York University
Faculty of Graduate Studies
GRADUATE PROGRAM IN
VISUAL ARTS
Handbook
2013-2014
Goldfarb Centre for Fine Arts
Telephone: 416-736-5533
Fax: 416-736-5875
www.yorku.ca/gradvisa/
Gradients (cover), Fall 2012 MFA and PhD group exhibition at Gales Gallery, Accolade
West
Gradients showcased art works by returning and incoming Masters students, and incoming
PhD students, in York University's graduate programs in Visual Arts.
Each artist engages pivotal ideas in contemporary Canadian art practice. Featuring drawing,
painting, sculpture, photography, print and time-based media, Gradients celebrates the
unique accomplishments of York graduate student artists.
Participating artists: Marina Black, Gord Bond, Teresa Carlesimo, Amanda Clyne, Miles
Collyer, Mary Grisey, Neil Harrison, Mike Hoolboom, Amelie Jerome, Yoon Jin Jung, Christie
Kirchner, Jorge Lozano, Rachel Ludlow, Carly McAskill, Nadia Moss, Milena Roglic, Shannon
Scanlan, Victoria Vitasek, Tobias Williams, and Colleen Wolstenholme.
PHOTOS: Miles Collyer
Artist: Jorge Lozano
Watch My Back, HD, 9 minute-loop, 2011
2
CONTENTS
Welcome from Nell Tenhaaf, Graduate Program Director
Page 4
Getting Started
Page 5
Registration
Page 6
Faculty Members Contact Information
Student Contact Information
Faculty Research Interests
Page 7
Page 7
Page 8 - 9
Introduction
Master of Fine Arts (MFA) A brief history
Aims and Objectives of the MFA program
Page 10
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) A brief history
Aims and Objectives of the PhD program
Overview of the PhD program
MFA / PhD Degree Requirements
MFA degree requirements - courses
MFA thesis requirements, supervision procedures, reports
MFA thesis exhibition and support paper
PhD degree requirements - courses
PhD comprehensive examination, dissertation proposal
PhD dissertation, oral examination, reports
MFA / PhD General Student Information
Key distribution, studio space, group exhibitions,
parking, photocopying, library facilities, etc.
Page 10
Page 11
Page 13
Page 14-15
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
MFA / PhD Computing FAQ’s
E-mail Account, computer access on campus, printing
Page 24
MFA / PhD Financial FAQ’S
Funding, tuition fees, refund table, Awards, OSAP, etc.
Page 25
Useful Phone Numbers
Important Phone Numbers and Websites
Page 30
Appendices
a) Sessional Dates
b) Oral Examination form
3
Welcome from Nell Tenhaaf,
Graduate Program Director
Welcome to our MFA / PhD programs in Visual Arts at York University. My colleagues and I
look forward to engaging with you in a rich and stimulating dialogue about contemporary art,
drawing on our own professional art practices that encompass most types of practice visible
today in the art world. Our intention is that your time in graduate school will contribute
significantly to your lives as artists.
Our programs offer numerous opportunities for studio visits and exchanges with guest artists,
curators and art historians, who reflect a wide range of interests to guide you as you develop
your own practice. Students in the MA in Art History and PhD in Art History and Visual
Culture are also your key colleagues during your time in the Visual Arts programs. We hope
that you will make lasting friendships and professional connections with your colleagues at
York that enrich your ongoing development as an artist.
The MFA / PhD programs are supported by a vibrant university culture at York that promotes
creative dialogues among many areas of knowledge and scholarship. We encourage
students to seek out faculty form other areas of the university to participate on their
committees. Whether in Visual Arts, other departments in the Faculty of Fine Arts, or from the
university at large, faculty members actively support divergent views and approaches to art
practice.
The excellence of York’s MFA / PhD graduate students’ work is publicly acknowledged
through numerous awards won from the university, government agencies and the
professional art community. These awards include the prestigious Samuel Sarick Purchase
Award, W. Lawrence Heisey Award, Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Award and the
Joseph Plaskett Award; the Ontario Graduate Scholarship, SSHRC Doctoral and Canada
Graduate Scholarship. A significant number of alumni continue to achieve national and
international success as artists and educators. Another important and dynamic component of
our programs are the exhibition exchanges we have had and are continuing to develop (Ohio
State University, Art Mûr Gallery and l’Ecole des arts visuels et médiatiques at l’UQAM both
in Montreal.
Students will find within the structure of our two programs the focus and knowledge needed
to become active creative participants in the contemporary art milieu.
Wishing you all the best,
Nell Tenhaaf
Professor
Graduate Program Director in Visual Arts
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GETTING STARTED
This handbook provides essential information for all graduate level Visual Arts students. It outlines the
history and objectives of the MFA and PhD programs, enrolment and supervision guidelines, and
other useful information such as faculty research interests, scholarships, finances, contact
information, etc. Its purpose is to facilitate a successful candidacy towards the MFA / PhD degrees.
Information provided in this handbook is supplementary to the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar
for 2013-2014 (hereafter designated as the FGS calendar). Every attempt has been made to make it
as current as possible.
Program information can be found online at http://www.yorku.ca/grads/, look for Visual Arts MFA or
PhD under Programs. This links to the FGS calendar (program requirements pdf) as well as to the
Visual Arts program website at http://www.yorku.ca/gradvisa.
HTTP://WWW.YORKU.CA/YORKWEB/PPYSTUDENTS.HTML
*In August, mail (or email or fax) the NEW STUDENT INFORMATION form and a VOID personal
cheque or a bank account information form (from your bank) to the GPA’s attention
(dburns@yorku.ca) in order to process September’s payroll by direct deposit.
Before you can access York's online services, you MUST create a Passport York account. Your
Passport York username and password authenticate you as a member of the York computing
community. Go to: http://www.yorku.ca/yorkweb/ppy_general.html Select Current Students..
https://passportyork.yorku.ca/ppylogin/ppylogin?signup=1
A Passport York account gives you access to a wide range of services. You can register, add/drop
courses, view grades on-line, print receipts for tax purposes, etc. After you have created your
Passport York account, proceed to create a York e-mail address.
If you encounter difficulties, contact the computing Help Desk. There is a live chat available during
daytime hours from the computing website. The University Information Technology (UIT) Help Desk is
the liaison between York University's central IT services and its users. It is the initial point of contact
point for reporting technical problems, seeking solutions, and making routine requests for services.
The principal purpose of the Help Desk is to provide quick resolution to inquiries related to IT services.
How to request/access this service.



By Email: write to helpdesk@yorku.ca
By phone 416-736-5800 (voicemail available outside of business hours).
By visiting the Service Counter at William Small Centre - Computing Commons.
5
ENROLMENT AND REGISTRATION
Once you have completed your mandatory advising session with Nell Tenhaaf, Graduate
Program Director (GPD) and Dawn Burns, Graduate Program Assistant (GPA), you can
proceed with enrolling in courses. Please note you are not competing for spaces in courses
with other students. Dates for these advising sessions will be sent to you in the summer, but
they are tentatively planned for the first week of September (after Labour Day and before
classes begin on September 9).
MFA students must register and pay fees for a minimum of 5 terms, including the summer term and
the term in which you will complete all degree requirements. PhD students register term by term, with
a normal completion time of 11 terms including 3 summer terms.
Graduate students are required to register in each term until the completion of their degree as either a
full-time or part-time student. A student may petition for the following other permissible categories of
registration: Leave of Absence, External Leave of Absence, No Course Available, or
Maternity/Paternity Leaves of Absence, Elective Leave. See FGS website at
http://www.yorku.ca/grads/ for forms.
If a student withdraws, or is withdrawn by the Faculty for failure to maintain continuous registration,
the student will be required to petition for reinstatement (if eligible) and will be required to pay fees for
the intervening term.
DEADLINES FOR REGISTRATION
Fall 2013: September 9, 2013.
Winter 2014: January 6, 2014.
Notice to All Students
By registering you are considered to have accepted the terms of a contract with the University which
binds you to abiding by the regulations of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. This contract is valid
whether or not you have read the information on this website, or in the Faculty of Graduate Studies
Calendar.
It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself each year with the information in the FGS Calendar for
your program, the FGS Academic Regulations at as well as with any additional regulations of the
specific program in which you are enrolled.
Summary information for registering and enrolling in courses:
1. Familiarize yourself with FGS registration information, including current deadlines and how to
change status.
