York University
Faculty of Graduate Studies
GRADUATE PROGRAM IN
VISUAL ARTS
Handbook
2011-2012
Goldfarb Centre for Fine Arts
Telephone: 416-736-5533
Fax: 416-736-5875
www.yorku.ca/gradvisa/
COVER PHOTO PROVIDED BY MFA ALUMNUS Jaime Angelopoulos
I thought I knew you, 2010 Thesis exhibition at Gales Gallery
In her solo installation, /*I Thought I Knew You*/, sculptor *Jaime Angelopoulos *presents
new work and poetry she wrote in response to her creations.
Angelopoulos often visualizes fragments of an unmade object before materializing it
physically in form. A colour, texture or shape will appear repeatedly in her visual thoughts.
The fragmented internal images are not accompanied by language or conceptual clarity.
During and after the creative process, Angelopoulos writes poems as a means to “trace” her
decision-making process. The poems are written in response to the sensorial stimuli that
motivate the sculptures to come into being. The poems give a name to the phenomenal
experiences of colour, texture and form that her sculptures manifest.
Artist: Colwyn Griffith
Dust with Mugs, C-Print, 107 x 85 cm, 2010
Colwyn Griffith studied photographyat Dawson College in Montreal and has a BA in film
studies from Carleton University. Group and solo exhibitions across Canada and abroad
include Carleton University in Ottawa, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Gallery 44 Centre for
Photography in Toronto, Le Mois de la Photo Montreal, and the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo.
His photographs have appeared in publications such as Canadian Art, Border Crossings,
Douglas Coupland’s Souvenir of Canada 2 and Image and Imagination edited by Martha
Langford.
2
CONTENTS
Welcome from Michel Daigneault, Director
Page 4
Getting Started!
Page 5
Registration
Page 6
Faculty Members Contact Information
Student Contact Information
Faculty Research Interests
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
Page 11
Overview of the PhD program
Page 12
MFA / PhD Degree Requirements
Courses for first and second year MFA students
Courses/degree requirements for PhD students
Page 13
PhD Dissertation Evaluation Procedures (Supervision)
Comprehensive Exams
PhD Dissertation Proposal, oral examination
Page 15
MFA Thesis Requirements and Procedures
First year students
Thesis requirements overview
Supervision committee, reports, thesis proposal
Second year students
Supervisory committee, thesis exhibition and venue,
support paper, proposal, dates for oral examination
Page 18
MFA / PhD General Student Information
Key distribution, studio space, group exhibitions,
parking, photocopying, library facilities, etc.
Page 21 - 26
MFA / PhD Computing FAQ’s
E-mail Account, computer access on campus, printing
Page 27 - 28
MFA / PhD Financial FAQ’S
Funding, tuition fees, refund table, Awards, OSAP, etc.
Page 29 - 34
Useful Phone Numbers
Important Phone Numbers and Websites
Page 35
Appendices
a) Sessional Dates
b) Oral Examination form
Page 14
Page 16 - 17
Page 19 - 20
Page 36 - 39
Page 40
3
Welcome from Michel Daigneault,
Graduate Program Director
It is with great pleasure that I am welcoming you to our MFA / PhD programs in Visual Arts at
York University. My colleagues and I are looking forward to drawing on our own studio
experience to engage with you in a rich and stimulating dialogue about contemporary art
practices. We propose an experience that will be intense, stimulating and productive.
Our programs offer numerous opportunities for studio visits and exchanges with guest artists,
curators and art historians reflecting a diverse range of interests to guide you as you develop
your own research. We hope that the artists you meet will reinforce your motivation to
become an artist and that you will make lasting friendships and personal and professional
connections with your classmate to enrich your ongoing development and life as an artist.
At York, the MFA / PhD programs are supported by a vibrant university culture that promotes
a creative dialogue between the disciplines. This dialogue is sustained by an emphasis on
team teaching approach, support amongst the faculty for divergent views and is reflected in
the diversity of the art practices of our students. Currently, our programs consist of a dynamic
community of twenty-five students working in one or more of the following media: video,
performance, painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture and digital media.
The excellence of York’s MFA / PhD graduate students’ work is publicly acknowledged; our
students are recipients of numerous awards from the university 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; not to mention, the Ontario Graduate Scholarship and Canadian 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 and are continuing to develop (Ohio State
University, Art Mûr Gallery and l’Ecole des arts visuels et médiatiques at l’UQAM.)
Ultimately, the students will find in the diversity of our two programs the strength and
knowledge needed to become creative and active participants in the contemporary art milieu.
Wishing you all the best,
Michel Daigneault
Associate Professor,
Graduate Program Director in Visual Arts
4
GETTING STARTED!
The handbook provides essential information for all graduate level Visual Arts students. It outlines the
history and objectives of the MFA and PhD program, enrolment and supervision
guidelines/procedures 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 degree. MFA / PhD students are advised to consult the handbook for important guidelines and
procedures.
Information provided in the handbook is supplementary to the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar
for 2011-2012 (hereafter designated as the Main Calendar). Every attempt has been made to make it
as current as possible. Please read carefully the “Faculty Regulations” and the “Program
Regulations” found in the main calendar or by going to the Faculty’s Website at
http://www.yorku.ca/grads In the case of any conflict with Faculty or Department publications,
the information contained in the York University Calendar takes precedence.
*In August, mail, Fax or PDF a VOID personal cheque or a bank account information form (from
your bank) to the GPA’s attention 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/computing. Select: Current Students to Continue. Then
select Getting Started – a Guide for Computing at York for New Students. A Passport York account
gives you access to a wide range of services. You can register, add/drop courses, view grades online, print receipts for tax purposes, etc. After you have created your Passport York account, proceed
to item number 2 and create a York e-mail address, if you have not already done so.
If you encounter difficulties, contact the computing Help Desk. 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.
The Help Desk also keeps the York Community informed of all IT related developments, changes and
events.
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 (see the attached
Orientation/Advising schedule)with Michel Daigneault, 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.
Once you are registered as a graduate student you have entered into a program of study and unlike
undergraduate studies, you 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.
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. FGS 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 2011: September, 7 2011.
Winter 2012: January, 3 2012.
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 general information sections of the
Calendar and with the section covering the Faculty Regulations, as well as with any additional
regulations of the specific program in which you are enrolled.
There are 3 basic steps to registering and enrolling in courses:
1. Familiarize yourself with the registration information, which includes courses available for each
term.
