[SGS] #010, 2009-2010, Changes to the Policies, Procedures and Regulations on Admissions for Degree & Diploma

SGS #010, 2009-2010

To: Chairs, Graduate Coordinators and Administrators
From: Brian Corman, Dean of Graduate Studies and Vice-Provost, Graduate Education
Date: May 11, 2010
CC: Council of Graduate Deans School of Graduate Studies
Re: Changes to the Policies, Procedures and Regulations on Admissions for

Degree & Diploma Programs

I would like to draw your attention to changes concerning the policies, procedures and regulations on admissions for degree and diploma programs that were approved at the March 16th Graduate Education Council (GEC). The policy and regulations are for inclusion in the 2010-2011 SGS Calendar. The governance submission can be viewed at: http://www.sgs.utoronto.ca/governance/gec/meetings.htm

The proposed changes arise primarily from the desire of the University to appear more open to international credentials, especially the three-year bachelor’s degrees associated with the Bologna Accord. SGS has taken the opportunity to refine wording in some other areas to clarify admission requirements and align requirements for master’s, diploma and doctoral programs. This is a summary of the changes related to admissions:

• The Student Categories section has been altered to now include the Visiting Student category.
• Reference to a requirement for a “four-year University of Toronto” bachelor’s degree with a specific standing was replaced by a requirement for a bachelor’s degree with high academic standing from a recognized university.
• A new statement that applicants will be considered on their individual merits has been added to both the master’s and doctoral entry.
• High academic standing has been added to both the master’s and doctoral entry.
• Requirements for diploma programs have been added where previously there were none.
• A new entry on Mature Students has been added.
• The section on Eligibility of Senior Faculty Members has been changed to Eligibility of Members of Teaching and Administrative Staff and the language in the entry has been altered accordingly.
• Reference to “a University of Toronto” degree has been removed throughout.

The academic requirements for admission to the Master’s and Doctor of Philosophy programs at the University of Toronto will appear in the 2010-2011 SGS Calendar as follows:

Master’s Programs
“An appropriate bachelor’s degree with high academic standing from a recognized university is required. Other qualifications may be specified by the graduate unit. See Admissions Regulations and Degree Regulations for further details”.

Doctor of Philosophy Programs
“An appropriate master’s degree or, in some programs, an appropriate bachelor’s degree, with high academic standing from a recognized university is required. See Admission Regulations and Degree Regulations for further details”.

The Grad School web-site, Admissions Guide and other SGS produced admissions material will be updated in the coming months to reflect these changes. In your communication with prospective applicants and in your recruitment material, please remove any reference to inadmissibility on the basis of three-year and/or applied community college degrees and emphasize that all applicants are welcome to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis according to their individual merits.

Students with a three-year degree or applied community college degree may be considered admissible as non-standard cases. Admission standards and processes both in your graduate unit and at the School of Graduate Studies have not changed. Graduate units will continue to review applications and make standard offers of admission as per past practice. When a graduate unit wishes to admit an applicant who does not meet the minimum admission requirements, a non-standard admission case must still be presented to the SGS Admissions and Programs Committee for approval.
Examples would include applicants:

• with a three-year degree (excluding exceptions as noted in the International Credentials Equivalencies Database)
• with an applied community college degree
• who hold degrees from institutions that are not recognized by SGS
• who hold degrees from theological institutions
• who hold degrees which do not meet the SGS liberal arts requirement (see page 14 of the 2009 Admissions Manual)
• who do not meet the SGS minimum GPA for admission
• who do not meet the SGS minimum English Language Facility requirement

The procedure for non-standard admissions is outlined in the 2009 Admission Manual. Should you have any questions about non-standard admissions cases, please consult your Divisional Officer.

We hope that this new language will be more welcoming to applicants with diverse backgrounds while ensuring continued rigor in our admission process.

For more information, please contact the Director of Student Services, Heather Kelly at heather.kelly@utoronto.ca.