2. Follow the link on this FGS page to the Registrar’s Office website to enroll in courses for each
term.
Continuous registration is mandatory for all graduate students. Students are expected to work on
their thesis/dissertation exhibition during the summer. They may enroll in summer courses if required,
and if appropriate ones are available.
6
FACULTY IN THE VISUAL ARTS GRADUATE PROGRAM
GRADUATE PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Nell Tenhaaf (Professor)tenhaaf@yorku.ca
GRADUATE PROGRAM ASSISTANT (GPA) – 416.736.5533
Dawn Burns
dburns@yorku.ca
ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS AND FULL MEMBERS OF THE PROGRAM
David Armstrong
Barbara McGill Balfour
Jon Baturin**
Marc Couroux
Michel Daigneault
Michael Davey
Janet Jones
Nina Levitt
darmstro@yorku.ca
bbalfour@yorku.ca
baturin@yorku.ca
couroux@yorku.ca
daigneau@yorku.ca
mdavey@rogers.com
jjones@yorku.ca
nlevitt@yorku.ca
Yam Lau
Katherine Knight**
Nancy Nicol
Judith Schwarz**
Yvonne Singer
Brandon Vickerd
Kevin Yates
yamlau@yorku.ca
kknight@yorku.ca
nnicoll@yorku.ca
jschwarz@yorku.ca
ysinger@yorku.ca
bvickerd@yorku.ca
yates@yorku.ca
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS OF THE PROGRAM (can serve as in-program committee member)
John Greyson (Film)
johngreyzone@gmail.com
MarkDavid Hosale (Digital Media)
mdhosale@yorku.ca
Michael Longford (Digital Media)
longford@yorku.ca
Allyson Mitchell (Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies)
mail@allysonmitchell.com
** on sabbatical fall/winter 2013/14 (Prof. Baturin half sabbatical to Dec. 2013)
RETURNING MFA STUDENTS
Gord Bond
Teresa Carlesimo
Amanda Clyne
Miles Collyer (MBA)
Mary Grisey
bondgw@yorku.ca
teresamc@yorku.ca
amandaclyne.artist@gmail.com
mcollyer@yorku.ca
mary12@yorku.ca
Mike Hoolboom
Amélie Jérôme
Christie Kirchner
Milena Roglic
fringe@yorku.ca
amelie12@yorku.ca
ckirchner@yorku.ca
mila78@yorku.ca
Ella Morton
Christos Pantieras
Anna Sarchami
Frances Thomas
Amy Wong
ellamort@yorku.ca
cpan1973@yorku.ca
sarchami@yorku.ca
fthomas@yorku.ca
amywong@yorku.ca
NEW MFA STUDENTS
Katie Bruce
Ashley Culver
Scott Harber
Rebecca Houston
Michelle MacKinnon
kmbruce@yorku.ca
ashleydianaculver@gmail.com
scottharber613@gmail.com
rhouston@yorku.ca
ellemac@yorku.ca
RETURNING PhD STUDENTS
Year 6
Eshrat Erfanian
erfanian@yorku.ca
Jorge Lozano
jlozano@yorku.ca
Colleen Wolstenholme cwolst49@yorku.ca
Year 5
Elle Flanders
Troy Ouellete
graphicpictures@gmail.com
troy123@yorku.ca
Year 1 – NEW PhD STUDENTS
Alejandro Tamayo
laimagendelmundo@yahoo.ca
Zoë Heyn-Jones
zoeheynjones@ryerson.ca
Year 4
June Pak
Elida Schogt
yu104191@yorku.ca
eschogt@yorku.ca
Year 3
Kika Thorne
khorne@yorku.ca
Year 2
7
FACULTY RESEARCH
David Armstrong, Associate Professor, MFA, University of Western Ontario; BFA with Distinction,
University of Alberta - Print media, artists’ books, photography, time-based media, focus on printed
matter as a trace of cultural production, as well as issues of memory and perception.
Barbara McGill Balfour, Associate Professor, MFA, Concordia University, AOCA, Ontario College of
Art, BA Smith College - Print media, digital media, artists’ books and artists’ writing, art and science,
representation of the body, and feminism.
Jon Baturin, Associate Professor, MFA, Glasgow School of Art and the University of Glasgow;
Advanced Diploma, Emily Carr College of Arts; BA, University of Victoria - Large photo-based
installations that investigate ideological constructs as they relate to notions of truth. Deals with the
body, sexual identity, and subjective interpretations of hope
Marc Couroux, Associate Professor, BMus, MMus (McGill) - interdisciplinary artist whose work is
rooted in his experiences as a contemporary music pianist. His early piano performance works
centred on the reinvention and renewal of the audience-performer dialectic, challenging the received
notion of the performer's physical presence within the socio-political confines of the public event.
Michel Daigneault, Associate Professor, MA, University of Montreal and Hunter College; BA
University of Montreal and Concordia University - painting, drawing, installation, theory. Main subject
of inquiry questions what constitutes abstraction today and explores how abstraction relates to larger
social forces.
Michael Davey, Associate Professor, PDA, Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland; BA (Honours), York
University - Drawing, stone carving, bronze casting, metal fabrication, 3D installation, multi-media site
specific installation, digital video/photography.
Janet Jones, Associate Professor, PhD, New York University; MFA, York University; BEd, University
of Toronto; BFA, Concordia University - Painting; the body and technology; the Flaneuse in the
postmodern city; critical theory.
Katherine Knight, Associate Professor, MFA, University of Victoria; BFA, Nova Scotia College of Art
and Design - Photography and photo-based approaches, emphasis on landscape, text/narrative
integrating time-based components and archival source material.
Yam Lau, Associate Professor, Post-Grad Diploma, Seneca; BFA, MFA, Alberta - painting, drawing,
theory. Work focuses in the exploration of new expressions and presentations of pictorial space, and
traverses diverse media including painting, writing, animation and the Internet.
Nina Levitt, Associate Professor, BA, Ryerson; MFA, Illinois-Chicago - Photography, installation and
video. Her practice examines the representation of women in popular culture and often involves the
recovery and manipulation of existing images. Her current research focuses on the representation of
female spies during WWII.
Nancy Nicol, Associate Professor, MFA, York University; BFA, Concordia University, Video art and
documentary, with research interests in art and activism, cultural studies, post colonialism, feminism,
and gay and lesbian studies.
8
Judith Schwartz, Associate Professor, MFA, York University; BA, University of British Columbia Sculpture, public sculpture, art and cultural theory.
Yvonne Singer, Associate Professor, MFA, York University; OCA, BA McGill University - Installation
artist dealing with memory, identity, history; specifically, the intersection of public and private histories
in the formation of identity from a feminist psychoanalytic perspective.
Nell Tenhaaf, Professor, MFA and BFA, Concordia University- Electronic media art and writing,
interactive art, web-based art, science and technology, and artificial life.
Brandon Vickerd, Associate Professor, BFA (NSCAD), MFA, University of Victoria - sculptor whose
research encompasses robotics, site-specific interventions, metal fabrication, foundry processes and
collaborative projects.
Kevin Yates, Associate Professor, Ontario College of Art and Design, Nova Scotia College of Art and
Design, MFA (Victoria) - his art practice and research revolve around creating sculpture which
functions like film stills: objects that hold space like a “pause” so the viewer can examine and inspect.
9
INTRODUCTION
MFA Program in Visual Arts at York: A Brief History
Launched in 1974, the York University MFA program in Visual Arts spans a history of almost four
decades. A number of important factors continue to define the program’s strength. These include: an
integration of theory and practice, an openness to all media, up-to-date and advanced facilities, a
supportive and well-established faculty, opportunities for teaching and for exhibiting, financial support,
and the program’s close ties to the professional art community. All of these contribute to a rich and
challenging learning experience for MFA students.
Aims and Objectives of the MFA Program
The overall aim of the MFA program is to provide graduate students the necessary challenge and
opportunity to develop:
1)
2)
3)
A mature and critical studio practice that engages with contemporary ideas and art forms;
A strong theoretical knowledge base to enhance studio practice;
A clear sense about future intentions and ambitions.
The MFA provides students with the necessary knowledge, experience and opportunity for
professional careers as practicing artists and/or educators. The program offers opportunities for:
1)
2)
3)
Dialogue with professional curators and practicing contemporary artists;
Exhibitions;
Teaching.
