GRADUATE STUDENT MANUAL(2017-2018)

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Table of ContentsWelcome! 3

Dean’s Statement 3 Origins of the Department 3

Meet the Department 5

Faculty of Graduate Studies Requirements 8 Rights and Responsibilities 8 Program Requirements 9 Supervision 9 Research Issues 9 Academic Services 10 Problematic Advisory Relationships 10 Further Information 10 Funding Opportunities 11

Department Expectations 11 Advisor & Thesis Supervisor 11 Thesis Committee 12 Post-Secondary Student Anxiety & Stress 12 Time Management 14

Important Tidbits 15 Tuition and Fees 15 UR Self Service: Registration and Payments 15 Funding And Financial Assistance 15

Writing a Thesis 16 Sample Timeline to Thesis Completion 16 Some Notes on Thesis Defence & Timeline 19 Managing Time & Expectations 20 Demystifying the Thesis 20 Preparing the Thesis 20 After Thesis Defence 21 Electronic Thesis 21

Transportation Options 22References 23Notes 24

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Welcome!We are excited you have chosen to pursue a post-graduate degree with our Department. This Graduate Student Handbook has been created to help orientate you to the Department and to life as a graduate student. Please note that this document has been created to act as a guide for students in the Department of Justice Studies. The rules and expectations put forth by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR) takes precedent to all material contained herein. As a graduate student you are expected to comply and follow rules put forth by FGSR. This pilot version of the Handbook is a work in progress, and as such is subject to change.

A Word From the Dean of Arts

I am pleased to welcome you to the Faculty of Arts. It is a tribute to our Department of Justice Studies that they take pride in belonging to a Faculty of Arts. This is because they understand that to ensure justice to Canadian citizens, we need officials and civil-society workers capable of broad-minded, well-informed reflection about the deep-seated social and economic problems that too many Canadians still face. The faculty members in Justice Studies will make it a priority to open your eyes to these wider issues and will encourage you to place day-to-day professional tasks within that bigger picture. This makes me proud to have them as colleagues. And I am especially pleased that you have chosen to study with them. It will be very good for the province to have working in it professionals who came through a Faculty of Arts, one that wants its students to value intellectual curiosity, diligent reflection, and open-minded debate.

Dr. Richard KleerDean, Faculty of Arts

Origins of the DepartmentThe Department of Justice Studies and the University of Regina both share a common history as each came into being in the early 1970s. The University of Regina became an autonomus post-secondary entity when it broke away from the University of Saskatchewan in 1974. The School of Human Justice was born this same year. The Human Justice Program sought to expand the traditional boundaries of human services by offering more in-depth and interdisciplinary approaches to justice-related inquiries. In the earlier years, the program was housed with the Faculty of Social Work allowing students to focus on the human ‘justice’ services. The Human Justice program moved to the Faculty of Arts in 1998. In that same year, the Police Studies program was formed and the two programs merged to create of the Department of Justice Studies.

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The Department Today

Undergraduate ProgramToday the Department of Justice Studies has one of the highest undergraduate enrolments in the Faculty of Arts. In our teaching, research and community service, we draw upon various academic disciplines, including anthropology, criminology, law, sociology, and social work. We adopt a broad and inclusive conception of justice encompassing criminal, restorative, legal justice and social justice alongside human rights. We prepare students for work in a variety of justice settings at community, provincial, national and international levels. Our emphasis is on the integration of theory and practice. This is realized in part through “learning by doing” components in our degree programs that include a practicum component and opportunities for community-service learning.

Graduate ProgramThe Department hosts a graduate program engaging students that seek further professionalization in their chosen fields as well as students tracking for law school and advanced graduate studies. Our graduates work in police services, restorative justice programs, corrections, probation and parole, human rights organizations, social and health services, government departments, and acadamia.

Faculty members with diverse backgrounds mentor students throughout the course of their studies. The Department’s research areas include: policing, social justice, law, transitional justice, climate change, advocacy, non-profit governance, genocide, restorative justice, health equity, corrections and social policy.

We look forward to working with you to meet your goals to contribute to your community. By joining the Department of Justice Studies, you are becoming part of a larger academic community at the University of Regina whose motto is “As One Who Serves.”

You are also becoming part of the Faculty of Arts, which is the largest faculty on campus and includes the Social Sciences and Humanities.

