AUGUST 2012

Our Mission

The mission of our Research-based Masters Programs in Management is to prepare experts in finance, supply chain, and human resource management for a wide range of

careers in service and manufacturing industries, and academics.

Table of Contents

1. PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Office Responsibilities 1

2. PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Advisory Board

2.1 Graduate Student Advisory Council

2

3

3. PhD & Research-based Masters Governance Committees 3

3.1 PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Curriculum Committee 3

3.2 PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Admissions Committee 3

3.3 PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Scholarship and Awards

Committee

4

3.4 Supervisory Status Committee

3.5 Graduate Student Appeals Committee

4

4

4. Masters Programs Field Coordinators 5

5. Program Advisors 5

6. Masters Programs Admissions Process 5

7. Deferral of an Offer of Admission

8. Transfer to the PhD Program

7

8

9. Residency Requirement 8

9.1 Extensions of Coursework 9

9.2 Research-based Masters Programs Course Chart 10

10. Financial Support 11

11. Masters Students Performance Review 11

12. Major Research Papers 12

12.1 Major Research Papers Supervisory Committee 12

12.2 Eligibility for (Major) Research Paper Supervision 12

12.3 (Major) Research Paper Supervisor Responsibilities 13

12.4 Procedures for Submitting and Defending the (M)RP’s 13

12.5 Decisions in the (M)RP Defence

13. Degree Program Time Guidelines/Limits

14. The Intellectual Development and the Educational Experience of the

Student

15. Protecting Your Privacy: Implications for Teaching and Learning

13

14

15

15

Appendix A: Academic Misconduct Investigation and Adjudication

Process

Appendix B: Details of the Major Research Paper (MRP) and the

Research Paper (RP)

Appendix C: Supervisory Status & Teaching Eligibility

for SBE Doctoral and Research-based Masters Programs

18

20

23

1 TOC

GOVERNANCE AND PROGRAM INFORMATION

FOR THE MASTERS PROGRAMS IN MANAGEMENT

Version: August 2012

1. PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Office Responsibilities The PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Office and its director have the ultimate responsibility for the operations and management of the programs and for maintaining its integrity. Some of the specific responsibilities include:

Strategic Planning and Marketing of the Masters Programs - Participate in all the strategic planning activities concerning the programs. - Coordinate the advertisements of the programs with all the areas involved. - Communicate with relevant departments in other universities. - Review and update print and marketing materials. - Management of the Masters Programs portion of the School’s website.

Student Recruitment and Application Process - Correspond with potential students and respond to inquiries. - Receive application materials. - Evaluate applications in conjunction with academic area faculty. - Prepare applicant files and SBE recommendations for final review by the Office of

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. - Manage the ranking of students’ applications for SSHRC, NSERC and OGS.

Student Program Issues1 - Provide administrative program advice and support to students. - Manage the administrative process related to such things as course scheduling,

student funding, and travel expenses. - Review and summarize the academic record (courses and grades earned) for each

student. - Review, approve and submit to the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies the

completed Annual Progress Report and other required documents.

PhD & Masters Programs Committees and Program Structure - Manage the processes of curriculum change, development and review in

conjunction with academic areas.

1 According to the current calendar regulations, academic misconduct issues must be dealt with by the Dean of the

Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

2 TOC

- Manage the setup of the Advisory Board, Curriculum and Admissions Committees. - Manage the setup of Masters Supervision committees.

Course Staffing and Scheduling - Work with academic areas and the Associate Dean of Business: Faculty

Development and Research and the Chair, Department of Economics, to ensure appropriate staffing of Masters courses.

- Work with academic areas to establish course and exam schedules. - Assist with the electronic submission of final marks to the Office of Graduate and

Postdoctoral Studies. - Work with academic areas to establish the procedures for conduct of the

comprehensive exams.

Administration of Research Seminars - Work with academic areas and students to organize the planning and booking of

events for MRP defence or other Masters-related seminars.

2. PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Advisory Board The role of the Advisory Board is to provide guidance and opinion on strategic planning and to develop the program's reputation locally, nationally and globally as a leader in graduate business education. As a visible and influential body in the School of Business & Economics (SBE), the Board acts as a conduit to link resources and opportunities to the Masters programs.

Functions of the Advisory Board: To offer advice, guidance and counsel on issues most significant to achieving the strategic objectives of the program. More specifically, it:

Assists in the development and ongoing review of the program’s long-term objectives.

Endorses, communicates and advocates the faculty’s interests to those entities that directly influence the program’s ability to achieve its objectives.

Participates in helping the program meet its educational objectives through the ability of its members to link into professional networks.

Helps to develop, support and promote locally, nationally and globally the program’s reputation as a leader in post-graduate management education.

