|
Graduate
Student Guide
Information
for graduate students and supplementary regulations
Approved
by: Department Council
April 2005
Index
Graduate
students in master's (thesis and non-thesis), and PhD programs
frequently request information and advice on procedures and
policies, both academic and non-academic, which apply to them
during the course of their studies. The material to follow is
intended to provide information on a large number of subject
areas which affect graduate students.
The department
of animal science offers programs that lead to the following
degrees:
(a)
MSc Course Work and Comprehensive Exam - Regulations specific
to animal science are noted below (Non-Thesis MSc Program).
(b)
MSc Course Work and Thesis - Regulations are noted in
the current university graduate calendar.
(c)
PhD - Regulations are noted in the current university
graduate calendar.
Academic
regulations applicable to all graduate students are contained
in the university graduate calendar. This calendar contains
information on such subjects as admission, course requirements,
advisors, academic standing, qualifying and candidacy exams
where applicable, time requirements and limits, thesis copyright,
types of forms, etc.
It is
recommended that students familiarize themselves each year
with the information found in the graduate calendar. The attention
of students is drawn in particular to a portion of the notice
found on page 2 of the calendar which contains the following
statements:
"It
is the responsibility of all students to familiarize themselves
each year with the university's academic regulations and
policy in general, as well as the regulations and policies
applying specifically to their programs and that are on
file in department and unit administrative offices.
It
is the responsibility of all students who register at the
University of Manitoba to be familiar with the specific
graduation requirements of the degree or diploma they are
seeking. While academic advice and counseling are freely
available, it is the responsibility of all students to ensure
that the courses they have selected are appropriate to their
program."
Students
agree by the act of registration to be bound by the regulations,
policies, and by-laws of the University of Manitoba that
are in effect at the time of registration, including any
amendments which may be enacted during the period of their
registration."
| 2.1
Departmental Reviews of Recommendations to the Faculty
of Graduate Studies |
|
General regulations
with regard to academic performance in the faculty of graduate
studies are in the graduate calendar. Note that the department
of animal science can only recommend a particular action
to the faculty of graduate studies with regard to student progress
and/or status in the program. In addition, the department may
decide to make no recommendation, in which case the regulations
of the faculty of graduate studies would be automatically invoked.
The following outlines the procedures for review of any departmental
decisions/recommendations that are sent to the faculty of graduate
studies:
(a)
When a departmental decision is made with regard to a student's
status and/or progress in the graduate program, the student
will be informed by the chair of the department of animal
science graduate studies committee of the nature of the
decision and of the possible consequences.
(b)
Within one week of receiving the decision/recommendation,
the student may request a review of the decision by a department
of animal science graduate studies review panel.
(c)
The review panel will review the case within one week of
receipt of the request.
(d)
The decision of the review panel, to uphold the original
recommendation or to make a new recommendation, will be
forwarded to the department head of animal science.
(e)
The department head will forward the departmental recommendation
to thed dean of the faculty of graduate studies.
Note:
The review panel will normally have the same membership as
the department of animal science graduate studies committee,
which is comprised of four academic staff members and in addition
will include the graduate student representative on the department
of animal science departmental council. If one of the academic
staff members is responsible for the decision/recommendation
that is being reviewed, that person will be replaced by another
academic staff member for case in question.
| 3.
Supplementary Regulations |
|
The faculty
of graduate studies grants authority to a department to implement
certain regulations and requirements, which, upon approval
by the faculty, are specifically applicable to graduate students
in that department. (These regulations are on file in the
faculty of graduate studies office but are not indicated in
the calendar). The intent of this policy is to recognize the
differences between departments. These supplementary regulations
pertaining to graduate students in animal science are outlined
as below.
The following
regulations pertain to students applying for entrance to either
an MSc or PhD program in animal science.
When an
application has been received, a selection committee of at
least three persons investigates the applicant's qualifications
and reports upon suitability of the applicant for graduate
studies towards an MSc or PhD in animal science. In making
admission decisions, the department may also consider the
availability of facilities and of funds to support the potential
graduate student. If acceptance is recommended by the selection
committee and approved by the head of the department of animal
science and the dean of graduate studies, a letter of acceptance
is sent by the faculty of graduate studies.
The selection
committee may recommend that a student, applying for entrance
to an MSc program, complete a pre-master's program in order
to correct deficiencies in the student's qualifications.
Should
the selection committee, appointed and acting under the terms
of reference above, be uncertain of an applicant's qualifications
and ability to proceed in studies for the PhD degree, it may
recommend acceptance of the applicant on the basis of the successful
completion of a qualifying exam to be set and held by the advisory
committee not more than three months after the student has registered
for the PhD program. The student would be so informed and
accept enrolment under those conditions.
