External Review of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR)
Since fall of 2022, the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR) has been engaged in an external review of its structure, policies, processes, and role at the university. The review, the first in 15 years, stemmed from community input and the need to engage in a more fulsome examination of the role of graduate administration in our restructured university. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows are at the heart of this university, and our ability to better attract and support outstanding grad students and PDFs will be critical to the future success of the U of A.
Cheryl Misak (University of Toronto), Fahim Quadir (Queen’s University) and Robin Yates (University of Calgary) were invited to U of A to conduct an external review, meet with stakeholders and examine FGSR's current structure and function. In addition to interviewing stakeholders across the institution, the reviewers also considered the University of Alberta’s history and background, as well as the recent changes resulting from SET and the college model.
Based on this work, the reviewers have provided the U of A with recommendations for refining FGSR that will help the U of A to become a leader in the graduate student experience and postdoctoral research support.
READ THE EXTERNAL REVIEW
Key Changes
The external review reaffirms the importance of a strong, central FGSR responsible for university-wide policies and initiatives. The review also recommends that FGSR needs to undergo continuous improvements aimed at streamlining its processes and improving services for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows while effectively partnering with and supporting faculty and staff.
Some of the report’s key recommendations include:
- Developing a comprehensive plan to define the roles and responsibilities of Colleges, Faculties and FGSR
- Changing the name from FGSR to the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies
- Undertaking a formal review of all FGSR’s policies, procedures and communication practices
- Forming a task force dedicated to developing a shared agenda on funding
- Establishing a Strategic Graduate Enrolment Management Group
- Positioning FGSR to lead a formal collaborative group focused on graduate program creation and development
What's Next
Parts of this transformation are already underway. Some of the immediate areas of focus include:
- Identifying professional development activities for postdoctoral fellows, including a formal supervisory development training program
- Accelerating the transition to the SLATE student records management system, a new admissions system for graduate admissions, which will enable other process improvements in grad administration
- Working on a system for admitting exceptional applicants faster
- Revising and clearly defining acceptable thesis formats
Progress from these changes will continually be shared as this transformation moves forward.
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research Unit Review Update
September 2023
| What’s Done | What’s Next | |
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| Name Change |
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| Administrative Process: Admissions |
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| Postdoctoral Office |
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| Minimum Funding Guarantee |
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| Governance / Policy Review |
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| Graduate Examinations |
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| Enrolment Management |
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| Program Development |
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| Communications |
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| Administrative Process: Program Progression |
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| Administrative Process: Awards & Scholarship |
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| Systems Optimization |
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| Digital Transformation |
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| Partnership Engagement |
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| EDI & Indigenization |
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| Thesis Format |
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| Professional Development |
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