On completion of the MFA, students should:
1)
2)
3)
Have developed a mature body of work that engages and contributes to contemporary practice
on a professional level;
Be able to research and practice independently;
Be able to articulate their ideas and intentions in both written and oral formats.
PhD Program in Visual Arts at York: A Brief History
Inaugurated in 2008, York University’s PhD in Visual arts is unique in Canada for its concentration on
studio-based practice. It aims to place our graduates in the vanguard within their field, as exceptional
artists and scholars. There is a growing trend toward PhD programs in visual arts with many
successful established programs internationally, particularly in the United Kingdom, Australia and New
Zealand. The York PhD program is the first of its kind in Canada, in which all candidates are artists
whose studio practice leads their thinking.
Aims and Objectives of PhD Program
The primary objective of the PhD in Visual Arts is to provide opportunity for advanced independent
research that is integrated within the development of original studio practice, in all visual arts media.
This four-year degree leads to both development as a professional artist and higher qualifications for
university teaching positions. Participants in the program will develop new methodologies for
reconciling the two sometimes-conflicting forces of scholarly depth and art world professionalism.
10
These objectives are achieved through a combination of coursework in the Visual Arts program and in
the university at large, and two exhibitions of original work accompanied by contextualizing papers.
Students must demonstrate maturity in research as recognized by the academic sector as well as by
their peers in the art community. Supervisory committees in the program include artists, scholars and
art world professionals, so as to foster the best intellectual environment for meeting the program’s
objectives.
On completion of the PhD, students should:
1)
2)
3)
Have produced an original body of studio work for critical engagement through exhibition in the
art milieu (which includes engagement with other artists, curators, critics and scholars);
Be able to analyze and evaluate the pertinence of their own studio practice in the context of
the underlying issues and the major currents of contemporary visual arts practices;
Be able to integrate scholarly research and writing with the practice of artmaking, through
comprehension of existing models for this integration (known as practice-based research).
Overview of PhD in Visual Arts Program
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Term 1-2-3
Term 4-5-6
Term 7-8-9
Term 10-11-12
Term 1 & 2:
PhD / MFA Graduate
Seminar, 6 credits
+
York graduate
course(s), 6 credits
Term 4:
York graduate course,
3 credits
Term 3:
Summer Institute,
3 credits
Term 6:
Summer Institute,
3 credits
Pro-tem supervisor;
Term 3 (beginning):
Second in-program
member of
supervisory
committee
established
Term 6 (beginning):
Oral Comprehensive
Examinations; final
supervisory committee
established
Term 7 (beginning):
Dissertation Proposal
due
Shared work space
on campus and
access to all Visual
Arts studio facilities
Individual studio on
campus and access to
all Visual Arts studio
facilities (beginning
early term 3)
Individual studio on
campus and access to
all Visual Arts studio
facilities
Doctoral research
11
Doctoral research
Term 11 or beginning
of 12: completion of
Dissertation Exhibition
and Support Paper;
oral examination
To end of term 11
only (winter term, year
4): individual studio
on campus and
access to all Visual
Arts studio facilities
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS, MFA and PhD
Following your advising session with Nell Tenhaaf, Graduate Program Director (GPD), and Dawn
Burns, Graduate Program Assistant (GPA), you will be able to enroll in courses and register for the
term (instructions are provided below). You are required to enroll and register in fall and winter
courses at the same time. Registration and enrolment will take place during Orientation week.
Enrolment Procedures for all Graduate Level Students:
1)
Registration – you are required to register in each and every term you are enrolled in the
program, regardless if you are taking courses or not. Once you access the Registrar’s Website
(www.registar.yorku.ca) and ACCEPT THE FEES, you are registered! You must adhere to the
deadlines established by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Otherwise, you will be charged a $200
late registration fee. http://www.yorku.ca/grads/
2)
Once you have successfully registered. You need to enroll in courses. Catalogue numbers for
the first and second year MFA / PhD courses are below. Log in to the Registrar’s web site –
www.registrar.yorku.ca select “Web Registration and Enrolment” – under the heading “Your
Student Record Online” on the left side of the screen. You must have created your Passport
York username and password to access this information. Select “add/drop courses”.
MFA Course Requirements:
1st Year Courses:
GS/VISA 5600 3.0: Contemporary Theory in the Visual Arts, Fall 2013 Term
Catalogue number: E15W01
Wednesday 9:30-12:30 – Marc Couroux
*GS/VISA 5620 6.0: Graduate Seminar (*Full Year, two term course - add in fall only)
Catalogue number: D75P01 (pass/fail)
Tuesday 2:30-5:30 – Nell Tenhaaf
In the Graduate Seminar students engage with each other’s work and that of members of the Toronto
arts community, through presentations and discussions. Invited artists/curators/theorists present their
work and also conduct some individual studio critique sessions. Support for students’ thesis and
dissertation writing is also a component of the seminar.
GS/VISA 5610 3.0: Theoretical Issues in Contemporary Art, Winter 2014 Term
Catalogue number: U33P01 (cross-listed with ARTH 5160.03)
Wednesday 2:30-5:30 – Jennifer Fisher
Summer 2014, Term 3: You must register for the term. Because of degree requirement changes
coming into effect in Fall 2014, we strongly encourage you to enroll in the Joan and Martin Goldfarb
Summer Institute (3.0). See http://finearts.yorku.ca/goldfarb-summer-institute/2013 to see an outline
of the 2013 SI. You have the option to enroll in an added language course or course from another
program at any time.
2nd Year Courses:
Current Year II MFA Students are required to enroll in 2013-14 Graduate Seminar:
*GS/VISA 5620 6.0: (*Full Year, two term course - add in fall only) Catalogue number
D75P01(pass/fail) Tuesday 2:30-5:30 Nell Tenhaaf
12
MFA Thesis Requirements and Supervision Procedures
Thesis Requirement
The MFA degree is a two-year full-time program (5 terms). In order to be qualified for the degree, the
candidate produces a thesis that consists of two components: a thesis exhibition, and a thesis support
paper. A successful completion and oral examination of both components qualifies the candidate for
the Master of Fine Arts degree. Individual studios are provided through both years of the program.
First year MFA Supervisory committee (objectives and protocols)
The first year MFA supervision committee consists of two faculty supervisors assigned by the GPD,
with one designated as primary supervisor. The objective of the first year committee is to foster and
ensure a vigorous, informed and productive studio practice leading to a successful thesis proposal by
the MFA candidates at the end of the first year.
The supervision protocol requires first year MFA students to contact and arrange a minimum of two
meetings each term with their supervisory committees. Additional meetings can be arranged if
necessary. Duration of each meeting should be no less than one hour and can be extended if
required. Students are responsible for organizing and scheduling meetings with their
supervisory committee. Failure to arrange meetings may jeopardize the students’ candidacy.
During the meetings the students are expected to: introduce and discuss their work with the
supervisory committee; receive advice and be challenged concerning their practice; demonstrate
progress in both studio production and theoretical development.
A third meeting each term (at the end of term one and in the middle of term two) with two other faculty
members is organized by the GPD. This exposes students to four more members of the faculty, which
is helpful for choosing second year committee members and in particular the second year supervisor
– a process that should begin by early March. Students are responsible for arranging these two
meetings as well, once they have the names of the faculty from the GPD at the beginning of the year.
First year students can also independently meet faculty members by inviting them for studio visits.
Students may find that the most suitable supervisor may not be practicing in their artistic medium.
First year reports
Within a week after each meeting, students are required to submit to the committee a report that
serves as a document and summary of the meeting. The reporting form outlines the procedure and is
available online at http://www.yorku.ca/gradvisa/mfa.html. The report/summary should be integrated
into the students’ learning process. Hence, it should provide critical reflections on the meeting in
relation to students’ studio production. Forward completed signed copy to the GPA for approval.
First year MFA Thesis Proposals
MFA students are required to submit a draft thesis proposal with a bibliography to their first year
committee during the last meeting of the second term (generally in March). The thesis proposal
indicates the ideas and work that the student will explore in their second year, and provides direction
for the summer term. It may include a synopsis of the thesis exhibition with a tentative exhibition title.
The proposal should be 2 to 4 pages double-spaced including a bibliography (detailed information will
be sent via e-mail closer to the due date). Once the first year supervisory committee has discussed
and approved the proposal, it is then forwarded to the three members of the second year thesis
supervisory committee for approval and signature (e-mail will suffice). See below for more information.