In the department
of animal science advisory committees are established for students
in both MSc and PhD programs.
The
MSc advisory committee will consist of the probable members
of the thesis-examining committee. According to the university
calendar the thesis-examining committee "must consist of a minimum
of three persons, one of whom must be from outside the major
department." It is the duty of the committee to exercise general
supervision over the student's work until graduation. The MSc
advisory committee for each student will meet at least once
a year (and possibly more often). The advisory committees
for both MSc and PhD candidates must report to the faculty
of graduate studies by June 15 of each year. Failure to do so
will mean that the student may not re-register the following
September.
The
composition of the PhD advisory committee is described in
the graduate calendar.
Thesis
Program
Refer
to university graduate calendar.
Non-Thesis
Program
In addition
to the information noted in the university graduate calendar,
the following regulations apply with respect to comprehensive
exams.
(a)
Examination Committee - The examination committee
to be selected by the head of the department will consist
of not less than three staff members including the student's
advisor who will act as chairperson. One member will be
from the student's ancillary area of study, preferably from
outside of the department.
(b)
Examinations The exams will be both written and oral.
(c)
The Written Exam The written exams will be comprised
of not less than two papers to be set and graded by academic
staff from whom the student has taken course work. Each
examiner will determine, with the consultation and approval
of the student's advisor and the other members of the examining
committee, the scope of the papers and the manner and time
of their writing. The results will be reported as "satisfactory"
or "not satisfactory" or "conditional;" the latter meaning
that the results are probational depending on the oral exam.
(d)
The Oral Exam The oral exam will be conducted by
the examining committee after "satisfactory" or "conditional"
results have been received from the written examinations
and the student so notified. The results of the oral exam
will determine the "approved" or "not approved" status of
the student to be reported to the faculty of graduate studies
on the form "Report on the Master's Requirement in Place
of the Thesis."
(e)
Notification and Time Reasonable notification will
be given the student on the time, place and nature of each
exam and the results of same. Normally, the written exams
will require no more than 30 days for their completion.
(f)
Exam Results Students receiving "conditional" results
from the written exams will be considered to have met the
total examination requirement if the oral exam is "approved".
If the oral exam result is "not approved", the student will
be required to repeat both written and oral exams. Students
receiving "satisfactory" results from written exams will
be required to repeat the oral exam if the result is not
"approved".
(g)
Rewriting It should be noted that no student may
sit for comprehensive exams more than twice (faculty of
graduate studies regulation).
Qualifying
Exams
A student
may be required to sit for the department of animal science
qualifying exams for the reasons outlined above (see section
under "Selection Committee"). These exams will be set by the
student's advisory committee or by staff members appointed
by them and shall consist of two parts:
(a)
General Animal Science This exam will consist of
one set of questions designed to assess the student's general
knowledge of animal science. The level of competence expected
in this area is essentially that which would be required
of a graduate in animal science from this institution expecting
to enter graduate studies.
(b)
Specific Disciplines of the Major and Ancillary of the
Proposed PhD Program The number of papers to be set
in this part will be determined by the student's advisory
committee but will not be more than three. Each paper will
seek to determine the level of knowledge of the student
in a particular discipline in which the selection committee
feels the student's transcript did not indicate satisfactory
competence.
The examination
procedure will be as follows:
(a)
All exams will be written.
(b)
Students will not only be informed of the areas in which
they will be expected to write qualifying exams on or before
the time of registration but they will also be informed
of the approximate date of those exams. At least one month
before the exams, the exact dates, length and nature of
the exams (i.e. open book, closed book, etc.) will be
given to the student.
(c)
Each paper will be graded by the examiners concerned. On
the basis of these results, the advisory committee will
decide whether the student may proceed with his/her PhD
studies or be requested to withdraw.
Goals
of the Candidacy Exam
The PhD
degree is the highest degree awarded by the University of
Manitoba. This degree is granted on the basis of academic
achievement, independent research and scholarship, and demonstration
of proficiency in the chosen field of study. Students registered
in a PhD program do not become candidates for the PhD
degree until they have successfully completed a candidacy
examination. The purpose of the candidacy examination is to
determine whether a student is capable of meeting the expected
levels of proficiency for a PhD degree. The candidacy examination
is intended to assess the student's overall potential as a
PhD candidate and determine whether he/she has acquired
the skills expected of a person receiving the highest academic
degree. The candidacy examination is not intended to be just
a comprehensive examination of previous courses.