2. Familiarize yourself with the steps to registration and course enrolment on the Office of the
Registrar's website.
3. Connect by computer to the Registrar's Office website and enrol in courses for each term.
Continuous registration is mandatory for all graduate level students. MFA students are expected to
work on their thesis exhibition during the summer. You are required to register, but you do not
necessarily enroll in courses.
FACULTY IN THE VISUAL ARTS GRADUATE PROGRAM
6
DIRECTOR/ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF THE GRADUATE PROGRAM (GPD)
Michel Daigneault
daigneau@yorku.ca
GRADUATE PROGRAM ASSISTANT (GPA) – 416.736.5533
Dawn Burns
dburns@yorku.ca
ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS
David Armstrong
Barbara McGill Balfour*
Jon Baturin
Marc Couroux
Michel Daigneault
Michael Davey
Janet Jones
Yam Lau**
Nina Levitt**
darmstro@yorku.ca
bbalfour@yorku.ca
baturin@yorku.ca
couroux@yorku.ca
daigneau@yorku.ca
mdavey@rogers.com
jjones@yorku.ca
yamlau@yorku.ca
nlevitt@yorku.ca
Katherine Knight
Nancy Nicol*
Judith Schwarz (chair)
Yvonne Singer
Nell Tenhaaf
Brandon Vickerd
Kevin Yates**
kknight@yorku.ca
nnicoll@yorku.ca
jschwarz@yorku.ca
ysinger@yorku.ca
tenhaaf@yorku.ca
bvickerd@yorku.ca
yates@yorku.ca
Thea Jones
Braden Labonte
Rafael Ochoa
Luke Siemens
theajone@yorku.ca
labonteb@yorku.ca
rbo@yorku.ca
lukesiem@yorku.ca
*on sabbatical fall 2011
** on sabbatical fall/winter 2011/12
ADJUNCT FACULTY
Bill Burns
David Liss
Carlo Cesta
bburns@canada.ca
dliss@toronto.ca
cesta@interlog.com
RETURNING MFA STUDENTS
Andreas Buchwaldt
Jon Claytor
Patrick Cull
Matthew Gardiner
Phil Irish
andreas2@yorku.ca
jclaytor@yorku.ca
pgcull@yorku.ca
mattwg@yorku.ca
irishp@yorku.ca
NEW MFA STUDENTS
Marina Black
Neil Harrison
Yoon Jun Jung
Rachel Ludlow
Carly McAskill
blacksea@yorku.ca
neil2020@yorku.ca
newnjin@yorku.ca
rludlow@yorku.ca
cmcaskil@yorku.ca
Nadia Moss
Shannon Scanlan
Victoria Vitasek
Tobias Williams
nmoss@yorku.ca
sscanlan@yorku.ca
vicky99@yorku.ca
tobiasw@yorku.ca
RETURNING PhD STUDENTS
Year 4
Eshrat Erfanian
Risa Horowitz
erfanian@yorku.ca
risah@yorku.ca
Year 2
June Pak
Elida Schogt
yu104191@yorku.ca
eschogt@yorku.ca
Year 3
Elle Flanders
Troy Ouelette
graphicpictures@gmail.com
troy123@yorku.ca
New PhD Students Year 1
Nicholas Pye
npye@yorku.ca
Kiki Thorne
kthorne@yorku.ca
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, Assistant Professor, BMus, MMus (McGill) Couroux is an 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, Painting, Drawing, Installation, Theory; MA, University of
Montreal and Hunter College; BA University of Montreal and Concordia University -. 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 I 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, Painting, Drawing, Theory; Post-Grad Diploma, Seneca; BFA, MFA,
Alberta - 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, Photography, Department of Visual Arts, York University; 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.
David Liss, Adjunct Professor, Director/Curator, Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, Curator of
Canadian and international contemporary artists. He is also a writer and an artist.
8
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.
Judith Schwartz, Associate Professor and Chair of the Visual arts Dept., 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, Associate 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 - Brandon Vickerd
is a 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) Yates art practice and research revolves around creating sculpture which
functions like film stills: objects that hold space like a “pause” so the viewer can examine and inspect.
ART HISTORY FACULTY WITH INTEREST IN WORKING WITH MFA / PhD STUDENTS
Dan Adler, PhD, Art History Graduate Centre, City University of New York - Professor Adler’s
research interests are the origins of art history, some of which dates back to turn-of-the-century
Germany, and contemporary installation art Sculpture and Installation.
Dr. Jennifer Fisher, BFA (NSCAD), MA, PhD (Concordia) Associate Professor: Contemporary Art,
Canadian Art History, Curatorial Studies Department of Visual Arts, York University. Jennifer Fisher is
an art historian, critic and curator specializing in contemporary art and culture studies. In her research,
she engages cultural studies approaches to examine contemporary art, curatorial practice, display
culture and the aesthetics of the non-visual senses.
Richard Hill, PhD Middlesex University; Diploma, Ontario College of Art, Curator, critic and art
historian of Cree heritage. Prof. Hill’s areas of interest and expertise include historical and
contemporary art created by Indigenous North American artists.
Shelley Hornstein, PhD, Universite des Sciences Humaines Strasbourg, Professor Hornstein's
research focuses on the examination of concepts of place and spatial politics in architectural and
urban sites.
Anna Hudson, PhD, University of Toronto Professor Hudson’s teaching focuses are: postcolonial art
of the Americas including contemporary art of the Arctic; museology and the interrelation of art
networks and institutions; the art market and the business of culture; issues of sex and gender in the
representation of beauty and social order; and the legacy of humanism in twentieth century Canadian
art.
Sarah Parsons, PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara
9
Professor Sarah Parsons' research and teaching span a wide range of studies in contemporary
western art history, theory and museum practice, with an emphasis on photographic modes of
representation. Her publications focus on modern visual culture, colonial art and pedagogy.
Carol Zemel, PhD, Columbia University - Professor Carol Zemel is an art historian who specializes in
modern and contemporary art, diaspora studies and feminism.
10
INTRODUCTION
MFA Program at York: A Brief History
Created in 1974, the York University MFA program spans a history of three decades. It is recognized
as one of the most established graduate programs for studio practice in the country. This recognition
is based on a number of important factors that continue to define the program’s strength. These
factors include: an interdisciplinary approach to art production, an integration of theory and practice, a
supportive and well-established faculty, opportunities for teaching, exhibitions, financial support for
graduate students, the program’s close ties to the professional art community and its important
members, up-to-date and advanced facilities. All of these contribute to a rich and challenging learning
experience for graduate students.