We encourage you to get to know faculty and colleagues in the other Departments as they can play an active role in your research including membership on your thesis committee.

MEET THE DEPARTMENT

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The Department of Justice Studies is made up of seven tenure track/tenured professors, a cluster of sessional instructors, and one administrative support staff. The core team is introduced in the following section.

Dr. Nick JonesAssociate ProfessorOffice: CL 343Email: nick.jones@uregina.caPhone: 585-4862

Research and Teaching InterestsNick earned a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from San Jose State University in 1997 . He completed his PhD in Sociology at the University of Calgary in 2006 for his work focused on the judicial response to the Rwandan Genocide prior to which he worked with federal parolees and in a youth custody facility. He research areas include: restorative justice, transitional justice, policing and genocide. Nick joined the Department in 2006.

Dr. Sarah BrittoProfessorOffice: CL 343.3Email: sarah.britto@uregina.caPhone: 585-4035

Research and Teaching InterestsSarah earned her PhD in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the Florida State University her work on media and fear of crime. Her primary research interests include understanding crime related public perceptions, restorative justice and capital crimes, and gender-inequality and violent crime. She has worked at campuses across North America prior to joining the Department in 2015.

Hirsch GreenbergPracticum CoordinatorOffice: CL 343Phone: 585-4779

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Email: Hirsch.greenberg@uregina.caResearch and Teaching InterestHirsch’s research and teaching interests are informed by his experience and education. Restorative Justice/Peace Keeping and Inter-Professional Collaborative Practices are central philosophical and theoretical approaches that underpin his practice, research and teaching. He has applied this approach to crime, homelessness, mental health and addictions as well as voluntary involvement in community-based organizations.

Dr. Rick RuddellProfessorLaw Foundation of Saskatchewan Chair in Police Studies Office: CL 335Email: rick.ruddell@uregina.caPhone: 337-8541

Research and Teaching InterestsPrior to this position, Rick was the Director of Operational Research at the Correctional Service of Canada. He has had faculty positions at Eastern Kentucky University and California State University, Chico. He received his PhD in Criminology & Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. His research focus includes policing, criminal justice policy, and juvenile justice. Rick joined the Department in September 2010.

Dr. Michelle StewartAssociate Professor Office: CL 336Email: michelle.stewart@uregina.caPhone: 585-4873

Research and Teaching InterestsMichelle received her Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of California Davis with research focused on policing practices and training. Her current research investigates risk and prevention with attention to disabilities and how disabilities are understood in justice settings. Her research areas include: political anthropology, policing, settler-colonialism, disability studies, social movements and advocacy. She teaches the social justice stream and joined the Department in 2011.

Dr. Gloria DeSantis Assistant Professor Office: CL 327E-mail: Gloria.desantis@uregina.caPhone: 585-5066

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Research and Teaching InterestsPrior to joining the Department in 2015, Gloria worked in social-justice oriented nonprofit organizations for 25 years. Her research interests focus on nonprofit sector advocacy in Canada, human rights, mixed methods research, participatory action research, community engagement in public policy-making, and knowledge creation from the ground up.

Dr. Margot Hurlbert, LLB, LLM (Seconded 2016-2018)Professor Justice Studies/Sociology and Social StudiesOffice: CL 235E-mail: margot.hurlbert@uregina.caPhone: 585-4232

Research and Teaching InterestsMargot is interested in pursuing justice and applies her 18 years of practising law in a diversity of contexts (such as the environment, farming, employment, criminal justice system, human rights claims, family and business) to this endeavour. Margot’s research is water governance, energy, adapting to climate change, and marginalized people in Canada and South America. Margot joined the Department(s) in 2005.

Corie SmithAdministrative Support StaffOffice: CL 343Email: corie.smith@uregina.caPhone: 585-4779

Corie is the Administrative Support Staff to the Department of Justice Studies. She works with students, professors and colleagues from our Faculty and the broader University community. Corie assists with the development and delivery of material, forms, and information pertaining to the Department. She also delivers support and service, as appropriate, to advise or direct students to the best possible resources. Corie joined the Department in 2004.