Members of the Advisory Board: The Board is comprised of faculty members who have distinguished themselves in their academic careers and who are recognized leaders in their fields. They represent the School of Business and Economics’ strengths and diversity.2

2 The 2012-2013 members of the Advisory Board are: Robert Mathieu & Bruce McConomy (Accounting),

Steffen.Ziss & David Johnson (Economics), Ben Amoako-Adu & Phelim Boyle (Finance), Nicole Coviello & Hugh Munro (Marketing), Greg Irving & Laurie Barclay (OB/HRM), Kevin Hendricks & Ignacio Castillo (ODS), Barry Colbert & John Banks (Policy), and Hamid Noori (Director).

3 TOC

2.1 Graduate Student Advisory Council

The Graduate Student Advisory Council was established in Fall 2011. The role of the Council will be to provide feedback and advice on matters related to the PhD, MSc and MFin programs, and represent graduate students’ interests in these matters.

Membership will be decided by self-nomination, and then by vote if necessary.

Composition: - Four (4) to six (6) PhD students from a variety of fields and cohorts - One (1) MSc/MFin student Chair: Director, PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Secretary: Senior Administrative Assistant, PhD & Research-based Masters Programs

3. PhD & Research-based Masters Governance Committees All faculty members serving on the committees are elected for three years and should have graduate faculty status. The duration of the term for the elected Masters student representative (where applicable) is one year.

3.1 PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Curriculum Committee

Composition: - PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Director - One (1) Business faculty member with Supervisory Status from each of these areas:

Accounting, Finance, Marketing, OB/HRM and ODS - One (1) Economics faculty member with Supervisory Status - One (1) graduate student representative Chair: Director, PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Secretary: Senior Administrative Assistant, PhD & Research-based Masters Programs

Mandate: The mandate of the PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Curriculum Committee is to initiate, review and screen proposals for changes in educational and curriculum policies, and to make recommendations to both Business and Economics Councils on all such policy matters as they arise.

3.2 PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Admissions Committee

Composition: - PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Director - One (1) Business faculty member with Supervisory Status from each of these areas:

Accounting, Finance, Marketing, OB/HRM and ODS - One (1) Economics faculty member with Supervisory Status Chair: Director, PhD & Research-based Masters Programs

4 TOC

Secretary: Senior Administrative Assistant, PhD & Research-based Masters Programs

Mandate: The mandate of the PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Admissions Committee is to set policies and procedures for the admission of students into the PhD & MSc in Management Programs. The Committee will review all applications and provide the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPDS) with recommendations for admission.

3.3 PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Scholarship and Awards Committee

Composition: - TBD3 Chair: To be elected by the Committee Secretary: Senior Administrative Assistant, PhD & Research-based Masters Programs

Mandate: The mandate of this committee is to oversee the fair and equitable distribution of awards across program areas. This committee could serve as an ad-hoc committee and may not need to be formalized.

3.4 Supervisory Status Committee

Composition: - PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Director - Chair of Economics - One (1) Business faculty member with Supervisory Status from each of these areas:

Accounting, Finance, Marketing, OB/HRM, ODS and Policy - Associate Dean – Programs Chair: Associate Dean – Faculty Development & Research Secretary: Senior Administrative Assistant, PhD & Research-based Masters Programs

Mandate: The mandate of the SBE Supervisory Status Committee is to approve self-nominated applications from faculty based on the current eligibility requirements and assess if faculty should receive supervisory status at the Masters level, PhD level, or co-supervise at the PhD level.

3.5 Graduate Student Appeals Committee

The Graduate Student Appeals Committee shall consist of seven members including: the Dean (or designate) of the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (who will chair the committee 3 Currently, the members of the PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Admissions Committee act as de facto

members of this committee; in the future, the PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Scholarship and Awards Committee could be activated as an independent committee.

5 TOC

and be non-voting except in the case of a tied vote); three graduate students (from three different Faculties, elected from the graduate student body); three faculty members (from three different Faculties, all with graduate faculty status, elected by Graduate Faculty Council); the manager of graduate administration (or designate) (non-voting, recorder of minutes). For additional information please refer to the GSAC Guidelines for Student Cases, which can be found in the Graduate Calendar. The Graduate Student Appeals Committee Guidelines are posted on the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies’ (FGPDS) website. The petitions document is posted on the FGPDS website is aimed at assisting students in preparing an appeal for consideration by the Graduate Student Appeals Committee. Not covered under this template are the following:

Students who need permission to register after the last date for late registration will contact Graduate Studies directly (not via this new petitions template).

Students who need to withdraw from the university must complete the Request to Withdraw from Graduate Studies form.

Students who are registered full-time but expect to be absent from campus for more than four weeks in a given term must complete the Request for an Extended Absence form found on the FGPDS website.

