http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/index.cfm?tree=12,204,350,773

Every student in a doctoral or thesis-based master's program must have a research supervisor and a supervisory committee. The supervisor's principal role is to help students achieve their academic potential. The supervisor will provide commitment, accessibility, professionalism, stimulation, guidance, respect and consistent encouragement to the student. As the chair of the student’s supervisory committee, the supervisor should consult with other supervisory committee members about any proposed coursework before the thesis topic has been decided. The committee should be established as early in the student’s program as possible.

Supervisory Committees: Roles and Responsibilities

A student's supervisory committee is normally chaired by the student's research supervisor.

Supervisory committee members are to be available for help at every stage of the student’s program, from selection of coursework to formulation of the research proposal by establishing the methodology and discussing the results, to presentation and publication of the dissertation or thesis.

It is the responsibility of the supervisory committee to provide constructive criticism and assessment of the student’s ideas as the program develops, thereby broadening and deepening the range of expertise and experience of the graduate student.

The supervisory committee, whether doctoral or master’s, must meet at least once a year, and preferably twice a year, to monitor and direct the student's progress. Generally, it is the student’s responsibility to organize the committee meetings.

Supervisory Committees for Doctoral Students

The committee is responsible for guiding the student in the planning of the research and in the preparation of the dissertation. It also decides the membership of the comprehensive examination committee.

Supervisory Committees for Master's Students

A student in a thesis-based master's program has a supervisory committee that advises the student on coursework, research and thesis preparation.

Supervisory Committees: Composition

Supervisor/Chair of the Supervisory Committee

The student will obtain the agreement of a full-time member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies to supervise his or her research. This research supervisor is usually the chair of the supervisory committee. The chair of the supervisory committee is responsible for determining the composition of the committee, subject to the regulations of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Doctoral supervisors:

The supervisor/chair must be a member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and be appointed in a department authorized to offer the doctoral degree. She or he must normally have had previous experience serving on doctoral committees or as research supervisor/chair of doctoral committees.

Master’s supervisors:

The supervisor/chair must be a member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and be appointed in a department authorized to offer the master’s degree. She or he must normally have had previous experience serving on master’s committees or as research supervisor/chair of master’s committees.

Members of the Supervisory Committee 

Doctoral supervisory committees must have at least three members (including the chair).

Master’s supervisory committees must have at least two members, and should have at least three members (including the chair).

For both doctoral and master’s students, all committee members are normally faculty members at the rank of Assistant Professor or above. Committee members may be drawn from other graduate programs. It is desirable to have one member from outside the graduate program in which the student’s degree is to be taken.

At least half of the members of the supervisory committee must be members of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Membership in the Faculty of Graduate Studies

http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/index.cfm?tree=12,204,350,773

• The Faculty of Graduate Studies consists of the President, the Vice-President Academic, the Vice-President Research, the Dean and Associate Deans of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, the Deans of other Faculties and those members of the University Faculty who satisfy all the following criteria: they are tenured or tenure-track (including grant-tenured or grant-tenure-track) faculty members;
• they hold the rank of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor;they are approved by their disciplinary Faculty (or functional equivalent) for membership in the Faculty of Graduate Studies; and
• they meet the criteria established by the graduate program with which they are affiliated.

Members of the Faculty of Graduate Studies may supervise graduate students, chair examining committees, and vote at general meetings of the Faculty.

Members of the Faculty of Graduate Studies may continue as members upon retirement, provided they are approved by their disciplinary Faculty (or functional equivalent) for membership in the Faculty of Graduate Studies and continue to meet the criteria established by their graduate program for membership in the Faculty of Graduate Studies. A retired member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies may supervise or co-supervise graduate students with the approval of the disciplinary Faculty.

Members of the Faculty of Graduate Studies are listed in the UBC Calendar under the Degree Programs with which they are associated.  http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/index.cfm?tree=12,204,828,971#11161

Changes to Supervisory Committee Members

• If the Chair leaves the University but the thesis is close to completion, the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies may permit the chair to retain this position. In this case, a co-Chair who is a full-time member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies must be appointed.
• If the Chair is on study leave or any other leave exceeding two months, it is highly recommended that an interim co-Chair who is a member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies be appointed.
• When a faculty member approaching retirement accepts an assignment as chair or as supervisor, the faculty member and the head of the department must ensure that provision is made for an alternate supervisor if or when the need arises.