Faculty of Graduate Studies Requirements

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This Section is taken directly from FGSR and it includes details about student’s rights and responsibilities. An electronic copy of this information and additional helpful links can be found at: https://www.uregina.ca/gradstudies/grad-calendar/rights-and-responsibilities.html

The Graduate student is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the program of study is consistent with the approved program as defined in the letter of acceptance and in the respective section in the Graduate Calendar. The student is expected to read the Graduate Calendar and any other relevant documents, including the FGSR web page in order to become familiar with all regulations and deadlines relating to their programs. The fundamental responsibilities of students include:

Registration is accurate and does not lapse. Submission of appropriate forms to the department for signature and

processing. Paying all fees required by the deadline dates set out in the Graduate Calendar. Students are also ultimately responsible for the ethical and academic process

and outcome of their research.

Rights and Responsibilities

The Graduate Students' Association has developed the following proposal to provide an outline of the rights and responsibilities of graduate students to the University of Regina. This proposal is not intended to legislate the relationship between students and faculty but rather to outline and clarify some basic principles which will foster a positive experience for all individuals.

The Graduate Students' Association recognizes that graduate studies are a commitment not to be undertaken lightly by students. It is a crucial step in becoming a professional in one's field, and to that end, graduate students should strive to achieve academic excellence. The graduate student's educational environment should foster academic excellence and provide a good model for graduates to use in the future.

Most graduate students have an enriching experience during their studies at the University of Regina and leave this institution with a positive view of their research, advisor, committee, and department. This view is invaluable in the promotion of graduate studies and the reputation of the University of Regina. Upon graduation, graduate students will become representatives of their graduate program and of the University of Regina.

Program Requirements

The primary responsibility of graduate students is the timely and satisfactory completion of their program requirements including research, and/or course work. It is the

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responsibility of graduate students to familiarize themselves with their program requirements as described in the Calendar and Handbook of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. In addition, each graduate student is responsible for participating in the development of a detailed study program, in writing, within the graduate student's first academic semester.

Graduate students have the right to have academic expectations outlined within their first academic semester. Graduate students have the right to receive assistance with the development of their study program, as well as approval of the program, within their first academic semester. Graduate students have the right to expect that their study program will not be changed without their consultation.

Supervision

The graduate student is responsible for maintaining contact with advisors and committee members in order to keep them updated on the progress of the student's program. The graduate student is responsible for meeting deadlines and providing academic products of suitable quality for evaluation.

Graduate students have the right to regular contact with advisors or committee members throughout their program. Graduate students' have the right to an alternate advisor during an extended absence of the primary supervisor. In order to facilitate the timely completion of program requirements, graduate students have the right to timely feedback (within approximately one month) on all academic products presented for evaluation.

Research Issues

The graduate student should clarify such research issues as ownership of data, authorship of publications and joint research agreements, in writing, with their advisors and committee members.

A document clarifying such research issues should be reviewed by a third party, such as but not limited to, the Faculty of Graduate Studies, before a student signs it. Graduate students are responsible for following the guidelines outlined by the University of Regina Policy Statement on Scholarly Misconduct and the Intellectual Property Document.

Graduate students have the right to expect that agreements regarding data ownership, authorship and research agreements will be adhered to. Graduate students have the right to expect that the guidelines of the Policy Statement on Academic Misconduct and the Intellectual Property Document will be adhered to. Graduate students have the rights provided by copyright protection of their thesis and related research contributions.

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Academic Services

The graduate student, employed as a Teaching Assistant, is responsible for providing the academic services outlined by the collective agreement between the University of Regina and Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 2419. The graduate student is responsible for being informed of the details of the collective agreement, as well as, employment opportunities for graduate students. Graduate students are responsible for adhering to the terms of financial agreements they have entered into.

Graduate students have the right to receive a description of the academic services they are expected to provide and to refuse requests to perform any other duties. Graduate students have the right to fair consideration in employment competitions. Graduate students have the right to expect that financial agreements will be adhered to.

Problematic Advisory Relationships

The graduate student is responsible for interacting with advisors and committee members in a professional manner. Graduate students are responsible for doing their part in maintaining positive working relationships. Graduate students are responsible for respecting confidentiality and privacy requests.

Graduate students have the right to expect a professional relationship with their advisors and committee members. Graduate students have the right to expect a reasonable degree of confidentiality and privacy. Graduate students have the right to request a separation from advisors with whom irreconcilable differences have arisen and an expectation that honest efforts will be made for the successful integration with a new advisor. Graduate students have the right to assistance from their advisors, committee members, department and the Faculty of Graduate Studies in ensuring a successful student-advisor relationship.