4. Masters Programs Field Coordinators

As elected members representing their respective fields, the Field Coordinators serve as liaisons between their academic areas and the PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Director. They provide professional advice to Masters students related to their field and help to assign the Masters students to appropriate faculty for their RA/TA responsibilities during the academic year. It is possible for an Area Coordinator to also assume the role of the Field Coordinator.

5. Program Advisors

Every Masters student must have a program advisor (PA) who will be appointed by the student’s respective field at the time of his/her admission. The PA’s main responsibilities are to assist students in developing and carrying out their study plans – a detailed description of the major part of the student's study – and to monitor their progress and provide feedback.

6. Masters Programs Admissions Process

The Masters program is exclusively for students who clearly demonstrate potential to complete the coursework and the major research paper requirements. The normal criteria for assessing this potential are: (a) a four-year honours undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in science,

6 TOC

engineering, mathematics, business, or economics with a minimum B+ average over the last two (2) years of courses, and (b) a Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) score of at least 650. Graduate Records Examinations (GRE) scores may be accepted in lieu of GMAT scores, with a minimum combined score of at least 350 (on the new scale) across the verbal and quantitative sections4. These scores will be evaluated on a competitive basis. In some cases, a four-year (general) degree is acceptable if the area is very closely related. A very strong candidate with a three-year degree could be admitted under the "alternate admissions" process, and the Graduate Admissions Committee would review and make a recommendation to the Dean of FGPDS. Proficiency in communicating in English is essential for pursuing graduate studies at Laurier. Applicants whose language of instruction during the undergraduate degree was other than English must furnish evidence of English language proficiency, prior to admission. Normally, this evidence is an acceptable score on one of the following: the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency (MELAB), or the Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Assessment. Minimum scores are posted on the FGPDS website. The incoming applications will be forwarded to appropriate field areas for follow up, considerations and ranking. Subsequently, each field area will bring forward all acceptable rank ordered candidates for initial consideration by the PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Admissions Committee soon after the priority deadline (currently is set for January 15 of the academic year). Possession of the minimum requirements for entry does not guarantee admission. The PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Admissions Committee will evaluate and submit the names of the recommended candidates to the FGPDS for offers of consideration.5 Depending on the availability of space, new applications may be considered after the priority deadline. All new applicants are required to use the online application and are required to submit their supplementary materials (including a signed PDF copy of their submission summary form, which applicants print from the online application, two reference letters and forms, a personal information form, statement, writing sample, CV, etc.) directly to the PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Office. Applicants should contact the PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Office (sbephdmasters@wlu.ca) regarding all application inquiries.

4 If GMAT is taken before August 1

st 2011, an equivalent minimum score of 1100 is acceptable.

5 In making a recommendation regarding the admissibility of the candidate, the original documents along with the

admission summary form will be submitted to the FGPDS. Admission status reports will be sent to the PhD Office electronically by the FGPDS.

7 TOC

7. Deferral of an Offer of Admission

Wilfrid Laurier University recognizes that after being newly admitted, some students will encounter unique personal circumstances that represent legitimate reasons for requesting a deferral of admission. The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies grants deferrals at its discretion, only in highly exceptional cases and on a restricted basis. The student’s intended program must support the deferral request. Normally, a deferral of admission will include any automatic scholarships and teaching assistantships. However, the university reserves the right to change the value of these awards or to rescind them. Scholarships that require an application are not eligible for deferral and will require submission of a new application by the appropriate deadline. All conditions must be satisfied before a deferral will be granted. Approval of deferral requests (where the program permits) may be granted for a minimum of one term and up to a maximum of one year (three terms). Students may only defer an offer of admission once. If a student completes further studies at an accredited academic institution during the deferred period, they must supply the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies with updated transcripts. If a student cannot attend in the term specified in the deferral, s/he must submit a new application for admission. The student may request a deferral only after admission has been offered. In such cases, the student must:

1. Accept the offer of admission by the deadline stated. 2. Submit the Request for Deferral form normally at least one month before the first term

of registration in the program. Include a statement outlining the need for a deferral. Keep a completed copy of the form.

3. De-enrol from all courses before the deadline to drop courses without financial penalty. Once the deferral request form is reviewed, the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies will send an official decision by mail. A decision to refuse a request for a deferral may not be appealed.