13
Second year MFA Supervisory committee (objectives and protocols)
Students are required to choose the members of the second year thesis supervisory committee, which
includes: two faculty from the studio sector (referred to also as in-program) – one of these is your
supervisor, which should be clearly stated from the outset; one faculty from Art History, or from
another York University department that is suitable, or an artist from the Toronto area (please note
that an independent artist is not compensated for this work). The final selection of members must be
approved by the GPD.
It is highly recommended that the members of the second year committee be confirmed by the end
April in term two. As noted above, the MFA Thesis Proposal must by SIGNED by the three
members of the second year supervisory committee. The FINAL copy, including ethics forms (if
required) and TCPS ethics tutorial certificate (the latter is a tri-council tutorial that is done online)
(http://www.yorku.ca/grads/policies_procedures/research_ethics.html), must be delivered to the GPD
for final approval and signature by JUNE 6 of the summer term. Failure to submit completed forms will
result in delays (e-mail approval from your thesis supervisory committee members is acceptable).
The objective of the second year committee is to assist students towards the production of a
challenging body of work and support paper that fulfills the requirements of the MFA degree. During
the meetings the students are expected to demonstrate progress in both studio production and
support paper, and by the second term establish the date and location of the oral examination.
Various deadlines regarding gallery booking, oral examination dates, etc. are communicated early in
the second term and must be adhered to. In order to convocate in June, the thesis defense (held
during the thesis exhibition) must be scheduled before the end of April.
Second year Reports
Following the two first term committee meetings, the supervisor in consultation with the other
committee members submits a progress report by January of the winter term. Any issues that affect
progress toward completion must be noted in this report.
Upon completion of the last thesis supervisory committee meeting, each student is required to
submit the Oral Examination information Sheet (appendix B) to the graduate program office.
Thesis Exhibition and Venue
The Thesis exhibition is normally a solo exhibition that presents the MFA candidate’s creative work in
a cohesive form. The exhibition must demonstrate qualification to be a part of the professional
community of contemporary art practice.
The Gales Gallery located in Accolade West and The Special Projects Gallery located in the Goldfarb
Centre for Fine Arts are reserved from April to the first week of May exclusively for MFA thesis
exhibitions. Space will be reserved on a first come first served basis with Frances Tee
(ftee@yorku.ca), the Department of Visual Arts receptionist, who maintains the schedule. Although
many of the thesis exhibitions take place on campus, MFA candidates are also encouraged to set up
their exhibitions at other venues with approval from the thesis supervisory committee. Possible
venues may be artist run centers, commercial galleries or venues that are unconventional but
appropriate for the work. Any incurred expenses, such as rental fees, are the student’s responsibility.
Support Paper
The support paper should be 20-50 pages (approx. 5,000 -12,500 words). The MFA program regards
the support paper as an important supplement to studio practice. Guidelines from FGS must be
followed. See: http://www.yorku.ca/grads/policies_procedures/index.html
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The most effective form for the thesis support paper may or may not be that of a standard research
paper. Past examples of other creative responses (some of them have received university-wide
recognition with the FGS thesis award) can be signed out through the GPA, Dawn Burns.
MFA Oral Examination and Thesis Support Paper Submission Dates
To be considered for June convocation, your oral examination must be completed by the end of April,
at the absolute latest.
No later then three weeks before the scheduled oral examination, a student must submit five copies
of the thesis support paper to the GPA. The paper is then distributed to the members of the student’s
committee. No revisions to the paper can be made by the student during this three week period, as all
members are reviewing and commenting on the same copy (i.e. all revisions to the paper must be
reviewed and approved by the thesis supervisory committee before the 3 week deadline).
After the oral examination has taken place, and the committee has signed off, three final copies (two
for binding, one for your student file) of the thesis support paper, including images must be submitted
directly to the GPA. In the event that you are required to make minor or specified revisions, a letter (or
e-mail) signed by your supervisor and the committee chair must also be submitted verifying that the
changes were satisfactorily completed.
PhD Course Requirements
Students are required to take a total of 3.5 graduate courses (21 credits) to satisfy degree
requirements.
Term 1 and 2:
*GS/VISA 5620 6.0: Graduate Seminar (Full Year, two term course - add in fall only) – combined
MFA/PhD
Catalogue number D75P01 (pass/fail)
Tuesday’s 2:30-5:30 Nell Tenhaaf
See description above, under MFA Degree Requirements
Required in each of Terms 3 and 6:
*GS/VISA 6020 3.0: Contemporary Visual Arts Summer Institute (3.0 credits each term taken)
The annual Contemporary Visual Arts Summer Institute is a key facet of the program is. It includes a
two-week residency with prominent international artists and theorists, drawing on the Toronto and
international art communities for distinguished guests to give public lectures and hold seminars. In this
way, the PhD in Visual Arts program acts as a catalyst for the interplay between academic research
and the innovative activities of artworld professionals. It forms a network of professional relationships
among Canadian and international researchers operating within and beyond fine arts university
communities. Written work is required from students enrolled in the Summer Institute.
1.5 additional graduate courses are taken during the first six terms from any program in the university
including other Fine Arts graduate programs (9 credits). These courses are meant to strengthen the
theoretical / conceptual area(s) of each candidate, and to inform the development of the candidate’s
art practice. They will also provide the background for the candidate to write the written portion of the
dissertation. In consultation with the Graduate Program Director and the candidate’s pro-tem
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supervisor, these graduate courses can be chosen from any area in the university, including the PhD
in Art History and Visual Culture. Additional graduate courses have often been sought in the joint
York/Ryerson Graduate Program in Communications and Culture or in the Department of Film.
PhD Dissertation Requirements and Supervision Procedures
In addition to the courses, the program requires: an oral comprehensive examination at the end of
PhD II, a dissertation proposal submitted by the end of the sixth term (or at the latest, the beginning of
the seventh term) and a final dissertation exhibition and written paper completed preferably by the
eleventh term (second term of PhD IV).
1. Comprehensive Examination
The oral comprehensive examination is comprised of a self-curated survey exhibition of the
candidate’s work and a 20-page statement that positions the work in relation to contemporary
theoretical considerations and art practices. The examination normally takes place at the exhibition
venue. Questions relate to the candidate’s work/statement and may also be of a more general nature,
for example arising from the Summer Institute. It is expected that this examination enables the student
to reflect on the nature of their past work and project the direction of their upcoming work, to be
detailed in the dissertation proposal.
2. Dissertation Proposal
The dissertation proposal will be approximately fifteen pages in length as well as a bibliography. It
outlines the nature of the proposed studio work and the theoretical /critical areas that inform it,
through a survey and précis of the pertinent texts. It describes how these ideas integrate with the
studio work and proposes a series of research questions that are examined in the final dissertation. It
proposes a venue for the upcoming dissertation exhibition. Form TD1 is to be completed by the
candidate, including securing the approval of all committee members, and submitted with the proposal
to the graduate program office. The TD1 form is available on the FGS website at
http://www.yorku.ca/grads/forms.html. This form also outlines ethics approval requirements. Note that
use of human participants in the dissertation work requires additional forms and certificate. Please
see http://www.yorku.ca/grads/policies_procedures/research_ethics.html for information.
3. Dissertation Exhibition
Students must defend a dissertation that presents their research in the form of a significant solo
exhibition, accompanied by a dissertation research support paper of minimum 100 pages. A key
criterion for assessing the dissertation exhibition and research support paper in the final oral
examination is their contribution to practice-based scholarship, which includes (but is not limited to),
the following objectives:





Formulate innovative research questions in the context of practice-based research.
Implement studio-based conceptual, formal and technical skills in order to produce an original
body of work and to develop an innovative art practice, of a calibre to be recognized by the art
milieu locally and/or internationally.
Integrate an interdisciplinary context for art practice (i.e. its relation to other fields of
knowledge such as art history, philosophy, science, political activism, womens studies) into
practice-based research.
Exhibit artworks professionally and engage in a critical dialogue with other contemporary
artists and researchers.
Clearly articulate and realize the role of writing within practice-based research.
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
Communicate in visual, oral, and written modes for professional and critical discourse in visual
arts.