Aims and Objectives of the MFA Program
The overall aim of the MFA program as a whole is to provide graduate students the necessary
challenge and opportunity to develop:
1)
2)
3)
A mature and critical studio practice that engages with the challenges of contemporary of
ideas and artistic mediums;
A strong theoretical knowledge base to supplement studio practice;
A clear sense about future intentions and ambitions.
The MFA provides the 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.
11
PhD Program at York: A Brief History
Inaugural year - 2008
York’s PhD program in Visual arts is unique in Canada for its concentration on studio-based practice.
It is a new standard that will place our graduates in the vanguard within their field, as exceptional
artists and scholars. Although this program will be the first of its kind in Canada, there is a growing
trend toward PhD programs in visual arts and there are successful established programs
internationally, particularly in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
The PhD in Visual arts is premised on scholarship that is practice-based. It offers a program of study
in which original research is materialized and disseminated in the form of art works. Research in this
context is focused on visual arts, as well as specific research questions that are defined by
candidates. To graduate with a PhD, students must complete course work and an individualized
exhibition-based comprehensive examination. They must defend a dissertation that presents their
research in the form of a significant solo exhibition, accompanied by a Dissertation Research Support
Paper related to the exhibition. The PhD in Visual arts is a four-year advanced degree that will
prepare mature researchers with the highest qualifications to teach studio practice and theoretical
courses, supervise graduate students within a university context, and have significant professional
careers as artists.
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.
The PhD is a degree that 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.
These objectives are achieved through a combination of course work in the Visual Arts department
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. Throughout the program, students will examine and define
what is meant by the recently emergent term “artist/researcher,” now used within programs such as
the SSHRC Research/Creation Grant to describe creative or artistic process that has sustained
research and a scholarly apparatus directly embedded within the process. Because the SSHRC
program is still in a pilot stage and the terms used are still in the process of being established,
students in this PhD program will be leaders in contributing to this new territory. Supervisory
committees in the program will include artists, scholars and art world professionals so as to foster the
best intellectual environment for meeting the program’s objectives.
12
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 PhD course,
6 credits
Term 4:
York PhD course,
3 credits
Term 3:
Summer Institute,
3 credits
Pro-tem supervisor;
Term 3 (beginning):
Supervisory
Committee set up
Term 6:
Summer Institute,
3 credits
Term 6 (beginning):
Oral Comprehensive
Examinations
Term 7 (beginning):
Dissertation Proposal
in; final Supervisory
Committee established
Doctoral research
Studio on campus
and access to all
Visual Arts studio
facilities
Studio on campus and
access to all Visual
Arts studio facilities
Work space on
campus and access to
all Visual Arts studio
facilities
13
Doctoral research
Term 11 or beginning
of 12: completion of
Dissertation Exhibition
and Support Paper;
oral examination
Work space on
campus and access
to all Visual Arts
studio facilities
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Following your advising session with Michel Daigneault, Graduate Program Director, and Dawn
Burns, Graduate Program Assistant, 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. I have listed the
catalogue numbers for the first and second year MFA / PhD courses 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”. Choose “Fall 2011 Graduate and Law” to add your fall courses. Then go
back and add your winter course. Choose “Winter 2012 Graduate and Law”
MFA Degree Requirements:
Fall 2011 Term 1:
GS/VISA 5600 3.0: Contemporary Theory in the Visual Arts
Catalogue number: N56A01
Wednesday’s 9:30-12:30 - Michel Daigneault
*GS/VISA 5620 6.0: (*Full Year-add in fall only) Graduate Seminar
Catalogue number: D62G01 (pass/fail)
Tuesday’s 2:30-5:30 - Michel Daigneault
Winter 2011 Term 2:
GS/VISA 5610 3.0: Theoretical Issues in Contemporary Art
Catalogue number: UO9Z01 (cross-listed with ARTH 5160.03)
Friday’s 2:30-5:30 - Dan Adler
Summer 2011 Term 3: You must register for the term – you do not enroll in VISA courses. If your
schedule permits, you have the option to enroll in a language course or a course from another
program at any time.
2nd Year Courses:
Fall 2012 and Winter 2013 Terms 4 & 5:
GS/VISA 5620 6.0 Graduate Seminar (*Full Year – add in fall only)
Catalogue number: TBD
Tuesday’s 2:30-5:30 - TBD
Current Year II MFA Students are only required to enroll in Graduate Seminar:
*GS/VISA 5620 6.0: (*Full Year-add in fall only)
Catalogue number D62G01(pass/fail) Tuesday’s 2:30-5:30 Michel Daigneault
14
1st Year Courses/Degree Requirements PhD:
The PhD program is a full-time four-year program. PhD candidates are required to take a total of 3.5
graduate courses: a combined *MFA / PhD Graduate Seminar during their first two semesters (6
credits Pass/Fail); The Visual Arts Summer Institute during their third and sixth semesters (Visa
6020.03 - cat. number TBD); and 1.5 graduate courses during the first four semesters from any
program in the university including other graduate programs in the Faculty of Fine Arts (9 credits).
View course listings on the Registrar’s web site – www.registrar.yorku.ca
*GS/VISA 5620 6.0: (Full Year) Graduate Seminar
Catalogue number D62G01 (pass/fail)
Tuesday’s 2:30-5:30 Michel Daigneault
The MFA / PhD Graduate Seminar is a course in which students will engage with each other and
members of the Toronto arts community by presenting and discussing their work and the work of
other artists. As part of this course, visiting artists/curators/theorists conduct individual studio visits
allowing students in depth studio critique sessions. This course is presently a key component of the
MFA Visual Arts program. The course work at the PhD level will entail amplification of the student’s
theoretical and topical interests as self-directed content, including the development of a research
methodology and a personal bibliography. For PhD students, the criteria of the course will be brought
to a higher caliber of intellectual and artistic experience through revisions agreed upon by the course
director, the Graduate Program Director and the pro-tem supervisors.
The Visual Arts Summer Institute (GS/VISA 6020.03) will comprise course credit for the PhD. It will
consist of a two week intensive semester the summer term of year I and year II. It is structured
around a specific theme and featuring internationally renowned lecturers (international artists and
theorists in residence), members of the Toronto arts community, members of the York University PhD
in Visual Arts program and PhD in Art History and Visual Culture program.
