

Post Degree Continuous Learning - In line with the University of Calgary's Strategic Direction, the Faculty of Graduate Studies encourages and facilitates the development of new Graduate Certificate and Diploma programs, which provide those who wish to continue their advanced education with an opportunity to acquire additional academic credentials in specific areas. These credentials may be used for credit toward a future degree. The graduate certificate and diploma programs will also be valuable to those who have completed a graduate degree but desire or require further credentials or knowledge and skills beyond their degree. The Post Degree Continuous Learning Calendar is web-based and may be found at http://www.ucalgary.ca/pdcl.

Student Affairs

(Return to Top)

Graduate Students' Association

The Graduate Students' Association (GSA) was formed with the aim of promoting and serving the intellectual, cultural and social interests of graduate students of the University and to represent graduate students officially whenever necessary. Membership in the GSA consists of active members, associate members and honorary members. All persons registered as graduate students in the Faculty of Graduate Studies and all students registered in the Faculty of Environmental Design, as well as students registered in Post-Degree Continuous Learning programs, are active members. Active members must pay the annual GSA fee (see General Fees). Spouses of active members and graduate students visiting this campus are automatically associate members. The Graduate Representative Council (GRC) of the GSA may elect persons not eligible for active or associate membership as honorary members. The GRC is the policy making body of the GSA. Each department provides one or more representatives (dependent on department graduate enrollment figures) at the monthly meetings of the GRC. Representatives are normally elected by the graduate students in their respective departments early in the fall term and act as liaisons between the GSA and their departments. The day-to-day affairs of the GSA are managed by an Executive, elected by active GSA members in the spring for a one-year term, assisted by a staff consisting of a general manager, an office administrator and a communications officer. The GSA sends representatives to such bodies as the Board of Governors (one); the Senate (one); the General Faculties Council (two) and its Executive (one); and the Council of the Faculty of Graduate Studies (four). GSA representatives also sit as full voting members on most major committees of the University. Graduate students at the University of Calgary have representation in provincial and national student organizations. In December 1987 the GSA Graduate Student Centre opened in the MacEwan Student Centre. The Centre contains office space, a meeting room, reception area and the Grad Lounge. The Lounge offers a full complement of beverage and food service, a patio, special events, and promotions in a relaxed atmosphere. The GSA also offers Health and Dental Plans for active members, sports leagues, bursaries, an Academic Project Fund, various workshops, a free daytimer, a weekly newsletter distributed electronically, and a monthly newsletter, the Gradvisor (www.ucalgary.ca/GSA/gradviso.htm). The GSA maintains an administrative office in the Graduate Students' Centre (MacEwan Student Centre 350), open weekdays. Telephone (403) 220-5997, visit http://www.fp.ucalgary.ca/GSA/, or drop by the office for information. All graduate students are encouraged to take part in the affairs of the GSA.