Supervisor and Supervisory Committee
To enable each student to assume the program of work from the time of his/her entry, a pro-tem
supervisor is determined in relation to the research interests as well as the media focus that are
expressed in the candidate’s application. The pro-tem supervisor guides the student in forming the
supervisory committee. Each student is required to choose a two person committee by the end of the
second term, consisting of a supervisor and a second member who are both members of the
Graduate Program in Visual Arts (full or associate members, as listed above – associate members
cannot act as primary supervisors). A third committee member from the art world community, i.e., a
curator, artist, or critic, is selected and added to the committee by the end of the fifth term (second
term of PhD II). S/he will be a member of the Oral Comprehensive Examination committee and
continue as a member of the supervisory committee for the final two years of the program. The role of
the third committee member is flexible and depends on available time. The minimum expectations
are: one committee meeting per term, with the whole committee; reading and comments on the
dissertation support paper in its final stages before defense, unless closer participation in the writing
process is desired.
Reports
Annually in the spring, the supervisor in consultation with at least one member of the supervisory
committee submits to the GPD a progress report that has been initiated by the candidate. This form is
available online at http://www.yorku.ca/gradvisa/phd.html
Studio
In year two to four of study, each candidate is given a private studio at York. In the first year,
candidates share a space with Art History graduate students. Studio assignment is arranged by the
GPD with the students. In addition, candidates will have full access to all Department of Visual Art and
Art History studio facilities (e.g., sculpture, print, photo, video and sound) during their time in the PhD
program. Students whose program of study extends beyond spring of PhD IV (term 11) are required
to maintain an independent studio space off campus.
For Conduct of the Oral Examination (Thesis or Dissertation), see
http://www.yorku.ca/grads/policies_procedures/thesis_dissertations_index.html
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MFA / PhD GENERAL STUDENT INFORMATION
Key Distribution
The security and safety of all users is paramount to the operations of all the studio facilities.
Therefore, keys and/or access cards needed to access studio facilities (sculpture, print media,
photography, time based media etc.) will only be provided to graduate students who have attained the
necessary experience and appropriate skill level. This will be determined through communication with
the area’s faculty members and technical staff on a case by case basis. Introductory technical
orientation sessions are organized in the areas at the beginning of each academic year. Initial
discussion with the Department of Visual Art and Art History Studio Manager, Andrew Gugan, can
direct you to the appropriate area to meet your needs.
Where a student has sufficient technical competency that would allow them to work appropriately,
independently and safely, the relevant area’s technical staff will review the specifics of the
Departments’ procedures and equipment operation with the student. Students who require training to
acquire new skills should consult with the relevant area faculty member or the GPD so as to be
directed toward appropriate undergraduate classes for acquiring these skills (these cannot be taken
for credit). Please note that technical staff does not provide training nor one-on-one support for
individual projects.
Once access is authorized, a $50 key deposit is required, and payment made to the Visual Arts
Administrative Assistant (retain your receipt in order to have your deposit returned). Keys and access
cards will then be provided by the Studio Manager. Most keys are readily available but in the case
where keys must be ordered, a wait should be expected. Key/card access is handled by the Grad
Program Assistant, Dawn Burns.
Grad students are expected to be self-directed and work independently in the studio facilities. They
are required to provide their own materials when using studio facilities – materials are not included in
tuition fees.
Studio Manager: Andrew Gugan, GCFA 236 agugan@yorku.ca, extension 20013
Administrative Assistant: Brenda Hicks, GCFA 239 bhicks@yorku.ca, extension 77416
Studio Space
At the end of the first year, 1st year MFA students should consult with the GPD if they want to relocate
to a studio of their choosing. The two large painting studios on the 2nd and 3rd floor are reserved for
painters as they have been specially outfitted with a fume extractor ventilation system.
Graduating students are required to remove all debris from the studio and resurface the walls,
if necessary. Paint and supplies are available in the supply room. Students must vacate their
studio and return all keys by May 15. Your $50 key deposit will not be returned until your
studio space has been deemed acceptable.
Students are expected to participate in the upkeep of the graduate area. Cleaning supplies are made
available in the kitchenette area. If any supplies such as soap or paper towels need refilling, please
also inform the GPA and she will make sure they are replenished. This is also the case for lights that
need replacing. Once garbage bins are full, place directly outside of the graduate area and caretaking
will empty them.
Caretaking has been banned from the area due to problems of artwork being left in hallways and
therefore considered garbage. Caretaking does go into the studio once every July to do an overall
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cleaning of the space. Students are informed when this will take place so that artwork can be covered
and protected from dust.
Please make an effort to be considerate to your fellow graduate students. It cannot be stressed
enough that this is a shared space. The use of toxic substances, the unsanitary disposal of chemicals
and paints down the kitchen sink, and the continuous playing of loud music, will definitely NOT be
appreciated or tolerated by others.
ITC Equipment
If graduate students require AV equipment such as data projectors, computers DVD players, TV/VCR
equipment for their graduate courses, they should speak to the Graduate Program Assistant. If we do
not have the equipment that you require, it must be ordered. All equipment order requests must be
sent via e-mail, 3-5 days before the event. Please note that there is no flexibility with this timeframe.
Mail Distribution
Mail will be distributed once per day, approximately 3:00 p.m., to the graduate student mailboxes,
located on the second floor beside the Visual Arts Resource Centre (formerly the Slide Library).
Office Hours - TA
It is expected that TAs hold office hours for their undergraduate students. Often graduate studios are
utilized for this purpose. Please arrange to meet your students outside the doors of the graduate area
and accompany them to your studio. Do not leave the main door open when awaiting students or
visitors as it allows anyone to wonder into an otherwise secure area.
MFA / PhD Group exhibitions
During the MFA /PhD program, there are a number of group exhibition opportunities. These
exhibitions take place on campus and downtown. While some of the exhibitions are organized by the
MFA / PhD students, others are juried by distinguished curators. These are important opportunities for
the students to learn about their work, gain professional experience and contacts.
York ID
York’s official photo ID is the York Card (YU-card). It is required as identification for exams, use of
recreational facilities, meal-plans and borrowing privilege’s at the Library. Visit the YU-card office on
campus to have your photo taken and receive a YU-card on the spot. You must present one piece of
valid government ID to have your photo taken. There is no cost, but if lost there is a $20 replacement
fee. For further information contact the YU card office:
The YU-card Office
Room 200, William Small Centre
Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
416-736-5674
www.yorku.ca/yucard
Public transportation (TTC)
There are direct buses to York from both Downsview (York Rocket, bus 196, 106) and Finch subway
stations (60C and 60F). See fare information at http://www.toronto.ca/ttc/fares.htm
Please note that the 196 bus doesn’t run on Saturday or Sunday, in which case, your only option is to
take the 106 bus. There is also regular GO Bus/Train services to York. For information on a specific
route, call 416-896-3200 (Toronto area), 1-888-438-6646 (toll free), or 1-800-387-3652 (TYY
teletypewriters only). You can also visit: www.gotransit.com.
19
Parking on Campus
In order to purchase a parking pass, you must do so either in person or by mail. Only renewals can be
done online by sending an e-mail to: parking@yorku.ca. The closet parking lot to the Fine Arts
building is: Sentinel Road Lot - http://www.yorku.ca/web/maps/. The closest parking garage (available
for hourly/daily parking) is the Student Services Parking garage. Instructions for purchasing your pass
can be found online at: http://www.yorku.ca/parking/. Metered spaces for short-term parking are
limited.
The Parking office is location in:
Room 222, William Small Centre,
Monday – Thursday: 8:45 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Fridays: 8:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
155 Campus Walk
416-736-5335
Avoiding Line-ups
The best time of day to avoid line-ups is the early morning. Currently the busy periods are between
11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Note, the months of September, January and May are exceptionally busy
due to the commencement of classes.
We recommend using the forms available outside the parking office at the William Small Centre, or
online, mailing the completed form and paying by MasterCard, Visa, AMEX or cheque. You can
arrange to either pick up your permit at the customer service reception window or have it mailed to
you.
Mailing Address
As a graduate student, you have your own mailbox. Pay stubs and other information from the
graduate program will be directed to your mailbox, unless you indicate otherwise.
You can have mail sent to:
Your name
c/o Visual Arts Graduate Program
Room 255
Goldfarb Centre for Fine Arts
York University
4700 Keele Street
Toronto, ON M3J 1P3
Phone:
Telephone: 416-736-5533
Copying on Campus
Scott Library (Central Square – left of TD bank machines), it is recommended that you purchase a
copy card, as it is more economical and convenient. There are various kiosks located in the library to
purchase the copy card and to add money to the card. (The cost is .9 cents per page)
1)
Keele Copy Centre (Keele St. & York Boulevard): they offer 10% student discounts.
