SFU Graduate Student Handbook

Supervision

All graduate students at SFU have some form of faculty supervisor. In some programs, the program director assumes supervisory responsibilities for the students. In research based programs students will have a supervisor and supervisory committee. Unless otherwise stated, the graduate program chair will act as a newly admitted student’s faculty advisor until a supervisor (if appropriate) is appointed. Supervisors should be appointed as soon as possible, but, no later than the beginning of the second term.

Students may consider the following factors when choosing a supervisor:

• fit between the supervisor’s research and their own
• the ability of the supervisor to provide funding to the student
• the supervisor’s availability for the duration of the student’s program of study
• the faculty member’s demonstrated success in supervising students through to degree completion

Students should be proactive in coming to an agreement on expectations between themselves and their supervisors. Review a list of expectations and a guide to coming to an agreement about expectations with your supervisor.

It may be necessary to change your supervisory committee. A written request may come from the student and any member of the supervisory committee. It must be sent to your graduate program committee, accompanied by the reasons for the request in writing. If the graduate program committee agrees with the request then it will be sent to Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for approval.