8. Transfer to the PhD Program from the SBE - MSc Programs Students admitted into the MSc in Management may decide to apply for continuation in the PhD in Management program. The application process is designed to make the potential transfer from the Masters to the PhD program straightforward and efficient. Students wishing to continue into the PhD program need to complete the regular application form during Term 2 of the Masters program. The student's application for the Masters program and their student file will already contain information (e.g., GMAT scores, undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation) to be examined as part of the admissions process into the PhD program. In

8 TOC

addition, grades from Term 1 Masters level courses and any available performance data for Term 2 Masters courses will be examined. Specific area fields may have additional selection criteria from which decisions are made. Thus, for example, the OB/HRM field will examine students' Major Research Paper (MRP) proposal document (to be completed by April 30 of Term 2), and students' performance during the MRP proposal meeting (also to be held by April 30 of Term 2) as part of the PhD admissions process. Students who meet the performance criteria for admittance into the PhD program will be granted conditional acceptance, with the condition being successful completion and defence of the MRP (by the end of Term 3 of the Masters program). Students will be given course credit for any Year 1 PhD courses already taken and successfully completed during the Masters program. In most cases, this will account for most Year 1 PhD courses; students transferring into the PhD program from the Masters program may immediately begin to take Year 2 PhD courses along with completing any courses not yet taken from Year 1 PhD courses. These course waivers, and the resultant ability of transferring students to take Year 2 PhD courses, will have the effect of shortening the time required to complete the PhD program by one full year. In sum, within a four year time window, students will be in a position to complete both the MSc and PhD degrees.

9. Residency Requirement The Masters of Science Programs in Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Organizational Behaviour & Human Resource Management (OB/HRM) are one-year full time programs. The Master of Finance Program, on the other hand, is a twenty-month co-op program which requires its students to complete two four-month co-op placements (in terms two and three or terms two and four). For an extended absence (more than one month), the student must obtain prior consent from his/her Program Advisor and the Director of the PhD & Research-based Masters Programs. Such approval must be recorded on the Petition for Extended Absence form and submitted to the FGPDS with all required departmental signatures.

9 TOC

9.1 Extensions of coursework The Masters program requires students complete nine (6) courses for the MSc OB/HRM program, ten (10) courses for the MSc SCM program, and thirteen (13) courses for the MFin program. Masters students must attain a minimum B- in each course taken in fulfillment of the graduate degree requirements. Any student who obtains an F grade in any course may be required to withdraw from the program. The department may recommend the student be placed on probation with special academic conditions. However, a Masters student who receives an F grade in more than one course (sequentially or concurrently) will be required to withdraw from the program.

Course work is expected to be completed by the date specified by the instructor. When circumstances warrant an exception, the instructor may grant a student an extension to a date that would allow the instructor to submit a grade no later than the last day of the term (see current Graduate Studies Calendar for the exact date). It is incumbent upon the instructor to keep track of such extensions and to decide upon consequences of them, and inform the student should he/she not meet the extended deadline for completion of course work.

Under Calendar regulations, an instructor of a course (with a defined start and end date) may consider a request for an extension to complete required coursework, beyond the end of the term in which the course was taken. When an instructor grants an extension to complete course work beyond the last day of the term, he or she must submit an interim designation of “Incomplete” in lieu of a final grade when grades for the course in question are submitted. Note that the maximum extension available is one academic term. Students must initiate the request and submit the Petition for Extension to Complete Coursework form to their instructor, who must approve the request. The PhD Program Director must also sign the form, and then it must be submitted to FGPDS. Any requests for extension to complete coursework beyond one term must come to the Graduate Student Appeals Committee.

10 TOC

9.2 Research-based Masters Programs

Master of Finance

MSc in Organizational Behaviour/ Human

Resource Management

MSc in Supply Chain Management

Term

1

EC620 – Microeconomics

EC640 – Macroeconomics

EC655 – Econometrics

BU807 - Accounting For Securities

BU700 - Univariate & Multivariate Statistics

(in place of PS600) BU800 – Fundamentals of

Behavioural Research

BU804 – Organizational Behaviour

BU704 – Special Topics in OB/HRM

I

EC801 – Microeconomics BU700 - Univariate & Multivariate Statistics

(in place of PS600)

BU805 – Deterministic Quantitative

Analysis

BU825 - Foundations of Supply

Chain Management

Term

2

BU703 - Financial Economics

BU673 – Investment Management

BU713 – Fixed Income Analysis

BU643 - International Financial

Management

BU663 - Advanced Corporate

Finance

BU814 - Human Resource

Management

BU808 - Organization Theory

BU714 – Special Topics in OB/HRM

II

Choose one from:

Existing MBA/Economics electives or those offered outside SBE

BU715 – Simulation & IT Topics

BU845 – Seminar in Facilities &

Transportation

BU855 – Seminar in Inventory &

Procurement

Choose one from:

Existing MBA/Economics electives or those offered outside SBE

Term

3

BU623 - Financial Derivatives

BU633 – Management of Financial

Institutions

BU723 – Advanced Investment

Management

MS603 – Finance Research Paper

MS604 – Major Research Paper

MS605 – Major Research Paper

Choose one from:

Existing MBA/Economics electives or those offered outside SBE

Masters Program Schedule - As of March 2011

6

NOTE: 1. MFin Students complete five-terms of study covering twelve (12) required courses and a research paper. The duration of the

program is twenty months which includes 2 four-month co-op work terms.