2)
Graduate students can pre-pay in $25 or $50 increments to the Visual Arts Undergraduate
office, GCFA. At 5¢ a copy, the initial payment will cover 125 or 250 copies, respectively. Upon
proof of payment, Frances Tee will assign each student a code with the allowable limit of
copies. When the code is 'empty', students can re-activate it with another pre-payment of $25
or $50, and so on...Please note that any and all course materials to be copied are to be
20
submitted to the department as per department photocopy policy. The code that is issued to
you will be strictly for copying needs towards your own thesis/research and/or program work.
Student Study Areas
Scott Library Graduate Student Reading Room - Room 409 - There is a study room on the fourth floor
of the Scott Library which is a study space for Graduate Students only. Graduate students can enter
the Graduate Student Reading Room by punching in the current door access code, which will be
changed periodically. There are 2 options to access this:
- Going to the Exit Desk at Scott Library and presenting one’s graduate ID. The Libraries will
attempt to notify graduate students by way of their Graduate Program Directors of such a
change, but it is possible for a graduate student to learn the current code by completing the
Graduate Student Reading Room Door Access Code Form.
- Going online and going to the library homepage under Graduate Students will allow you to do
this. See: http://www.library.yorku.ca/ccm/FacilitiesAndEquipment/index.htm
Once under Study Rooms, one would select Graduate Students Reading Room and follow the
instructions under Door Access to set up a PIN number.
Printing
Currently registered graduate students are entitled to 3000 free black and white pages (or equivalent
value for colour printing). This quota may be accessed throughout the York University Libraries and at
the William Small Centre.The academic year spans September 1st to August 31st. Regular printing
charges will apply for any printing that exceeds the printing quota. Graduate students must use the
designated Graduate printing pay station at William Small Centre to print at that location. Graduate
students can use wireless printing to submit their jobs.
http://www.library.yorku.ca/cms/bbl/technology/printing/
Fitness Facilities
Tait MacKenzie Centre, located on the North West corner of campus, is a spacious, multi-use sport
and recreation facility at York University. With three gyms, a pool, a fitness centre and studios for
recreation instructional classes, this building is the hub of health and fitness at Keele Campus. A $10
membership entitles you to full use of the recreational facilities. Report to Customer Service with your
YU-card and you will be given a shoe tag that you should wear every time you use the gym.
Membership ID card or current photo ID is required to enter all sports facilities. Please note that fall
and winter YU-Cards are valid until the end of August. Summer YU-Cards are valid from May until the
end of August. Please visit the website for activities and listings:
(http://www.yorku.ca/recyork/membership/index.htm)
International Student Identification Cards
International Student cards are free of charge. This card is internationally recognized proof of full-time
student status. York is a member of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) which runs Travel
Cuts (an office is located in the Student Centre). With a passport size photo of yourself and proof of
your student status, you can get a free ISIC card on the spot at any Travel Cuts free of charge. At
non-member universities the charge would be $16.00. This card is required for student discounts with
VIA Rail and on Greyhound bus trips. Reduced rates can also be obtained for certain
accommodations, admission to some of the world’s most renowned museums, historical sites, and
entertainment.
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Student Organizer
You can pick up a free organizer at the York Federation of Graduate Students, student government
office, in the Student Centre, whose main office is Suite 335, 94 York Blvd. between York Lanes and
Vari Hall (above the food court). Tel: 416-736-5658.
Residence and Campus Living
The York Apartments are a complex of apartment buildings administered by the York Apartments
Office of Student Housing Services catering to graduate students and married or more mature
undergraduate students. Occupancy is by lease for a specified period of time and both furnished and
unfurnished models are available.
York Apartments - Student Housing Services
4 Assiniboine Rd, Room 101
Tel: 416-736-5152 Fax: 416-650-8008
e-mail: yorkapts@yorku.ca
Office hours: Monday to Friday 8.30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Telephone, cable and internet hook-up can be arranged through Telecom York, 416-650-8055,
located in York Lanes. Dial-up access is free of charge to graduate students and high-speed access
(RESNET) is available. Laundry machines are located in every residence building and operate on a
debit card system.
Off-Campus Housing
You can view the off campus housing listings in and around the GTA at: places4students.com
Libraries
The YU-card is your library card and will be required to access library services. Please bring your
card to the Circulation Desk at any of the York University Libraries: Scott, Steacie, Bronfman, Law or
Frost in order to obtain your library PIN. You will need the PIN for certain library services including
online renewal, self checkout and off-campus access to eResources.
Graduate students may apply for extended loan privileges at the Circulation Desk, Scott
Library by submitting a signed letter from the GPA stating that they are currently working on a
master's or doctoral thesis.
You can return York books to other university libraries, except U of T. York will honour the date
stamped into the book at the other library (return books to the Circulation desk to get the stamp). With
the number of students at York, the library can get busy and noisy. The best times to go are between
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (for early risers) and after 6:00 p.m.
Note: At York, graduate students are eligible for three-month book loans.
Can I use the libraries at the University of Toronto?
Yes. After you get your YU-card set up as a library card, take it, and additional photo identification to
the Robarts Library - located at 130 St. George St., Toronto, tel. no. 416-978-8450 to get a photo
“Direct Borrower” card. This will allow you to get two-week book loans at all University of Toronto
libraries, with the allowance of one renewal. You can set up the same arrangement with ANY Ontario
university library using your York library card. You can also return books borrowed from University of
Toronto at York. They will be date stamped to ensure you are not fined, as long as they are returned
on time.
22
Scott Library Research Workshops
Students who attend these workshops will be given the essential skills they need to efficiently retrieve
solid academic material in the form of books, scholarly journal articles, and web pages. And that
makes for time well spent. All classes are held on the 5th floor of Scott library in room 531.
Online alternatives are also available.
Research Seminars for Graduate Students
There is no need to make a booking or sign up to attend these workshops. Drop in at any available
time and day that suits your busy schedule
Graduate Research at York University (2 hours)
Expectations for research and academic work in North American universities can sometimes be
confusing. In this workshop we will: 1) discuss what, generally, is valued in graduate research work
and how that might differ across cultures; 2) examine how the scholarly research process in North
America and UK works; 3) learn how to locate and use graduate-level research tools; and 4) consider
how to negotiate workable topics for essays.
Students are encouraged to share ideas and experiences in this workshop. Students are also
expected to come prepared with a topic to use for hands-on work. This workshop is meant primarily
for those graduate students enrolled in Humanities or Social Sciences programs. If you would like to
attend this workshop, please contact Kalina Grewal at kgrewal@yorku.ca
Grades
Grades are submitted online as per specified deadlines by each Professor. Once grades have been
released by the Office of the Registrar, you can view your marks using your Passport York Account.
Incompletes
When a graduate student is unable to complete course work by the designated deadline, written
approval for an extension must be obtained from both the course director and the graduate director. If
not, a grade of “F” will automatically be generated on your record. An incomplete request form must
be completed and filed with the program office. The maximum period for carrying an incomplete
grade, as established by FGS, is two months.
Transcripts
Anytime you order a transcript of your graduate studies at York the order will take approximately 7-10
days. Only undergraduate transcripts are available for immediate pick-up but not graduate.
Graduate Transcripts will always take up to 7-10 days, every time one is ordered. You can order online at: http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/transcripts/mail, or in person at the main desk in the Office of the
Registrar, Bennett Centre for Student Services: Transcripts office - 416-736-5151.
TA or GA - CUPE 3903 is Your Union
CUPE 3903, which represents the contract faculty, teaching assistants, and graduate assistants at
York University, is a member of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), a national union
whose membership exceeds 500,000 workers and is Canada’s largest union. CUPE 3903
members have negotiated an extensive health plan into their contract. Visit the web-site for details
about the Drug, Vision and Dental Plan: http://cupe3903.tao.ca/
23
MFA / PhD COMPUTING FAQ’s
How do I activate my e-mail account?
Firstly, you are required to create a Passport York Account:
https://passportyork.yorku.ca/ppylogin/ppylogin?signup=1
To activate your e-mail go to “Manage My Services” at: http://computing.yorku.ca/students/email/
Follow the instructions from there. For further assistance, such as using Telnet, visit Computing and
Network Services at www.cns.yorku.ca, or call them at 416-736-5800 or x55800. The main
Computing Commons Help Desk is located in the William Small Centre in Parking Structure II.