Further Information

Graduate Students' Association, RIC 118, E-Mail: urgsa@uregina.caFaculty of Graduate Studies and Research, Rm. 110, North Tower Residence, 306-585-4161University of Regina Undergraduate CalendarCUPE 2419 Collective Agreement

Funding Opportunities

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There are a number of funding opportunities available to you as a graduate student so please familiarize yourself with the deadlines and be in touch with FGSR and your supervisor to be sure you are prepared for these deadlines. Grants are a great item to have on your resume but you need to plan ahead as some are due before school starts including applications for Graduate Teach Assistantships.

Department ExpectationsIntroduction

Once admitted to the Department, students are expected to be active (full-time or part-time) students. As a member of the Department, students are expected to conduct their research and studies in an ethical manner and to have research findings that reflect methods that are ethical and appropriate for the research. Prior to data collection, students are expected to participate in classes and seminars that will give them the tools to conduct effective research. Students are expected to attend classes regularly, complete assignments by required deadlines and maintain overall good standing. As indicated by FGSR, each student is expected to maintain good standing while in the program. For the purposes of FGSR, each student is expected to maintain an average of 70%. Keep in mind that financial support, including scholarships and grants, are most often merit-based. As such, students will be better positioned to apply and compete for these grants by having strong grades. If you are concerned about your performance and/or anticipate that you are not meeting expectations you are encouraged to meet with your instructors and/or your supervisor. There might be tools or assistance that can be provided – rather than struggle alone ask for assistance. The university also provides a number of student services that may aid in your efforts.

Advisor & Thesis Supervisor

Students are accepted into the program based on a series of criteria including: 1) their level of academic skill, 2) their overall fit to the Department, 3) and the ability of a faculty member to become their advisor. Each student that is a good candidate based on the first two criteria is then assigned to a faculty member (thesis supervisor) to supervise that student’s proposed research area. This preliminary match is based on the students proposed project and the faculty member’s area of research expertise. Students will work with their advisor as they become settled in the program; if this arrangement does not work, the student can work with their advisor and the Department Chair to find a more appropriate match for their thesis supervisor.

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The thesis supervisor is the faculty member responsible for advising the student through the duration of their time in the Department including the proposal and thesis defence. Students are expected to work closely and under the direct supervision of their thesis supervisor. Prior to the proposal defence, the thesis supervisor will oversee the planning of the proposal and research including: research questions, literature review and methods. Students will work closely with their thesis supervisor throughout their time in the Department and are expected to maintain appropriate contact with this faculty member including updates and progress reports as necessary.

This supervisor will oversee the formation of the first draft of the proposal for review and will be responsible for the student up to and including the thesis defence. In addition to mentoring and working closely with the student on their thesis, the supervisor will also help identify appropriate faculty members to serve on a student’s Thesis Committee.

Thesis CommitteeEach student will have a thesis committee that will include the thesis supervisor, and at least two additional thesis committee members. This committee will review the proposal prior to proposal defence and will be responsible for reading (and commenting as necessary) the final draft of the thesis and participating the thesis defence. The thesis committee will be comprised of faculty members with a working knowledge of at least a portion of the student’s research. This committee is meant to help the student better formulate their arguments, conduct research, and produce a finished thesis. Moreover, this thesis committee will responsible with signing off on the final draft of the thesis that serves as an approval of the research and allows a student to complete their studies and receive their Masters of Arts.

Life Happens – Post-Secondary Student Anxiety and Stress

There is increasing recognition of the anxiety and stress post-secondary students experience (Jones-Delcorde, 2015). As students in a Justice Studies graduate program, there is a normal degree of anxiety and stress that occurs. Completing assignments, starting and completing a thesis, continual do-overs of all or parts of the manuscript and then trying to find the balance between these activities with work, recreation and relationships can be a stressful time.