2. All the PhD level courses will be credited accordingly if an MSc student is admitted to the PhD program.

11 TOC

10. Financial Support

All students admitted to the MSc in Management; with concentrations in Supply Chain Management (SCM) or Organizational Behaviour & Human Resource Management (OB/HRM) are eligible for financial support for one year of full-time study. This support is based on the current Minimum Guaranteed Funding (MGF) provided by the FGPDS and constitutes both scholarship and teaching assistantships (TAships) totalling $12,000.7 The Minimum Guaranteed Funding may be “topped up”, on an individual basis, through funding from within the School of Business and Economics. A student's funding eligibility is predicated upon their registration status (full- or part-time), not upon the number of courses they're registered in. So if a student is enrolled “full-time” in a program for which the degree requirements include six seminar courses plus the MRP, and the program typically is completed in one year, they are eligible for the typical funding for that one year. If the student fails to complete the MRP within the three terms and requires further registration into a fourth (or sometimes fifth) term, they would remain registered full-time, but would no longer be eligible for financial support.

11. Masters Students Performance Review

The School of Business & Economics and the FGPDS have set general requirements in order to maintain good academic standing for Masters students. One of those requirements is the need for students to make satisfactory progress towards the completion of their degree. Consequently, at the end of each term, the PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Office, in coordination with the Field Coordinators, will review each student’s progress to date and make recommendations for future progress. The PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Office will ensure that the process is followed properly and that the students are aware of the procedures. Appendix A outlines the academic misconduct investigation and adjudication process.

7 For 2012, the FGPDS will normally grant each student two TAships (which may include supervised teaching,

marking, proctoring, or other teaching-related duties as assigned) for terms 1 and 2 of the academic year at the rate of $4,500 per assistantship (130 hrs each), as well as a scholarship of $3,000. This commitment will change if the candidate receives other income during the year. Note that according to the existing rules, in any given year, students are not expected to work more than 520 hrs. Note that in order to maintain accurate student funding records, the PhD & Masters Programs Office needs to advise the FGPDS, in writing, of the total additional funding (by term) awarded to a student.

12 TOC

12. (Major) Research Papers All Masters of Science students in SCM and OB/HRM are required to complete an original major research paper (MRP) that makes a significant contribution to the existing knowledge in their field. The MRP is the culmination of a candidate's program and must be exposed to the scholarly criticism of the members of the university community. The MRP must meet the requirements of the FGPDS.8 The Master of Finance students are required to complete an original Research Paper (RP) that makes a significant contribution to the existing knowledge in the field.9

12.1 (Major) Research Paper Supervisory Committee Masters students are required to select a supervisor and to collectively put together a supervisory committee consisting of the supervisor and at least two other members of the graduate faculty, at least one of whom is from SBE. All members of the supervisory committee must be members of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPDS); any exceptions require the permission or approval by the committee chair. The (M)RP proposal must be presented and approved by the supervisory committee by the end of the second term, and the (M)RP itself must be defended by the end of the third term.

12.2 Eligibility for (Major) Research Paper Supervision In order to be eligible to serve as a (major) research paper supervisor, a faculty member must have Supervisory Status.10

12.3 (Major) Research Paper Supervisor Responsibilities Each MSc student is supervised by a specific member(s) who normally will be a full-time member of the faculty who holds at minimum ‘Co-supervisory Status’ in Masters programs. However, unforeseen circumstances may require a change in supervisor prior to the completion of the student's program requirements. If this occurs, the PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Office will assist the student in obtaining an alternative arrangement.11

8 See Appendix B for further program-specific details of the MRP.

9 See Appendix B for further details of the RP.

10 See Appendix C for further details regarding supervisory status and teaching eligibility.

11 If a faculty member who is serving as a (M)RP supervisor or as a member of a (M)RP committee finds that he/she will be on leave for an extended period of time, the student and the faculty member should meet with the PhD & Master Programs Director to decide who will be responsible for the student during the period of absence. Normally the faculty member will be replaced.

13 TOC

An Annual Progress Report must be completed by the Masters candidates and then submitted to his/her respective supervisor for assessment. The report must then be submitted to the PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Office for review by the Director of Resrach-based Masters programs.