The other 1.5 Graduate courses are meant to strengthen the theoretical / conceptual area(s) of each
candidate. In consultation with the Graduate Program Director and the candidate’s pro-tem
supervisor, these graduate courses can be chosen from any area in the university, including the PhD
in Art History and Visual Culture. Because a greater understanding of a theoretical area of study leads
to more subtle and complex studio work, these courses will inform the development of the candidate’s
art production. They will also provide the background for the candidate to write the written portion of
the dissertation.
Examples of courses available for additional 9 credits:
Communications and Culture joint York/Ryerson Graduate Program:
Communication & Culture 7000 3.0: Perspectives in Communication and Cultural Studies Doctoral
Core course. Same as Ryerson CC 9904
Communication & Culture 7500 3.0: Technology, Communication, and Culture Foundation Course
[Doctoral Level]. Same as Ryerson CC 9921
Communication & Culture 6510 3.0 and 6510 6.0: Media Production Workshop
Same as Environmental Studies 6349 3.0 or 6.0
15
Courses offered in the Art History department, Visual Arts:
Please note: course offerings vary from year to year
ARTH 5130 3.0
ARTH 5140 3.0
ARTH 5180B 3.0 (EDUC 5471 3.0)
ARTH 5180
ARTH 5160 3.0 (VISA 5610 3.0)
ARTH 5170 3.0
ARTH 5175 3.0
ARTH 5330 3.0
Grad Seminar I
Grad Seminar II
Visual Culture and Gender
Representation and Visual Culture
Theoretical Issues in Contemporary Art
Museums & Galleries
Curatorial Practice
Critical Theories: Memory & Place
PhD DISSERTATION EVALUATION PROCEDURES (Supervision)
A three person Supervisory Committee will be composed by the beginning of the third term to
supervise the student. This committee will consist of two faculty members from the Graduate Program
in Visual Arts (one of whom is the pro-tem supervisor) and one graduate faculty member from the
university whose expertise is in the area of the candidate’s theoretical/critical research. For the final
two years of the program, this committee may remain in place or be reconstituted, and a fourth person
from the art world community, i.e. a curator, artist, or critic will be selected and added to the
committee. These external members of the supervisory committees will be appointed as adjunct
faculty in the graduate program in Visual Arts. The examining committee for the oral examination of
the dissertation will include one additional examiner who is at arm’s length, in accordance with FGS
procedures.
Overall, visual arts graduate students are as likely to choose faculty supervisors whose theoretical
interests parallel their own, as they are to select by medium commonality. For clarity, we retain the
concept and the structure of media areas at all levels of department programs, and collectively as a
studio faculty we have expertise in most facets of the visual arts. But the strength of our programs is
in fostering contemporary visual arts practices that engage with social, political, scientific and cultural
discourses and with traditional and innovative technologies. Theory is fully integrated with practice,
and practice is experimental.
PhD Comprehensive Examination
Students will undergo an Oral Comprehensive Examination during the beginning of the sixth semester
(summer of the second year), which will consist of a self-curated survey exhibition of the candidate’s
previous work and a 20-page statement that positions the work in relation to contemporary theoretical
considerations and art practices. The exam will take place at the exhibition venue. Questions will
relate both to the candidate’s work / statement and those of a more general nature arising from the
Summer Institute. It is expected that this examination will enable 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.
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PhD Dissertation Proposal
A Dissertation Proposal will be submitted no later than the beginning of the seventh semester, and the
supervisory committee established. The pro-tem supervisor may remain or change, allowing for
changes in the student’s direction as well as leaves on the part of graduate faculty. The proposal will
be approximately 15 pages in length, excluding the tentative bibliography. It will: outline the nature of
the proposed studio work; present the theoretical /critical areas that inform it through a survey and
précis of the pertinent texts; describe how these ideas integrate with the studio work; propose a series
of research questions that will be examined in the final dissertation, and the sequencing of those into
sections within the Support Paper; propose a venue for the upcoming Dissertation Exhibition.
The final dissertation will be completed by the eleventh semester, or early in the twelfth. It will be
comprised of a solo exhibition at a recognized venue such as a public gallery or an artist-run centre,
or an independent venue agreed upon by the supervisory committee, as well as a minimum 100-page
Dissertation Research Support Paper. The written portion of the final PhD presentation will be much
more comprehensive and complex in detail than the Thesis Support Paper in the MFA program. It will
outline the Dissertation Exhibition objectives, situating them as primary and original research, and
articulate the theoretical and cultural context for the work.
Criteria for Evaluation
A key criterion for assessing the Dissertation Exhibition and Research Support Paper in the final oral
examination is their contribution to scholarship, which includes (but is not limited to), the following
parameters:
1)
that the art work, in its address to the general public, is thought-provoking as a critique of
contemporary culture, or as a signpost of where culture is headed or as a form of pedagogy
that promotes awareness of cultural differences;
2)
That the art work and paper contribute to the discourse of the visual arts, because both the
process and the outcome are at a level that is of interest to historians of contemporary art;
3)
That research/creation (as defined in the SSHRC Research/Creation grant program) is
reflected in the work, i.e. there is a clear research question, a contextualization within relevant
theories and ideas; and a clear methodological approach.
Conduct of the Oral Examination
1)
Before an oral can be convened, a majority of the examining committee members must agree
that the dissertation is examinable. The graduate program director shall poll the members of
that committee one week before the scheduled date for the oral. If the candidate does not
receive a majority vote, the members of the examining committee who do not agree that the
dissertation is examinable are required to give their reasons in writing to the candidate, the
supervisor, and the Dean within one week after the poll. In such cases, the oral shall be
postponed for a period not to exceed one year. However, the student has the right to insist that
the oral proceed as planned.
2)
The time and place of oral examination shall be set by the graduate program director in
consultation with the candidate, the Chair and members of the examining committee and with
the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies. Normally the examination shall be held no less
than four weeks from the date on which copies of the completed dissertation approved by the
supervisory committee are sent to each member of the examining committee. The examination
may be held less than four weeks from the time copies are sent to the examining committee
provided all parties agree.
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3)
The oral examination will centre on the dissertation.
4)
The oral examination is a public academic event. Faculty members, graduate students and
others may attend oral examinations at the discretion of the Chair of the examining committee.