Be mindful! Students that acknowledge their anxiety and stress are in a better position to moderate the resulting worry they experience. “Mindfulness practice … is highly recommended evidenced based method of stress reduction.” (Myers Kiser, 2016, p. 269). For more information, The Mindfulness Awareness Research Center at UCLA (http://marc.ucla.edu/) offers more information. Finally, the University of Regina Counselling Services is an excellent resource for students, and it’s free (https://www.uregina.ca/student/counselling/)

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If you are finding that you have a personal situation that is greatly impacting your ability to attend classes or be in school please contact your supervisor. If you think you might need to take a short leave of absence from the program you can discuss this with your faculty and with FGSR. There are many options that will allow you to lower your course load and/or take a leave of absence. Please contact FGSR and/or consult the following page for specific documents: https://www.uregina.ca/gradstudies/forms.html

Time Management

Graduate school can, at times, consume your life. Be sure to construct a reasonable timeline with your supervisor and then make time for your friends and family. Make sure to take time away from talking about graduate school with your friends and family!

Important Tidbits Tuition and Fees

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Students are responsible to consult with their thesis supervisor to identify classes that are appropriate to their field of study. Students are responsible to register for classes in a timely fashion. For a complete list of costs and fees please consult:https://www.uregina.ca/gradstudies/current-students/tuition-fees/

UR Self-ServiceUR Self-Service is an all-in-one online system that allows students to do a variety of tasks including:

View outstanding fees/balance owing and make payments on account Identify and register for classes Drop classes

To access UR Self-Service please be sure you have your nine digit student ID number along with your PIN. You can login to your account here: (https://banner.uregina.ca/prod/sct/twbkwbis.P_WWWLogin).

Funding and Financial AssistanceFinancial Assistance is available to qualified students. There are a number of funding opportunities for students – and often students forget to apply for these. Qualified students can apply for any of the following:

Scholarships: Merit-based award given to students with proven academic record Teaching Assistantships: Part-time position as a teaching assistant in a JS class. Research Assistantships: Part-time position conducting research under the

supervision of a faculty member Travel Award: Smaller grant in support of travel for research or a conference Research Award: Major grant in support of one’s MA research project (these

include the Joseph Bombardier Social Science Humanities Research Council) Special Funding Opportunities and pay scale details can be found at the following

link: http://dev.www.uregina.ca/gradstudies/scholarships/fgsr_funding.jsp

Students are responsible to visit the FGSR website, track appropriate funding opportunities, consult with faculty about these funding opportunities, and to submit grants when they are able and qualified to do so. Eligibility requirements and application deadlines can be found at: https://www.uregina.ca/gradstudies/scholarships/index.html

NOTE: Applying for funding is a serious endeavor and requires exceptional planning to meet deadlines with appropriate material. Students that are planning to apply for national grants will need to work with faculty for at least three months prior to granting deadline. If you are unsure if you qualify for a grant, talk to you Thesis Supervisor and/or FGSR.

Writing a Thesis

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Sample Timeline to Thesis Completion

The following is a shorthand list of events to expect in your coming graduate education. There are some tentative schedules put forward for those that are planning to attend school full-time. Keep in mind that your graduate career is a personalized journey. Some students will complete the program sooner than others depending on a wide range of variables from work schedules, to acquiring research approval, to gaining access to data or to field sites. Each student will work closely with their thesis supervisor to be sure that they are tracking at the level expected given these variables. To that end, each student is required to maintain regular contact with their supervisor including submitting periodic progress reports when required. Below presumes full-time student schedule.

Step One: Before Classes BeginAdmission! This step might have taken you a few years to prepare so congratulate yourself on finishing step one!

Contact your supervisor prior to the Fall to discuss your research interests and course planning

Inquire about the application process for Teaching Assistantships. Submit applications for funding (GTA, TA, and scholarships) Get a student ID and register it with the library. Review the Justice Studies program --

https://www.uregina.ca/gradstudies/programs/justice-studies.html

Step Two: Complete Course Work and Refine Thesis IdeasFall Semester (1st Year)

Enroll in classes (JS 801 is required)o Take 1-2 classes, including a least one required course (consult with your

thesis supervisor to select the second course if you are enrolled full time) Meet with your supervisor to discuss your thesis topic

o Begin literature review and development of research design If appropriate, submit funding applications in Fall Participate in on-campus events (such as talks and public lectures) If appropriate, identify conferences to attend and apply for travel funding Complete your first semester in good standing. According to FGSR, “Students

must be achieving satisfactory performance (70% average). An incomplete and/or failing grade from the previous semester's work will render the student ineligible for support for a minimum of one semester.”

Winter Semester (1st Year). Enroll in class (JS 800 is required) If appropriate, apply for travel funds If enrolled full time, consult with thesis supervisor to select a second course to

enroll in.