How do I use York as my Internet Provider (to get on-line from home)?
http://resair.yorku.ca/
http://resnet.yorku.ca/
COMPUTER ACCESS ON CAMPUS
Computing Commons Labs
1)
William Small Centre – located in Parking Structure II
2)
TEL Computing Commons – located in the Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Building,
Rm. 1017.
3)
017 ACE - There will be a new CNS Computing Commons in 017 Accolade East. There are
48 PC, 4 high-end MACS, printing and scanning facilities and a helpdesk counter. Hours of
operation are: Mon. to Fri. 8:15 a.m. - 7:50 p.m.
The Computing Commons have computers for all York students and these have internet, word
processing and printing. Each time at the Computing Commons Lab, use your York Passport account
to access the computers.
4)
Faculty Support Centre, Computing and Network Services
This centre provides support for faculty and graduate students doing teaching and research.
Several services are offered including scanner/multimedia equipment that is available for TAs
and RAs to use. For more details on support please visit http://www.yorku.ca/fsc
Location: 1050 TEL Building
Phone: 416.736.2100 Ext. 55800
Mon. to Fri. 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Do I have access to a colour printer?
Colour printing is now also available in some York University Libraries. So far, this service is available
in the Steacie and Bronfman libraries, but it is also being planned for the Frost Library. The cost for
colour printing is $0.25 per page, paid for by using a standard print/copy card.
24
MFA / PhD FUNDING INFORMATION
Funding, Bursaries, Scholarships, Research Funding, Awards and Fees
GA/TA Funding - This information is to be used as a reference guide only and is subject to
change! More detailed information will be provided during the Orientation session.
A portion of the guaranteed funding you receive in the first year will come in the form of salary from
your GA/TA work (subject to Provincial & Federal taxation). The funds will be deposited into your
bank account on a monthly basis in either 8 or 12 installments - September to April or September to
August.
If you choose, you can pay your fees without penalty by payroll deduction. The total amount of your
fall and winter fees, divided by 8, will be deducted from your monthly pay. Request your tuition fee
payment by payroll deduction through our online system before the deadline:
http://www.yorku.ca/grads/money_matters/fees.html
In addition, if you receive scholarship money (tax free), it will be applied to your student account in
three installments fall, winter and summer – only after you register! You can view your student
account on-line at: https://passportyork.yorku.ca/ppylogin/ppylogin). If you do not owe money to York
University, you can request a refund that will be sent to you in the form of a cheque.
You will also receive additional Grant in Aid funding, which will be incorporated into our TA/GA.
Please visit the CUPE Website for additional information - http://3903.cupe.ca/
Bursaries
The Faculty of Graduate Studies and the Fine Arts Faculty organize several bursaries for graduate
students throughout the academic year. You will receive information via e-mail detailing how to apply
as they come up. You are also required to regularly check the FGS bulletins that are sent via e-mail
to all students. Also check the Student Financial Services website: www.yorku.ca/sfs regularly.
Travel funding
The funding for traveling is minimal. If you are presenting at a conference, an artist’s talk or attending
an exhibition opening at a recognized institution, you can apply to the FGS Graduate Development
Fund for travel funding (not expenses – only travel). You may apply each term (early fall and early
spring) for travel funding: a $300 maximum for a flight in North America and a $500 maximum for a
flight overseas with normally a maximum of $500 per year. The grant may only cover gas money if the
trip is within a reasonable traveling distance. The Graduate Program Director must approve the
application for funding after which time FGS will debate whether to grant you any money. The
graduate program assistant will distribute all the necessary information to students by the end of
September. Details of deadline dates when available, may also be found on the FGS’ homepage.
Research Funding
The Research Costs Fund helps subsidize students’ own research expenses that are above and
beyond those costs that are typically associated with graduate work, such as travel to sources of
research, payment of materials, supplies, services, photocopying, etc. All full-time registered
graduate students who are members (past and present) of CUPE are eligible for a grant. Masters
students should note that Doctoral students take priority. Funding is awarded early spring and early
fall. Apply on-line: http://www.yorku.ca/grads/money_matters/rfc.html
25
OGS (Ontario Graduate Scholarship)
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship award is for students attending graduate programs at Ontario
universities. The minimum grade for applying is an overall average of “A-” in your previous two years
of university (undergraduate or graduate). http://www.yorku.ca/grads/money_matters/ext_OGS.html
SSHRC/CGS (Canadian Graduate Scholarship) for Masters
The CGS Masters program offers non-renewable twelve-month awards, valued at $17,500, and
tenable at recognized Canadian universities, to students who intend to pursue full-time studies at the
master’s level in a discipline supported by SSHRC. Awards must be taken up in May or September
2014 or in January 2015. Calls for application will be given before December by the Faculty of
Graduate Studies. You will be notified by the Graduate Program office for this timeline. Some
eligibility requirements do apply. Please access this link for more information.
http://www.sshrc.ca/web/apply/program_descriptions/fellowships/cgs_masters_e.asp
SSHRC/CGS Doctoral Fellowships
The SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships and the CGS Doctoral Scholarships programs aim to develop
research skills and assist in the training of highly-qualified academic personnel by supporting students
who demonstrate a high standard of scholarly achievement in undergraduate and graduate studies in
the social sciences and humanities. SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships are valued at $20,000 per annum
for 12, 24, 36 or 48 months.
SSHRC determines the value and duration of an award based on the number of months of full time
study (or equivalent) the applicant will have completed at the proposed start date of the award. Check
the link for more detailed information:
http://www.sshrc.ca/web/apply/program_descriptions/fellowships/doctoral_e.asp
Other Awards
Students will receive timely notification of competitions for annual and semi-annual awards issued by
the Faculty of Graduate Studies and the Visual Arts graduate program, such as the Fieldwork Cost
Fund, the Research Cost Fund, the Graduate Development Assistantship Fund, the Heisey Award,
the Samuel Sarick Purchase Award and Art@Suite 500. There are also opportunities to apply for
external awards on the Student Financial Services website www.yorku.ca/sfs.
Art@Suite 500 for MFA / PhD and Alumni
Art@Suite 500 is an annual exhibition co-sponsored by the Schulich School of Business and the MFA
/PhD visual arts program. Now entering its 12th year, it provides both current graduates and alumni
from the visual arts graduate program the opportunity to exhibit work in the Miles S. Nadal
Management Centre located in the Ernst and Young Tower of the TD Centre in downtown Toronto.
Work submitted is juried by a faculty member of the MFA program and the Schulich School of
Business as well as 2 respected art professionals from the Toronto arts community. The Schulich
School of Business sponsors the exhibition by paying the cost of invitations, designed by one of the
visual arts graduate students, the opening reception and the professional installation of the work. In
addition, the exhibiting students are paid an artist’s fee. The works are on loan in the exhibition for 1
year. One or two works are purchased each year and become part of a permanent collection, owned
and maintained by the Schulich School of Business.
The Samuel Sarick Purchase Award
Samuel Sarick is a long standing supporter of the MFA program. He established the Samuel Sarick
Purchase Award for MFA students in Visual Arts in 1976. This award is given annually to a graduate
of the MFA program whose thesis work demonstrates outstanding achievement. The award is valued
at $2,500. Each year, students are required to submit images of work from their thesis exhibition for
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consideration. The annual purchase of work from the MFA thesis exhibition is chosen by a selection
committee comprised of members of the graduate faculty in Visual Arts.
The Samuel Sarick Purchase Award collection is on display throughout the Joan & Martin Goldfarb
Centre for Fine Arts and provides an excellent opportunity for members of the community to see a
history of works by graduates of the Visual Arts MFA Program.
Tuition Fees for 2013 - 2014
A complete breakdown of tuition fees can be found on the Student Financial Services Website –
http://sfs.yorku.ca/fees/courses/index.php?term=fw13&faculty=Graduate%2BStudies
As an MFA student, you are required to register and pay full-time fees for 5 terms.
Part-time status is not applicable to MFA Visual Arts students.
Refer to the Student Financial Services Web site for International student fees – www.yorku.ca/sfs
Students Enrolled in Combined or Joint Programs
You will be assessed fees for the program/faculty in which you are currently (or will be) resident for
the academic session. For example, if you are enrolled in the combined MBA/MFA program and you
are taking the year one in Fine Arts, then your fees are those posted on this FGS site. When you are
resident at the Schulich School of Business, your fees are those posted on the Schulich site for the
MBA. This method of fee payment applies to all combined and joint programs of study.