12.4 Procedures for Submitting and Defending the (M)RPs Students will complete a (Major) Research Paper ((M)RP) in which they engage in original research on an approved topic. The (M)RP is considered to be similar to a thesis in quality of work, but less than a thesis in scope. Please refer to the specific program areas for details on how the (M)RP is conducted. The Major Research Paper – Proposal Approval Form must be submitted and retained in the program office. The marking scheme for MRPs (MS604 and MS605) is Complete/Incomplete. For RPs (MS603) students are given a letter grade. The students are responsible to provide a copy of the final draft of their (M)RP to the PhD & Research-based Masters Programs Office. The procedures for the defence of the (M)RP can be found here. For more details on the structure, please refer to the specific area section.

12.5 Decisions in the (M)RP’s Defence

The decision of the examining committee is based both on the (M)RP and on the candidate's ability to defend it. Five decisions are open to the examining committee:

Accepted - The (M)RP is accepted. Acceptance may be conditional on typographical and/or minor editorial corrections to be made to the satisfaction of the supervisor. A decision of "accepted" can be rendered only if there is no more than one dissenting vote.

Accepted with Minor Modifications – The (M)RP requires minor changes in substance or minor editorial changes which are to be made to the satisfaction of the members of the examining committee designated by the committee. The examining committee’s report must include a brief outline of the nature of the changes required and must indicate the time by which the changes are to be completed. Normally, such changes should be completed within four weeks of the date of the examination.

Accepted with Major Modifications - The (M)RP is accepted subject to substantive changes in its content or major editorial changes which are to be made to the satisfaction of specified members of the examining board designated by the committee. The examining committee's report must include a brief outline of the nature of the changes required and must indicate the time by which the changes should be completed. A decision of "accepted with modifications" can be rendered only if there is no more than one dissenting vote.

14 TOC

Decision deferred - The (M)RP requires modifications of a substantial nature which make the acceptability of the (M)RP questionable. The examining committee's report must contain a brief outline of the modifications expected and should indicate the time by which the changes are to be completed. The revised (M)RP must be submitted for re-examination. Normally the re-examination will follow the same procedures as for the initial submission and the same examining committee will serve. A decision to defer is open only once for each candidate.

Rejected - The (M)RP is rejected. The examining committee shall report the reasons for rejection. A candidate whose (M)RP has been rejected is required to withdraw from the Masters program.

If the examining committee is not prepared to reach a decision at the time of the (M)RP defence, it is the responsibility of the chairperson to determine what additional information is required by the committee to reach a decision, to arrange to obtain this information for the committee, and to call another meeting of the committee as soon as the required information is available.

If all but one member of the committee agrees on a decision, the decision shall be that of the majority. Where two dissenting votes are cast, discussion must continue to arrive at a decision in which there is no more than one dissenting vote. When a decision is reached, all members of the examining committee must sign the MRP Oral Examination Report.

At the conclusion of the in-camera deliberations, the chairperson informs the candidate of the decision and of any modifications that must be completed by a proposed date. The candidate may accept this deadline, or present reasons why an extension beyond the proposed date is needed. The chairperson must submit a written report on the conduct of the examination, noting any problems in the process or procedures that may require policy revisions, or that may be relevant should the candidate appeal a decision.

13. Degree Program Time Guidelines/Limits

Typically, the program will be completed within one year (three terms) of full-time registration. Program requirements must be completed in no more than six terms. In order to qualify as full-time, graduate students must:

Be pursuing studies as a full-time occupation.

Identify themselves as full-time graduate students.

Be designated by the university as full-time graduate students.

Be geographically available and visit the campus regularly. Without forfeiting full-time status, graduate students, while still under supervision, may be absent from their university (e.g., visiting libraries, doing field work, attending a graduate course at another institution, etc.) provided that, if any such period of absence exceeds four

15 TOC

weeks in any one term, written evidence shall be available in the Graduate Studies Office to the effect that the absence has the approval of the chairperson of the department and the Dean of Graduate Studies. This form constitutes acceptable written evidence.

Not be regularly employed by the University for more than an average of 10 hours per week.

Students must maintain continuous registration every term in which any degree requirements, including course requirements, dissertation/thesis/research paper and oral defence, are completed. No oral defence will be scheduled or held without registration being completed prior to the proposed date of the defence. Candidates who fail to maintain continuous registration will be required to withdraw from the program unless they have been granted inactive status. Students who require an extension to their degree program time limits must petition to the Graduate Student Appeals Committee (petition form is available on the FGPDS website). If the petition is not approved or if a student fails to submit a petition, he or she will be withdrawn from the program and will have to apply for readmission.

14. The Intellectual Development and the Educational Experience of the Student

In addition to the courses and (M)RP, each field encourages students to attend regular research seminars in which students’ intellectual and professional development is fostered through participation in colloquia. The faculty and supervisors also encourage students to present the results of their research at conferences to ensure participation in the wider community of academics.

15. Protecting Your Privacy: Implications for Teaching and Learning

The Ontario Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) applies to all universities in Ontario. The purpose of FIPPA is to allow public access to university information and to protect personal information.