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Use each and every class to help you refine your research ideas! Participate in on-campus events! Meet regularly with your supervisor to talk about your thesis

o Develop a reverse calendar where you have an ideal graduation date and fill-in the calendar backwards with deadlines that you should meet to reach your goal.

If appropriate, begin to apply for summer internships and placements Complete your second semester in good standing

Step Three: Proposal DefenceSpring/Summer (1st year)

Talk to your thesis supervisor about summer enrollment – remember you only have 18 credit hours of 901. Don’t use them up over the summer unnecessarily.

o If appropriate, enroll in research hours under your supervisor’s supervision.

International students should be clear on the requirements related to summer enrollment to maintain their status and/or funding requirements.

Review FGSRs thesis requirements -- https://www.uregina.ca/gradstudies/thesis-defence/thesis/index.html

Consult with your supervisor to identify appropriate committee memberso Contact committee members and discuss with them their expectations

and time restrictions Work on your thesis proposal and Research Ethics Board (if your research

includes human subjects) for defence. o Use the theoretical knowledge and research tools learned in JS 800 and JS

801 to help you craft a thesis proposal. When you are ready with either your conceptual or three chapter proposal, your

supervisor will contact your committee and send it out for review. You should discuss with your thesis supervisor whether a conceptual or a three chapter proposal will work better for your project.

This process can take weeks or months depending on the strength of the proposal and the availability of your committee members

After successfully completing your first year (presuming full course load and taking all of the required course), you will not be required to take further classes on campus. Rather, you are expected to be working your thesis proposal, your thesis defence, Research Ethics Board application, data collection, thesis write-up and thesis defence. A tentative timeline could look something like this:Step Four: Conduct ResearchFall Semester (2nd Year)

Give complete thesis proposal to supervisor at the beginning of Fall While awaiting comments from supervisor prepare Research Ethics Board After receiving comments from supervisor, revise and proofread. Circulate thesis proposal to committee in October

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Formally present (10-15 minutes) and defend your proposal before your thesis committee in late October.

If the defence is successful, you are approved to conduct research by your committee!

Complete Ethic’s Forms (https://www.uregina.ca/research/for-faculty-staff/ethics-compliance/human/ethics-forms.html) to have the project approved on ethical grounds (the approval process takes at least three weeks).

If approved: begin research.

Remember: Research is always a work in progress. You will be receiving a lot of feedback on your writing and you will need to be prepared to hear criticism.

Step Five: Compile Findings in Thesis Winter Semester (2nd Year)

Continue/complete data collection and begin analysis Meet with thesis supervisor to order and organize writing including incorporating

comments from thesis proposal defence Write, Revise, Write, Revise, Write Check-in regularly with thesis committee members with questions and

information – regular communication can avoid time-consuming problems at the later stages of your thesis.

Step Six: File, Defend, GraduateSpring/Summer (2nd Year)

Complete first draft for review by Supervisor in late May Receive comments and revise in June Complete full draft and proofread; circulate to committee in July Defend thesis in August and complete degree

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Please see the following link from FGSR about requirements for convocation including important dates as they relate to filing and graduation: https://www.uregina.ca/gradstudies/grad-convocation/deadlines.html

Some Notes on the Thesis Defence & Timeline Each stage of these processes requires planning, patience and communication

with a variety of different people. Your supervisor will walk you through the process Students can expect that a thesis that is complete and ready for committee will

require approximately five months to move through the committee process and then some additional time to get approved for graduation. The following is an example to work with:

September 1: First complete draft ready for committee Give committee one month to review document Oct 15: receive comments from committee Oct 15-Nov. 1: Complete required changes Nov 1: Submit to FGSR Give external reviewer three weeks to review Nov 30: Assuming approved for defence, move forward Dec. 1-6: Defence Jan-February: If changes are required, you will have one semester

to complete revisions (and note pay fees) if you want to have Spring graduation and June convocation

April: Submit final approved thesis to FGSR. June: Convocation

NOTE: there are internal deadlines in FGSR for graduation (https://www.uregina.ca/gradstudies/current-students/grad-convocation/index.html), so check those dates and plan accordingly with your supervisor. In addition, you have to remember to fill out the “Application for Graduation”.