They may, at the discretion of the Chair, participate in the questioning. Only members of the
examining committee may be present for the evaluation and for the vote at the conclusion of
an oral examination.
5)
The dissertation oral examination requirement is met if one of the following situations exists:
a)
b)
If the committee accepts the dissertation with no revisions; or,
If the committee accepts the dissertation with specified revisions.
6)
Specified revisions could range from typographical errors or changes of a minor editorial
nature, to specified insertions or deletions which do not radically modify the
development/argument of the dissertation. The committee must specify such changes with
precision. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that all such changes are made,
and the Dean’s representative will confirm that this is the case. Specified revisions must be
completed within six months of the date of the oral examination.
7)
A dissertation is referred for major revision if any of the following conditions exist:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
The committee agrees that the dissertation requires substantive changes in order to be
acceptable; or,
There are two votes for failure; or,
There is one vote for failure plus a minimum of one vote for major revision; or,
There are at least three votes for major revision.
8)
In cases where there are no more than two votes for major revision or one vote for failure, then
specified revisions are expected.
9)
In the cases of major revision, one of the following procedures, agreed upon by the committee
before the examination is adjourned, must be used to finalize the oral results:
a)
b)
The committee will reconvene within twelve months to continue the oral examination;
or, The revised dissertation will be circulated within twelve months to all members, who
will inform the Chair and the Dean’s representative whether they feel the stipulated
requirements have been met.
10)
Detailed reasons for referring pending major revisions must be supplied in writing by the Chair
to the Dean, the program director and the candidate concerned within two weeks.
11)
A dissertation is failed if there are a minimum of three votes for failure. In the event of failure,
detailed reasons must be supplied in writing by the Chair to the Dean, program director and
candidate within two weeks.
12)
After an adjournment and when the major revisions have been completed, the dissertation is
failed if there are two or more votes for failure. A dissertation cannot be referred for major
revisions more than once and no further adjournment is permitted. In the event of failure,
detailed reasons must be supplied in writing by the Chair to the Dean, program director and
candidate within two weeks.
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Decisions of the dissertation examining committee are communicated to the Faculty of Graduate
Studies’ Thesis Office, usually in the form of the Certificate Pages containing appropriate signatures,
through the Dean’s representative, on or before the deadline specified in the Calendar of Events for
those students expecting to be awarded degrees at the spring or fall convocation ceremonies.
MFA THESIS REQUIREMENTS AND SUPERVISION PRODEDURES
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 MFA 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.
First year MFA Supervisory committee (objectives and protocols)
The first year MFA supervision committee comprises two faculty supervisors assigned by the
graduate director. The objective of the first year committee is to ensure and foster the MFA
candidates a vigorous, informed and productive studio practice leading to a successful thesis proposal
at the end of the first year.
The supervision protocol requires first year MFA students to contact and arrange a minimum of three
meetings each term with their supervisory committees. A fourth meeting 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 application.
Report
Within a week after each meeting, students are required to submit to the committee a one-page report
that serves as a document and summary of the meeting. 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. Once submitted, the committee will review the report with
additional comments. Signing off by faculty and the students on each report completes the
supervision process. Forward signed copy to the Graduate Program Director 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 third or fourth meeting in the second term (March). Once the first year
supervisory committee has discussed and approved the proposal, it is then forwarded to the members
of the second year thesis supervisory committee for approval and signature (e-mail will suffice).
The thesis proposal indicates the ideas and work that the student will explore in their second year.
The proposal provides first year students with direction during the summer term. It is highly
recommended that by this point, faculty members comprising the second year committee also be
confirmed.
**It is vital for first year students to invite other faculty members for studio visits. It is in the best
interest of the first year students to demonstrate their ambition and solicit the most suitable
supervisors for their thesis year. In York’s interdisciplinary environment, students may find that the
most suitable supervisor may not be practicing in their artistic medium.
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SECOND/THESIS YEAR SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE (objectives and protocols)
You are required to choose the members of the second year thesis supervisory committee. They
include: two from the studio sector and one from either art history or from another department that
is suitable. Or perhaps, an artist from the Toronto area could be part of your committee. The final
selection of members must be approved by the Graduate Program Director. Students are responsible
to arrange two meetings each term with their thesis supervisory committee. 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:
1)
Introduce and discuss their work with the thesis supervisory committee;
2)
receive advice and be challenged concerning their practice and support paper;
3)
Demonstrate progress in both studio production and support paper.
4)
Confirm the date and location of oral examination **
** It is imperative that second year students observe various deadlines regarding gallery booking, oral
examination dates, etc. In order to convocate in June, your examination must be scheduled before
the end of April.
Upon completion of your last thesis supervisory committee meeting, you are required to
submit the Oral Examination information Sheet (appendix B) to the graduate program office.
Thesis Exhibition and Venue
The Thesis exhibition is usually a solo exhibition that presents the MFA candidate’s creative work in a
cohesive form. The exhibition must demonstrate a keen aspiration as well as qualification to be a part
of the professional community of contemporary art practice.
The Gales Gallery located in Accolade West and The 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 Dawn Burns who will inform Frances Tee, the
Department of Visual Arts receptionist. Although the majority of thesis exhibitions take places on
campus, MFA candidates are also encouraged to set up their thesis exhibitions at other venues with
the approval from the thesis supervisory committee. Other possible venues may be artists’ run
centers, commercial galleries, or venues that are unconventional but appropriate for the artwork. Any
incurred expenses, such as rental fees, etc. are the students’ responsibility.
Support Paper
The support paper should be 20- 50 pages (approx. 5,000 -10,000 words). Being a part of an
interdisciplinary institution with an emphasis on the integration between theory and practice, the MFA
visual arts program regards the “support” paper as an important supplement to studio practice.
Guidelines from FGS must be followed. See the Thesis/Dissertation Guidelines:
http://www.yorku.ca/grads/thesis/index.htm
A useful question for candidates thinking seriously about the paper could be “in what sense and form
does the paper support their studio work?” The most effective response to this question may or may
not be in the form 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 Graduate Program Assistant, Dawn Burns, in the graduate program office.
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Second Year Thesis Proposal
1)
The last meeting with your 1st year committee will take place in March. At that time, you
should determine the members of your Thesis Supervisory Committee (see section
SECOND/THESIS YEAR SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE above). You are required to submit a
draft thesis proposal describing the medium and ideas of the thesis project. This may include
a synopsis of the thesis exhibition and a tentative exhibition title. The proposal should be a
maximum of 2 to 4 pages double spaced including a bibliography (detailed information will be
sent via e-mail closer to the due date).
