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Dean of Graduate Studies Awards for Excellence

Simon Fraser University presents the Dean of Graduate Studies Award for Excellence in Supervision annually to recognize excellence in the supervision of graduate students.

Normally two awards will be given each year.

New for 2013 Awards: If a junior faculty member is not a recipient of either of these two awards, a third award may be given to recognize a faculty member in the early stage of his or her career (less than ten years from initiating a tenure-track or equivalent appointment) who has built an exceptional graduate student supervision record for that career stage.

Each award consists of a prize of one targeted graduate fellowship (GF) of $6,250 that can be awarded in the following academic year to a graduate student of their choice (the student must meet the terms of reference for a GF).

In addition, the recipient’s name is inscribed on a permanent plaque in the Thesis Defence Room.

Minimally one award each will be in the two categories defined by the Canadian Association of Graduate Studies: Fine Arts/Humanities/ Social Sciences and Engineering/Medical Sciences/Natural Sciences.

Download

* Supervision Nomination.pdf
Submit to Graduate Studies with all signatures and attachments.

Nomination and Selection
Continuing tenured or tenure-track faculty members who have supervised graduate students for a minimum of 5 years at SFU shall be eligible for this DGS Award. Nominations for this award may come from current or former students, staff, colleagues, or administrators, and must be received by March 15.

Criteria

  • Sustained record of excellent graduate supervision
  • Ability to stimulate graduate students to think creatively and critically
  • Provision of a supportive environment to develop as a scholar
  • Commitment to the graduate student learning experience
  • Fosters research, performance and/or practice-based skill development
  • Demonstrated enthusiasm for and innovation in graduate student instruction/teaching
  • Provides exceptional guidance to students applying for internal/external financial support
  • Student's supervised degree completion times and degree completion rates relative to program expectations.

Process

  • Call for Nominations Deadline: March 15 yearly.
  • Nominations should include a completed nomination form and nomination letter. The nomination letter should profile the nominee's record in excellent graduate supervision.
  • Additional required attachments:
    • Supporting letter from Graduate Program Chair AND/OR supporting letter from Department Chair or Dean
    • Abbreviated CV outlining nominee's record related to graduate student supervision
    • Other supporting documents or letters may be attached
  • Email correspondence may be sent to to all current and previously supervised students requesting a supervisory evaluation on each nominee.
  • The committee adjudicates the awards based on the criteria above.
  • The awards will be presented to the winners at a graduate awards ceremony in the following year.