Department/Faculty Responsibilities

All graduate students are enrolled in a department, a Faculty or in Martin Luther University College. The graduate coordinator/officer/director is typically the first point of access to information for graduate students.

The home academic unit (i.e., normally, in practice, the graduate coordinator/officer/director) is responsible for ensuring that all students have been fully informed about all the statements, guidelines and policies of the university as outlined in the Graduate Calendar.  The home academic unit should also ensure that changes in graduate regulations do not jeopardize the status of graduate students admitted under previous regulations.

The academic regulations governing a graduate student's program are those in effect at the time of initial registration in the graduate program at Wilfrid Laurier University, except when academic regulations change prior to the completion of the program. Alternatively, the graduate student may choose to have the new regulations apply. All course and grade point average regulations of the new program must be followed.

The home academic unit is also responsible for ensuring all faculty members supervising graduate students understand their roles and responsibilities. Faculty members serving on advisory committees and supervising graduate students who are completing an MRP/thesis/dissertation must have Graduate Faculty Status.

In programs where an MRP/thesis/dissertation is required, each student is advised by a specific member of the faculty. However, unforeseen circumstances may require a change in advisor prior to the completion of the graduate student's program requirements. If this occurs, the graduate coordinator/officer/director will facilitate and/or provide reasonable support to assist the student in obtaining a new advisor, although securing a new advisor is not guaranteed. Any changes to the advisory committee must be confirmed in writing with the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies using the appropriate form.