2)
Once the 3 members of your second year thesis supervisory committee have approved and
SIGNED your thesis proposal, the FINAL copy, including ethics forms and ethics tutorial
certificate (http://www.yorku.ca/grads/policies/ethics.htm), must be delivered to the GPD for
final approval and signature by JUNE 6. Failure to submit completed forms will result in
delays. (e-mail approval from your thesis supervisory committee members is acceptable)
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,
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
committees. 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. (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 you are required to make minor or specified revisions, a letter (or email) signed by your supervisor and the committee chair must also be submitted verifying that the
changes were satisfactorily completed.
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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 all 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 technical staff on a case by case basis.
Initial discussion with the Studio Manager, Janice Carbert can direct you to the appropriate technician
to discuss your needs. Once access is authorized, a $50 key deposit is required, and payment made
to the Visual Arts Budget Assistant. 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.
Where a student has sufficient technical competency that would allow them to work appropriately,
independently and safely, the technical staff will review the specifics of the Departments’ procedures
and equipment operation with the student.
Should a graduate student require training to acquire new skills, the student should make
arrangements with the specific Area faculty member to do so. It is also recommended that the grad
student sit in on the undergraduate classes to receive this training.
Please note that technical staff does not provide training nor one-on-one support for individual
projects. Grad students are expected to be self-directed and work independently in the studio
facilities. Graduate students are required to provide their own materials when using studio facilities –
materials are not included in tuition fees.
Studio Manager: Janice Carbert, GCFA 278a, jcarbert@yorku.ca, extension 20013
Budget Assistant: GCFA 239, extension 33652
Studio Space
2nd year MFA and PhD students have priority when it comes to choosing a studio location. At the end
of the first year, 1st year students are permitted to relocate to the 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 31. 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.
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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
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. (see the website for
further information and images www.yorku/gradvisa)
York ID
York’s official photo ID is the York Card. It’s required as identification, along with a valid photo ID for
exams, recreational facilities, meal-plans and the Library. A visit to the YU-card office on campus to
have your photo taken and receive a YU-card will then replace the sessional card. 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). The TTC costs $2.75 per ride. Student monthly passes are $99.00 (Annual
per month with the Metropass Discount Plan – sign up for 12 consecutive months - $89.00)
http://www.toronto.ca/ttc/fares.htm
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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.
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. Instructions for purchasing your pass can be
found online at: http://www.yorku.ca/parking/.
The 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 243
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
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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
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,
etc.
Student Study Areas
1)
2)
Graduate Student Loft (Computer Lab) Room 338M
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
Graduate students registered as active in the current term are given a $300.00 quota printing credit
per academic year. The academic year spans September 1st to August 31st. Regular printing
charges will apply for any printing that exceeds the $300.00 printing quota. Graduate printing is
available at all Library locations and the William Small Centre. 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.
Fitness Facilities
At Tait MacKenzie, North West corner of campus, a membership can be attained for $10 to have 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
email: 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 at a cost of $28.75 per month. 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: placesforstudents.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.
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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.
An incomplete request form must be completed and filed with the 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 by
mail, but it is always better to order 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/
27
MFA / PhD COMPUTING FAQ’s
How do I activate my e-mail account?
To activate your e-mail go to “Manage My Services” at: http://www.yorku.ca/computing/students/ click
on the “1-2-3 Getting Started”. 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 416-7365800 or x55800. The main Computing Commons Help Desk is located in the William Small Centre in
Parking Structure II.
How important is it for me to have e-mail access at home?
It is extremely important as you will find it fairly difficult to get by without e-mail at home. It is possible
to check it everyday at school, but you may be frustrated. You can access your e-mail account on
campus at http://mymail.yorku.ca. Some professors will cancel classes over e-mail or send out
important information about changes to a reading list, etc. These cases are rare, but it can be
annoying if you miss the message. It is also a good way for students in your tutorial to contact you
the night before their essay is due without your phone ringing off the hook. York gives an e-mail
account for free to all graduate and undergraduate students. Otherwise the primary reason to have email is that all department information is sent to you by e-mail: upcoming events, scholarship
information and important reminders.
How do I use York as my Internet Provider (to get on-line from home)?
When you are in “Manage My Services,” go to active accounts and select “remote access”. Here you
must select a dial up password and again of 8 characters. This will be active in 24 hours. You need
to obtain the dial-up software from any of the Computing Commons where it can be burned to a CD
and install it on your computer. There is no cost for the software.
Please also note that the computers in the Scott Library connect to the same server as the Commons,
so all the student files are also available there.
Note: As long as you remember your Manage My Services password you can change the others if
you forget them. Remember your Manage My Services password! Help for all this is available from
8:30am to 5:30pm, Monday-Friday at 416-736-5800, helpdesk@yorku.ca
COMPUTER ACCESS ON CAMPUS
1)
Graduate Student Loft (Room 338M GCFA)
It houses at least two computers and is generally available 24 hours a day to authorized users
who have been given a door card and an alarm code. To get a door access card and the
alarm code, please visit the Graduate Program Assistant, in the Graduate Program Office.
Once you have been given a card, the Graduate Program Assistant will request that it be
activated by computing services. ***In order to have your card activated, you must enable a
Passport York account. You can do this by visiting: http://www.yorku.ca/ccsweb/dooraccess/.
(Activation may take between 24-48 hours).
Check both Web sites: http://www.yorku.ca/ffacomp and Graduate Studies Computer Lab for
additional computing information in “The Loft”.
All students using the loft must disable the alarm when entering the room, and enable it when
leaving the room (if you are the last to leave).
28
Computing Commons Labs
2)
William Small Centre – located in Parking Structure II
3)
TEL Computing Commons – located in the Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Building,
Rm. 1017.
4)
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.
5)
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.
Another color laser printer in this lab (GCFA 328) can be accessed from anywhere on campus. It is
listed on the network as 'visual arts color'. Paper is provided, and prints are free, but limited to 60
pages per user per term. Color quality/accuracy is not as good as the Epson 2200 printer.
Epson Premium paper works very well for photo quality prints, and is available at the campus
bookstore. Non-Epson papers are allowed at the discretion of the technician or work-study student on
duty. Large, high-resolution prints can take up to 45 minutes.