16 TOC

Ten Things to Know about the Privacy of Information 1. All information on privacy (including this list) is found on Laurier’s Privacy Office website.

Click on the privacy tab on the bottom of any Laurier web page to access it. 2. If the safety of any person is clearly in jeopardy, Laurier’s Privacy Office can release that

person’s information (contact your supervisor, Laurier’s Ombudsperson or Information & Privacy Officer for more information).

3. It is acceptable to use (post, pass around, etc.) names in class if necessary, but advise

students and offer alternatives if possible. You might include this statement in your syllabus:

“Students’ names may be divulged in the classroom to other members of the class. Students who are concerned about such disclosures should contact the course instructor to identify whether there are any possible alternatives to such disclosures.”

4. Posting student names, numbers, grades, or any other personal information in publicly

accessible areas, such as on office doors, is not acceptable. Use My Learning Space as an alternative. For more information on My learning Space, visit https://mylearningspace.wlu.ca/

5. Any completed student work, such as assignments, examinations, essays or lab reports,

should be considered records containing personal information. Hence, handing back assignments requires reasonable supervision. Only the owner should see or receive the record.

6. Protect students’ personal information when transporting assignments, essays,

examinations, grade sheets, petition files and so on. For example, encrypt electronic files on mobile devices or lock up hard copies in the trunk of your car.

7. Students’ personal information, once collected, must be retained for one year. This practice

is applicable to tests, examinations and other submissions not returned to the student. 8. Parents or others should not be given information about students aged sixteen years or

older. Assume all Laurier students are older than age sixteen. 9. Your teaching materials, such as lecture notes, overheads, and examination questions, and

your unpublished research materials, such as data, notes, and drafts, are not accessible through Ontario’s freedom of information law.

10. Personal information about you that is related to your official capacities at Laurier is not

protected under Ontario’s privacy law. Assume any record you make while at Laurier, other than those mentioned in 9 above, is accessible by the public.

17 TOC

August 2012

For more information In doubt about privacy? Have questions? Contact Shereen Rowe, University Secretary & General Counsel – University Information & Privacy Officer, ext. 2037,srowe@wlu.ca, or visit the website at www.wlu.ca/privacy.php. Learn about Laurier University Policy 10.1 on Information Availability and Privacy Protection at – Governance & Policies. Learn more about the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) at: www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90f31_e.htm.

18 TOC

APPENDIX A

Academic Misconduct Investigation and Adjudication Process

19 TOC

20 TOC

APPENDIX B

Details of the Major Research Paper (MRP) and the Research Paper (RP)

21 TOC

1. Organizational Behaviour & Human Resource Management

The major research paper (MRP) is a research-based study focused on material relevant to OB/HRM. Students will work closely with their supervisor over the course of three terms (fall, winter, and spring) to complete their MRP. In the fall term, students identify a topic and create a proposal that includes a literature review, testable hypotheses, and proposed methodology (i.e., the MRP proposal will effectively comprise the Introduction and Method sections of an empirical piece of research). At the end of the fall term, students will present their MRP proposals to OB/HRM faculty and students. Students should be prepared to answer questions about their proposals and receive feedback about how to enhance their proposals at this presentation. In the winter term, students refine their proposals based on the feedback received in the fall term, obtain ethics approval for their study, as well as collect and analyze their data. In the spring term, students finish writing their MRP document. In addition to including the requirements noted above, students must include a results section and discussion that covers the theoretical and practical implications of their work as well as limitations and future directions. The final MRP document will be evaluated as part of a MRP defence meeting, consisting of the student’s supervisor and two other members from the OB/HRM faculty (i.e., the MRP Defence Committee). Members of the university community that wish to attend this defence must receive approval from the student and his/her supervisor. This defence will be held during the spring term, with a tentative meeting deadline at the end of the spring term of each academic year. Successful completion of the MRP is a requirement to receive the MSc in Management degree.

2. Supply Chain Management The MRP will be based on a well-designed and well-executed study on one or more topics covered in the Masters program and presented to Operations and Decision Sciences Area faculty. In principle, the MRP shall be of such quality that it is publishable in a refereed journal relevant to the MRP topic. Papers should be organized into clearly defined sections on problem statement, literature review, research methods, findings, and conclusions. The MRP will be evaluated by an Advisory Committee consisting of a faculty supervisor (or co-supervisors) and two faculty readers. At least one supervisor must be an Operations & Decision Sciences (ODS) Area faculty who is also a member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. The Advisory Committee will be formed at the end of the second term. The student will develop an MRP proposal for approval by his/her Advisory Committee prior to the end of the

22 TOC

second term. The supervisor(s) will work closely with the student in supervising the research and writing of the paper, but the other committee members may also advise. A full written draft of the paper must be provided to the Advisory Committee at least four weeks before the formal presentation to provide for feedback and suggestions. The research paper must be presented to the Advisory committee composed of the student's supervisor(s) and two readers. The student will make a minimum twenty (20) minute presentation, to be followed by up to forty (40) minutes of questions. At the conclusion of the presentation the members of the committee will excuse the student and discuss and agree upon a grade. The grade will be based on the quality of the research, the writing, and the oral defence. Successful completion of the MRP is a requirement to receive the MSc in Management degree.