Managing Time & Expectations

This is meant as a general overview to allow students to realize the various stages of necessary planning. Students should remember that they are required to work closely with a thesis supervisor to prepare the proposal and the final draft of the thesis. These documents will be drafted, revised and redrafted prior to going to full committee. Each

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stage of review will take time for your reviewer to read and provide comments. Following comments, there might be a need for major revisions—it is always about making the final product defendable. Students should plan accordingly and not presume that all students will track in the same way. The nature of the project, the research methods and writing are particular to each researcher.

Demystifying the Thesis

All students will be required to write a thesis as part of their graduating requirements. In effect, a thesis is a statement of your findings. A thesis will commonly contain the following:

Introduction and Background Research Question or Hypothesis Statement Literature Review as it relates to the research project Methods Discussion that supports your argument Findings Conclusion

There are specific regulations about the formatting of this document that can be located at FGSR found here: https://www.uregina.ca/gradstudies/current-students/thesis-defense/thesis/WritingYourThesis/thesis-procedures/guide-thesis-preparation.html Aside from these formatting regulations, the details and methods used to collect data are specific to your research project. You will be mentored by your supervisor and take a research methods course to better assist you prior to data collection.

Preparing the Thesis

Students will be guided through the writing of thesis in two distinct phases. The first phase focused on preparing the proposal for defence and the second phase focuses on data collection and preparing the thesis for defence:

Proposal Defence: A meeting with thesis committee to discuss proposal prior to data collection; students must have proposal defended prior to beginning data collection. The committee will provide comment and feedback for the final thesis.

Thesis Defence: A final meeting with thesis committee to defend the findings of the proposal. A student must successfully defend their thesis to complete the program and graduate to their committee and external examiner.

After Thesis Defence

If planning to participate in convocation, students should be mindful of the following deadlines if they want to participate in the ceremonies:

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Students who intend to participate in the Spring Convocation must have applied by January 31st and must submit the final corrected copies by March 31st..

Students who intend to participate in the Fall Convocation must have applied by July 31st and must submit the final corrected copies by July 31st.

For further details: https://www.uregina.ca/gradstudies/current-students/grad-calendar/appendix-b.html

Electronic Thesis

The following section is taken directly from FGSR (https://www.uregina.ca/gradstudies/current-students/thesis-defense/thesis/FinishingAndDefending/PostDefence/library-procedures.html) regarding updated library procedures (effective July 1, 2012):

The following is a general outline of the processing and preparation of Electronic Theses (ETD) for library access.

1. Once a graduate student’s thesis is passed following the thesis defense, the student is to submit the final corrected copy electronically as a pdf document to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR) at Grad.Thesis@uregina.ca

2. FGSR will then upload to the Archer Library's oURspace.3. The Library holds the e-thesis until the student is awarded his/her degree at

Executive of Council's monthly meetings.  4. The Library will then catalogue the thesis and approve for release on oURspace.5. Library and Archives Canada's Thesis Portal harvests theses on oURspace.6. FGSR will receive confirmation that the e-thesis has been uploaded to Archives

Canada the Archer Library's Collection.

TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS

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Parking:Parking can be challenging. Familiarize yourself with this map and the available lots. There is free parking just a few blocks off campus if you want to walk and save your meter money. For more information about parking, carpooling and other issues contact Parking Services: https://www.uregina.ca/fm/parking/alternatives/index.html.

Bus: While the weather can be pretty cold in Regina, many people do use public transit to get to and from campus. For more information about bus passes including how to download the app to track busses visit: https://www.uregina.ca/fm/parking/alternatives/transit.html

Bike: The summers are great in Regina but the other months can be a bit challenging for cycling enthusiasts. That said, there are people that do bike to campus year-round. There are bike lockers on campus as well as bikes for rent. For more information for biking and biking supports visit: https://www.uregina.ca/fm/parking/alternatives/bike.html.

Walk: Of course you can also walk to campus and take in Wascana Lake along the way. It is about 4.5 km to walk from downtown Regina to campus.

References

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Myers Kiser, P. (2016). The human services Internship: getting the most from your experience. Cengage Learning, Boston, MA.

Jones-Delcorde, B. (2015). Mental health deterioration among western Canadian post-secondary students: an analysis of the contextual stressors and obstacles to utilizing effective coping mechanisms. MA thesis, University of Regina, 2015)

Cham, J. (2016). The research cycle [Online cartoon]. Retrieved from http://phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1759

Notes

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Notes

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