29
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 the
fees, divided by 8, will be deducted from your monthly pay. To do this you must sign a form in the
Faculty of Graduate Studies office, Room 230 York Lanes
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 an additional Grant in Aid funding, which will be applied to your student account
in three installments over the academic year – fall, winter and summer. FGS will not release your
funds if you are not registered.
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 also check the Student Financial Services website: www.yorku.ca/sfs on a
regualr basis.
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. The Fund generally does not
cover books, conference costs, subsistence and tuition fees. 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. Application forms
are available for printing on the FGS website from mid-August through September and from mid-
30
January to February. The graduate program assistant circulates a memo requesting the submission of
applications to the Research Costs Fund at the end of September.
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). The deadline is in November. More information will be sent
by the GPA. Also, please check the following link for further information:
http://osap.gov.on.ca/eng/not_secure/OGS.htm If you intend on submitting an application, consider
contacting potential referees right away to give them a “heads up” about requiring reference letters.
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
2012 or in January 2013. 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 11th year, it provides both current graduates and alumni of
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 such as curators or dealers 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.
31
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
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 2011 - 2012
The following tables are the program fees and refund schedule for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Know that completing program requirements requires registration and payment for five academic
sessions which includes summer terms (unless students want an elective leave of absence).
2011 - 2012
Graduate Academic Fees-Domestic
Faculty of Graduate Studies
For students entering York University
Program Fees Including Tuition and Supplementary Fees
Status/Program
1 Term
(Domestic)
2 Terms
(Domestic)
1 Term
(International)
2 Terms
(International)
Part-time
$920.84
$1,841.68
$2,002.13
$4,004.26
Full-time
$1,841.66
$3,683.32
$4004.25
$8,008.50
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.
32
Additional Charges:
1)
Registration fee: $15 per student per term. Note that Grad students are to provide their own
materials when using studio facilities – materials are not covered by tuition.
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.
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
2011 - 12 Refund Table
Faculty of Graduate Studies
Term
Full Credit
20% Program Fee
Withheld
60% Program Fee Withheld
No Credit
Fall
Up to and including Sept. 30
Oct. 1 - 15
Oct. 16 - 31
Nov. 1 onward
Winter Up to and including Jan. 31
Feb. 1 - 15
Feb. 16 - 28
March 1 onward
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.
Tuition Fee Deadlines
Tuition fees for the Fall 2011 session are due September 10th. Winter 2012 session: January 10
and Summer 2012 session: May 10. If you have the wrong address on the student record system,
or for some other reason you do not get a bill, you are still responsible for meeting the payment
deadlines. 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
33
OSAP FAQ’s
For information concerning OSAP, visit the following Web site:
http://www.yorku.ca/osfs/OSAPMain.shtml#osap
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.
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).
34
Your OSAP entitlement will be released to you in two installments - 60% in the first term and the
balance in the 2nd term.
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.
How do I pay my tuition with OSAP funds?
If you owe fees when the loan document is released to you, we will instruct the National Student Loan
Centre (NSLC) to send funds (some portion or your OSAP loan) to York. This amount will be applied
directly to your student account.
However, if you are able to pay your tuition from your own resources, you may do so as this will not
jeopardize your OSAP entitlement in any way. The full amount indicated on the loan document would
then be issued to you through your bank.
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
35
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS
YORK SECURITY/EMERGENCY (dial from any internal phone)
ext. 33333
Student Security Escort Service, Ste D East Office Building
416 736-5454
Main Switch board
416 736-2100
York Bookstore, York Lanes
416 736-5024
Career Services
416 736-5351
Computing & Communications Services (CCS), Steacie Science Library
416 736-5800
Counselling & Development Centre, 145 Behavioural Sciences Bldg
416 736-5297
CUPE 3903, 104 East Office Building
416 736-5154
Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS), 283 York Lanes
416 736-5521
Fine Arts Student and Academic Services
416 736-5135
Graduate Students Association (GSA), 325 Student Centre
416 736-5865
VISA Graduate Program Office, 243 GCFA
416 736-5533
Graduate Admissions, Student Services Bldg
416 736-5000
Lost and Found, Ross Bldg.
ext. 33369
On-Campus Housing, Room 101, 4 Assiniboine Rd (general)
416 736-5152
Off-Campus Housing, S172 Ross Bldg.
416 736-5144
York Apartments
416 736-5859
Ombudsperson
416 736-5682
Information Security, Ste D East Office Building
416 650-8808
Student Security, Ste D East Office Building
416 736-5919
Office of Student Financial Services (OSFS), Student Services Bldg.
416 872-9675
York Card Office
416 736-5674
Parking, Parking Structure ll
416 736-5335
Payroll, Ste A, East Office Building
416 736-5552
Scott Library Information
416 736-5150
Transcripts, Registrars Office, 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
8. York Libraries: http://www.library.yorku.ca/
9. Student/Staff Directory: http://starcraft.ccs.yorku.ca/atlas/servlet/atlas
36
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
September 2011
Date
Category
Reminder
1
5
7
Orientation
Holiday
Registration
Deadline
Orientation for new full-time and part-time graduate students
Labour Day - University Closed
Fall Term Registration deadline, students who register after this date will incur a $200 late registration
fee
7
Academic
Petition
7
Term Begins
Absolute final date to request a change of status (ie. leave of absence, change to part-time,
extension of time) for the summer term, students must make their request through their Graduate
Program and complete an Academic Petition Form or a Program Approval Form. Click here
Requests received after this date will be considered for the next term.
Important: Before initiating your request, you are advised to review University and Faculty rules and
regulations as stated in the GS Calendar.
Fall and Fall/Winter Term Begins
7
Classes Start
9
Convocation
10
Fees
15
Grades
20
30
Fall [F] and Fall/Winter [Y] Classes Start
Graduate Program deadline to conduct degree audit and submit Convocation Forms to the
Registrar's Office for students who are eligible to graduate for October 2011 convocation. Click here
Fall [F] Term fees due and payable. Click here
Official grades due for Summer [SU] courses.
Grades not reported will receive an "F", without prior approval of the Graduate Program Director.
Incompletes "I" must be replaced by the required deadlines, for more information, see Faculty Rules
and Regulations as stated in the GS Calendar.
Course ADD W/O
Last day to add a Fall [F] and Fall / Winter [Y] course on-line without permission. Click here
permission
Refund
100% Fee Refund deadline for Fall term - Full Program fee credit. Click here
October 2011
Date
4
Category
Course - Add W
permission
Reminder
Last day to add a Fall term [F] course on-line with permission. Click here
8-14 Reading/ CoNo Classes, No Exams, University Open.