The student
must demonstrate:
1) Ability in independent research and/or scholarship
2) Broad general knowledge
3) Ability to integrate knowledge and
4) Ability to communicate ideas and thoughts
The Candidacy Examination
The candidacy
examination should assess the student's competence and potential
as an independent scientist in the chosen field of study.
Therefore, the examination should be designed to assess the
student's:
1. Research
potential. The student should be able to recognize the essential
features of a problem and be able to provide potential solutions
to the problem. In so doing, the student should provide the
reasoning used to solve the problem, state the assumptions
that were made in order to assess the problem. They should
demonstrate the ability to think critically and to develop
future research directions given a particular situation.
2. General
knowledge. General knowledge of biological science and animal
science is essential. Also, students should be aware of what
is happening around them. They should be familiar with research
being conducted by others in the department and specifically
in other laboratories where work related to the student's
thesis is being conducted. They should also be aware of current
issues in science both locally and globally.
3. Ability
to integrate knowledge and synthesize theory. Ability to take
knowledge learned from a number of sources and integrate this
knowledge into a problem solving situation. This demonstrates
the ability to interpret and evaluate research results and
to integrate knowledge.
4. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely ideas and
thoughts: The student should be able to answer questions in
an organized and coherent manner.
Candidacy
Examining Committee
The candidacy examining committee will consist of
the student's advisory committee and the department head or
designate as the chairperson. The chairperson should not be
a standing member of the student's advisory committee.
The role of the chairperson would be as follows:
- To serve
as a facilitator in the evaluation of the student's performance.
The chairperson will not be required to make his/her own evaluation
but will be responsible for supervision of the examinations,
compilation of the evaluation results and communication of
the results to the student and the faculty of graduate studies.
- Meet with the student to discuss any problem areas reported
by the committee members regarding the written examination.
- Based on comments of the committee, provide final results
of the examination to the student, to the head, department
of animal science and to the faculty of graduate studies.
The role of other
examining committee members is as follows:
- To provide guidance
to the student in preparation for the candidacy examination.
- To formulate
questions that will assess the student's capabilities relative
to the goals of the candidacy examination and to submit written
questions to the chairperson at least two weeks in advance
of the written examination.
- To evaluate
the student's performance relative to the goals of the candidacy
examination.
- To provide
a brief written report to the chairperson within two days
of the written examination. The report should contain a detailed
description of any major problems in the written examination.
This will allow the chairperson time to discuss the problem(s)
with the student and will provide the student enough time
to act upon the problem(s) in preparation for the oral examination.
Specific
duties of the chairperson
- Schedule
the written and oral examinations in consultation with the
committee and student.
- Receive examination questions two weeks prior to the commencement
of the written examination.
- Consult with committee members if submitted questions show
overlap or appear to fall outside the goals of the candidacy
examination.
- Administer the written examination.
- Communicate the results of the written examination to the
student and discuss specific problem areas, if any.
- Communicate the result of the examination to the student
within one week of completion of both parts of the examination.
This should include a written assessment of his/her performance,
based on the comments from the committee, regardless of whether
the student passed or failed the examination.
- Communicate
final results of the examination to the head, department of
animal science and to the faculty of graduate studies.
The
Student
The
student should do the following:
- Inform
the advisory committee and candidacy examining committee chairperson
of his/her intent to sit for the candidacy examination a minimum
of three months prior to the expected examination date and
preferably no later than 18 months after the start of the
program. Candidacy examinations should be held no later than
24 months after the commencement of a student's PhD program.
Regulations of the faculty of graduate studies also stipulate
that the student must take the examination no later than one
year prior to expected graduation.
- Ask
members of the examining committee for guidance in preparation
for the examination.
- Prepare
for the examination. Note that preparation for this examination
should begin at the beginning of the PhD program and should
not be considered a three-month cramming session. The process
should be the gradual development of the student as a scientist
which involves the increasing ability to assess and evaluate
information and apply it to his/her area of research.
The
Candidacy Exam
In addition
to regulations (conditions) indicated in the graduate calendar
with respect to candidacy exams the following procedures will
apply in the department of animal science:
(a)
This exam must be taken at least one year before defense
of thesis. Students who have taken this exam and have delayed
the completion of the thesis and expected final oral exam
for more than thirty months, may be required to repeat the
candidacy exam.
(b)
The student's advisory committee with the addition of the
head of the department, ex officio, shall constitute the
official examination committee with the student's advisor
as chairperson.