3. Financial Management The Research Paper is not a thesis, but requires more detailed and analytical work than an independent study. To write the research paper in Financial Management, students are required to use the research techniques and tools learned in BU802 (Research Methodology) and BU763 (Econometrics for Finance) to conduct an empirical test of a finance problem using some of the finance databases. The research paper will be prepared under the supervision of an advisory committee which will normally consist of a supervisor and a second committee member. The research paper should address relevant and significant issues within finance and economics and should demonstrate the student’s ability to conduct empirical research Successful completion of the RP is a requirement to receive the MFin degree.

23 TOC

APPENDIX C

Supervisory Status & Teaching Eligibility for SBE Doctoral & Research-based Masters Programs

24 TOC

Amended April 14, 2011

Supervisory Status & Teaching Eligibility

for SBE Doctoral & Research-based Masters Programs

Preamble

The senate has recently approved the new minimum requirements (NMR) for the membership in the faculty of graduate study (FGPDS). Departments/Faculty involved with research-based Masters and/or doctoral program(s) may choose the NMR as a base to develop their own requirements. We have chosen this option to review faculty members in SBE. The Nomination Process

1. This is a self-nominating process and individual faculty members are encouraged to submit their names to the Associate Dean: FD&R for consideration.

2. A “Selection Committee” will be responsible to determine the status of the faculty using the

criteria in 3A and 3B below. The Selection Committee will consist of the following members:

a. The two Associate Deans and the Chair of the Economics Dept.

b. Director of the PhD/Research-based Masters Programs.

c. One elected repreFsentative from each of the six areas (elected by the faculty members in the Area holding Provisional, Candidacy or Tenured appointments).

The committee will be chaired by the Associate Dean: FD&R (a non-voting member). Five voting members must be present for quorum.

3. Eligibility

A. For Research-based Masters Programs:

To teach the research-based Master-level courses, the member needs FGPDS status OR a special status granted by FGPDS.

To serve on a research-based Masters thesis committee, the member needs “supervisory status – research-based Masters programs” OR a special status granted by FGPDS.

To supervise a research-based Masters thesis, the member needs “supervisory status – research-based Masters programs”.

25 TOC

To obtain “supervisory status – research-based Masters programs” the members must have FGPDS status and a satisfactory record of scholarly performance over the prior five-year period. The following four dimensions will be considered when evaluating a member for “supervisory status – Masters programs”:

Publication in scholarly peer-reviewed research journals.

Holding of research fund from NSERC/SSHRC or other funding agencies.

Editorship or reviewer activity for academic journals.

Teaching or supervision of Masters and/or PhD students.

Faculty who do not meet the five-year criteria but who have either a long history of research expertise or who are tenure track and actively researching may be nominated for “co-supervisory status – research-based Masters programs”. If approved, they are eligible to "co-supervise" as long as the other supervisor involved holds supervisory status – research-based Masters programs.

B. For PhD in Management Program:

o To teach the PhD level courses, the member needs FGPDS status OR a special status granted by FGPDS.

o To serve on a PhD thesis committee, the member needs “supervisory status – PhD programs”.

o To supervise a doctoral dissertation, the member needs “supervisory status – PhD programs”.

To obtain “supervisory status – PhD programs” the members must have FGPDS status and an excellent record of scholarly performance over the prior five-year period. The following four dimensions will be considered when evaluating a member for “supervisory status – PhD in Management program”:

Publication in scholarly peer-reviewed research journals.

Holding of research fund from NSERC/SSHRC or other funding agencies.

Editorship or reviewer activity for academic journals.

Teaching or supervision of PhD students.

Faculty who do not meet the five-year criteria but who have either a long history of research expertise or who are tenure track and actively researching may be nominated for “co-supervisory status – PhD program”. If approved, they are eligible to "co-supervise" as long as the other supervisor involved holds supervisory status – PhD program.

A member holding “supervisory status – PhD program” will also automatically hold “supervisory status – Masters programs”.

C. Membership of PhD/Research-based Masters Programs Governance Committees:

i. To serve on the Governance (i.e. Admissions, Curriculum, etc.) Committees, the member must hold “supervisory status – research-based Masters programs”.