Curricular Week
10
Holiday
12- Convocation
13
Thanksgiving - University Closed
June 2011 Convocation Click here
37
15
Refund
80% Fee Refund deadline for Fall term - Full Program fee credit. Click here
25
Course - Add W
permission
Last day to add a Fall/Winter term [Y] course on-line with permission. Click here
Fall Term Registration & Enrolment, access to on-line registration ends. Students wishing to register
On-line
beyond this date, must contact their Graduate Program Office and visit the Office of the Dean,
Registration Ends
Graduate Studies, 230 York Lanes to process a manual registration form.
31 Refund
40% Fee Refund deadline for Fall term - Full Program fee credit. Click here
November 2011
31
Date Category
1
Reminder
Enrolment
reporting
Refund
Enrolment Reporting Deadline for Fall Term
11
Course DROP
Last day to drop Fall [F] course on line
15
Academic
Petition
To request a change of status (ie. leave of absence, change to part-time, extension of time) for the Winter
Term, students must make their request through their Graduate Program and complete an Academic
Petition Form or a Program Approval Form at least six weeks in advance of the term being requested.
Click here. Important: Before initiating your request, you are advised to review University and Faculty
rules and regulations as stated in the GS Calendar.
30
Program
Withdrawal
Students who have not registered for the current term, will be withdrawn for failure to maintain continuous
registration
1
0% Fee Refund deadline for Summer term - Full Program fee credit. Click here
December 2011
Date
Category
Reminder
6
Classes End
Fall Term Classes End
8
Exams Start
Fall Term Exams Start
22
Exams End
Fall Term Exams End
Dec 23 -Holiday
Jan 2nd
Christmas/NewYear's break (December 23 - January 2) University Closed
23
Fall Term Ends
Term Ends
WINTER TERM 2012 | JANUARY 3 - MAY 15, 2012
January 2012
Date
3
3
3
Category
Term Begins
Class Start Date
Registration
Deadline
Reminder
Winter Term & Fall/Winter Term Begins/Resumes
Winter Term & Fall/Winter Classes Start (Resume)
Winter Term Registration deadline, students who register after this date will incur a $200 late
registration fee
38
3
Academic
Petition
Absolute final date to request a change of status (ie. leave of absence, change to part-time,
extension of time) for the current term, students must make their request through their Graduate
Program and complete an Academic Petition Form or a Program Approval Form. Click here
Requests received after this date will be considered for the next term.
Important: Before initiating your request, you are advised to review University and Faculty rules
and regulations as stated in the FGS Calendar.
10
Fees
15
Grades
Winter Term [W] fees due and payable. Click here
Official grades due for Fall [F] courses.
Grades not reported will receive an "F", without prior approval of the Graduate Program Director
for outstanding work.
Incompletes grades must be replaced by the required deadlines. For more information, see
Faculty Rules and Regulations as stated in the GS Calendar.
Last day to add a Winter term [W] course on-line without permission. Click here
30
Courses ADD
W/O permission
On-line
Winter Term Registration & Enrolment, access to on-line registration ends. Students wishing to
Registration
register beyond this date, must contact their Graduate Program Office and visit the Office of the
Ends
Dean, Graduate Studies, 230 York Lanes to process a manual registration form.
30
Courses - Add W
Last day to add a Winter term [W] course on-line with permission. Click here
permission
31
Refund
16
100% Fee Refund deadline for Winter term [W] - Full Program fee credit. Click here
February 2012
Date
1
10
Category
Enrolment
Reporting
Courses - DROP
Reminder
Enrolment Reporting Deadline for Winter Term
Last day to drop Fall / Winter Term [Y] course on-line, after this date students wishing to drop a
Fall/Winter Term [Y] course must complete a course transaction form and submit to their Graduate
Program for approval. Click here
Summer 2012
Course Offerings
18 - Reading/Co24 Curricular Week
20 Holiday
Summer 2012 lecture schedule (course offerings) posted on-line
15
Refund
80% Fee Refund deadline for Winter term [W] - Full Program fee credit. Click here
28
Refund
40% Fee Refund deadline for Winter term - Full Program fee credit. Click here
15
No Classes, No Exams, University Open
Family Day, University Closed
Students who have not registered for the current term, will be withdrawn for failure to maintain
Program Withdrawal
continuous registration
March 2012
28
Date
1
Category
Registration &
Summer 2012 Registration and Enrolment, Access on line
Enrolment Access
TBA Refund
9
15
Reminder
0% Fee Refund deadline for Winter term - Full Program fee credit. Click here
Courses - DROP Last day to drop Winter [W] course on line
Academic Petition To request a change of status (ie. leave of absence, change to part-time, extension of time) for the
next term, students must make their request through their Graduate Program and complete an
Academic Petition Form or a Program Approval Form at least six weeks in advance of the term
being requested. Click here
Important: Before initiating your request, you are advised to review University and Faculty rules and
39
regulations as stated in the GS Calendar.
28
Doctoral
If you are a Doctoral student, this is the last date for GS to receive a Recommendation for Oral
Candidate - Oral Examination, from the Graduate Program Director to fulfill all Doctor of Philosophy degree
Defense
requirements for June 2012 Convocation.
April 2012
Date
Category
Reminder
1
Convocation
The deadline to Apply to Graduate for June 2012 convocation and to inform the Graduate Program
of your intention to convocate in June 2011. Note: All degree requirements, including final grades,
must be metd by April 30, 2012 in order to convocate in June 2012 Click here
4
Master's
candidate Oral Defense
If you are a Master's student, this is the last date for GS to receive a Recommendation for Oral
Examination, from the Graduate Program Director to fulfill all Master's degree requirements for June
2012 Convocation
2
4
Classes End
Exams Start
Holiday
Exams End
Oral Examination
Winter Term Classes End
Winter Term Exams Start
Good Friday - University Closed
Winter Term Exams End
This is the last date for students to hold thesis/dissertation exams in order to fulfill requirements for
June 2012 convocation
30
Submissions of
Official Copies
Required copies of thesis or dissertation in final acceptable form must be delivered to the Office of
the Dean, Graduate Studies for students planing to convocate in June 2012
30
Term Ends
Winter Term Ends
6
20
25
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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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