Additional Charges:
1)
Registration fee: $15 per student per term.
2)
Graduate Student Association Health Plan: $327.75 (subject to change). See York
University’s Graduate Students’ Association homepage: http://www.yugsa.ca for more
information (this fee will be reversed if you are a GA or TA and covered by CUPE or if you
have proof of private insurance).
3)
Associated Course Fees: Additional fees for course materials, lab fees, etc. may be charged
in individual courses. You may check with the appropriate academic department or unit for
information about such fees. Note that Grad students are to provide their own materials when
using studio facilities – materials are not covered by tuition.
4)
Leave of Absence and External student fees: $169.49.
If you are currently enrolled in the joint MFA/MBA with the Schulich School of Business please visit
the website for a breakdown of the fees and financial assistance page at:
http://www.schulich.yorku.ca/ssb-extra/phd.nsf/allwebdocuments/fees+&+financial+assistance
Term/Program Withdrawal
Fees refunds/credit calculations are based on complete withdrawal from a term or program, not
withdrawal from individual courses. Fees are calculated according to a student's full-time or part-time
enrolment status/activity level.
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Tuition Fee Deadlines
Tuition fees for the Fall 2013 session are due September 10th. Winter 2014 session: January 10
and Summer 2014 session: May 10. You can check your student account online anytime at
http://www.yorku.ca/osfs/oss to see your account balance and payment due date. You can pay your
fees through telephone or web banking. For details how to set this up, please visit:
http://www.yorku.ca/osfs/paybyweb. If you do not pay your balance in full, you will be charged a late
fee of 1% per month on your outstanding balance.
OSAP FAQ’s
For information concerning OSAP, visit the following Web site: http://osap.yorku.ca/
When can I get my student loan?
Check your OSAP application status at: https://osap.gov.on.ca/
to ensure that your application has been processed. Your loan documents will arrive at York about 23 weeks after the processing date.
OSAP funds cannot be released after the end of your academic year or if you are no longer a full time
graduate student. Students with a permanent disability can contact Student Client Services to clarify
what is required to maintain full-time status.
Where can I get my loan documents?
All enquiries about OSAP are done through Student Financial Services in the Bennett Centre for
Student Services: 416-872-YORK (9675). (Please be aware that the phones are exceptionally busy in
September.) Check the Office of Student Financial Services website
(http://www.yorku.ca/osfs/OSAPfirstyear.shtml) regularly for updated information pertaining to your
OSAP documents. The particulars change every year and they will be posting information on their
website around mid-August. Also, watch their site for new online services which will enable you to
check to see if your documents have arrived at York!
Note: If you need to go to Student Client Services, go when it first opens to avoid long lines-ups.
(Office hours are: Monday -Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and Friday 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
through August 27.) If you can go the week before school starts do so, or else wait until the end of
September. You generally have to wait over an hour during lunch at the beginning of September.
Watch for special distribution sites for graduate students during peak periods.
What do I need to pick-up my loan documents?
To collect your documents, you need to show a valid SIN card and photo ID.
Where do I go with my loan documents?
Students receive new OSAP student loans must take them to a designated Canada Post Outlet for
processing by the NSLSC – National Student Service Loan Centre:
(http://canlearn.ca/nslsc/tools/general/canadapost/postoutlets.html), the lender that pays out your
OSAP funds. (View complete list of Canada Post Outlets here:
http://www.yorku.ca/osfs/canpostoutlet.pdf)
During peak periods a NSLSC kiosk will be available on campus. You can also visit Inkblotz
on campus, in York Lanes. For more information visit the Student Financial Services ‘What's
New’ page at http://www.yorku.ca/osfs/Whatsnew.shtml.
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What happens at the NSLSC kiosk or at the Canada Post outlet?
You must present your valid social insurance card and photo ID (e.g. driver's license). You will
complete a Loan Agreement form (this will be given to you) at the kiosk/outlet.
You will need to provide either a void cheque or your banking information (your bank account number,
bank name, address and phone number, and bank transit number).
Your loan document and the Loan Agreement form will be forwarded to the National Student Loan
Service Centre to have the funds disbursed (this takes anywhere from 1-2 weeks - it will be faster if
your provide a void cheque).
As soon as you negotiate your first loan, you become a borrower with important financial
responsibilities. Always make sure that you read the instructions carefully and ask
questions if you are unclear.
If you have previous student loans check our Maintaining Your Interest Free Status page:
(http://www.yorku.ca/osfs/maintain.shtml) for details about 22A forms and interest free status.
If you owe fees when the loan document is released to you, we will instruct the National Student Loan
What should I do if I need to prove I am still a student for a loan OTHER than OSAP or CSL,
such as a Student Line of Credit through my banking institution?
Go to the Student Client Services, Student Services Centre (SSC) any time after you are enrolled and
registered and request an Enrolled and Registered Letter. Photo ID is required when collecting your
letter.
What can I do if unforeseeable expenses arise?
The Graduate Students Association provides emergency short-term interest-free loans to graduate
students who experience temporary financial difficulties. The maximum amount loaned is $200 with a
repayment schedule of four months. To qualify, you must be a full-time York Graduate Student and
have good standing in your Program. To obtain a loan, contact the GSA President or Treasurer in 325
Student Centre (736-2100 ext. 33453) during office hours or by appointment. For more information,
please visit: http://www.yorku.ca/dancgrad/fAssist.html
Alternatively, CUPE 3903 also has a fund available for students in need - http://3903.cupe.ca/benefitsfunds/ways-means
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USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS
YORK SECURITY/EMERGENCY (dial from any internal phone)
ext. 33333
Main Switch board
416 736-2100
York Bookstore, York Lanes
416 736-5024
Career Centre
416 736-5351
Client Services (UIT), Steacie Science Bldg.
416 736-5800
Counseling & Disability Services, Bennett Centre for Student Services
416 736-5297
CUPE 3903, 2050 TEL
416 736-5154
Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS), 230 York Lanes
416 736-5521
Graduate Students Association (GSA), 325 Student Centre
416 736-5865
VISA Graduate Program Office, 255 GCFA
416 736-5533
Graduate Admissions, Bennett Centre for Student Services
416 736-5000
Lost and Found, Ross Bldg.
ext. 33369
York Apartments
416 736-5152
Office of the Ombudsperson
416 736-5200
Information Security, 228 William Small Centre
416 650-8808
goSAFE
416 736-5454
Office of Student Financial Services (OSFS), Bennett Centre
416 872-9675
York Card Office, 200 William Small Centre
416 736-5674
Parking, Parking Structure ll
416 736-5335
Payroll, Kinsmen Building, 155-1
416 736-5005
Scott Library Information
416 736-5150
Transcripts, Registrars Office, Bennett Centre for Student Services Bldg
416 736-5151
IMPORTANT WEB SITES
York’s Main Page: http://www.yorku.ca
1. Office of the Registrar: http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/
2. Faculty of Graduate Studies: http://www.yorku.ca/grads/
3. York (Keele) campus map: http://www.yorku.ca/yorkweb/maps/york2d/index.htm
4. Visual Arts Graduate Program: http://www.yorku.ca/gradvisa
5. Student Account Statements On-Line: http://www.yorku.ca/osfs/SAyouracct.shtml
6. Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP): http://osap.gov.on.ca/
7. Graduate Housing: http://www.yorku.ca/stuhouse/yorkapts/index.htm or
https://www.places4students.com/
8. York Libraries: http://www.library.yorku.ca/
9. Student/Staff Directory: http://starcraft.ccs.yorku.ca/atlas/servlet/atlas
10. Go SAFE - http://www.yorku.ca/gosafe/
goSAFE is a complimentary service provided by York University to help students, faculty, staff and
their guests safely get from one on-campus location to another.
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Appendix A
Sessional Dates
This information is important for Graduate level teaching assistants and integrated courses.
Graduate level dates may vary from undergraduate. The GPA will update as required.
http://www.yorku.ca/grads/calendar.htm
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Appendix B
Graduate Program in Visual Arts
Oral Examination Information Sheet
Name:
Date of Oral Examination:
Location:
Address:
Time:
Brief Description:
Committee Members: Include full name and e-mail address
1.
2.
3.
Complete this form in full and return it to Dawn
Burns in the Graduate office rm. 243 GCFA after
your last committee meeting.
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