(c)
The examination will be designed to assess the student's
ability in a specific field(s) of study and background in
general Animal Science. The purpose of the candidacy exam
is to examine the student's academic qualifications and
potential as a scientist.
(d)
It will be conducted at a time mutually acceptable to the
examiners and the candidate.
(e)
There will be both written and oral parts to the candidacy
exam. The format of both parts of that exam will be at the
discretion of the examination committee, but in general
follow the guidelines below.
The
Written Exam - The student will sit for this examination
over four consecutive working days for a maximum of four hours
per day. The candidacy examining committee chairperson will
schedule and supervise the written examinations after consultation
with committee members and the student. The chairperson will
meet with the student prior to the oral examination to discuss
any major problem areas reported by examiners regarding the
written examination.
The
Oral Exam - The exam will normally last 1-2 hours but
under no circumstances exceed 3 hours. Questions should be
of a general nature. The main goal of the oral exam is to
assess the general knowledge of the student, his/her oral
communication skills, and ability to think through a problem
quickly and answer in a coherent manner. The focus of the
exam questions should be general knowledge. For example, a
student may not be expected to know how to partition variances
in order to determine the effect of environment on animal
growth, but would be expected to know that environmental factors
may influence the expression of animal growth and should be
able to use this information in explaining why animals of
the same genotype may perform differently dependent upon the
environment to which they are exposed.
Decision
of Examiners A student will proceed to the oral examination
even if section(s) of the written examination are failed.
Examiners will not report results of the written examination
directly to the student prior to completion of the oral examination.
After completion of both the written and oral examination,
a pass or fail outcome will be decided by the committee. A
student has a maximum of two attempts. The second attempt
will occur no sooner than four months from date of notification
of the decision on the first attempt. Under special circumstances,
the examining committee may recommend that a failed oral examination
be repeated within one month and considered part of a single
attempt.
A favorable decision
must be unanimous. Anything less than unanimity will be considered
a failure. The chairperson should communicate the result of
the examination to the student within one week of completion
of both parts of the examination. This should include a written
assessment of his/her performance, based on the comments from
the committee, regardless of whether the student passed or
failed the examination. This will make the student aware of
any weaknesses. The final written assessment of the student's
performance should be copied to the examination committee
members, to the head, department of animal science and to
the faculty of graduate studies.
Written examination
papers that have been passed can be returned to the student
after the oral examination. Original copies of failed papers
will be kept on file in case of appeal, however, photocopies
can be returned to the student.
Guidelines
to Examiners Review the rationale and objectives of the
candidacy exam prior to formulation of your questions. If
you have questions regarding the procedure and objectives,
discuss this with the person assigned to chair the candidacy
exam.
Submit
questions to the chairperson at least two weeks in advance
of the written examinations. Be prepared to modify your questions
if requested.
Formulate
your questions in such a way that will allow you to evaluate
the student's answer not only on the basis of a correct response
but also on the basis of communication skills, overall thinking
process, interpretation, integration, synthesis, etc.
A written report
describing the performance of the candidate in the written
exam must be provided to the chairperson within two to three
days of the written exam.
Make
your final assessment and evaluation according to the objectives
of the candidacy exam.
Guidelines
to Students Review the rationale and objectives of the
candidacy exam when you begin your PhD program.
Begin
preparation for the candidacy exam when you begin your PhD
program. Do not count on a final cramming session to get you
through.
Keep
up with your reading, talk to people working around you, be
aware of issues related to animal science and general agriculture,
etc. (i.e. Don't stay in your own world, explore other areas
and be aware.)
Take
opportunities to discuss science and research with your colleagues.
Talk
to your advisory committee members several times prior to
your exam.
Don't
be afraid to ask questions and don't be afraid to look for
answers.
Demonstrate
other skills besides knowledge in answering questions. Provide
your reasoning, the assumptions you have made, etc. You will
be evaluated on your ability for higher levels of thinking,
e.g. interpretation, analysis, integration, synthesis, etc.
Show your examiners that you can do this.
Sample
Evaluation Questionnaire
Has the
student
(a)
effectively communicated the answers to the questions?
(b)
shown an ability to assess and solve problems?
(c)
demonstrated an ability to think critically?
(d) demonstrated a good general knowledge in areas outside
the area of specialization?
(e) demonstrated specific knowledge in the area of specialization
suitable to a PhD candidate in the process of completing
a research project?
(f) demonstrated an ability to reason through a problem
even when some of the assumptions made were incorrect?
(g) shown the ability to integrate knowledge from other
areas and apply this to a particular problem?
(h) demonstrated independence of thought and ability to
synthesize new ideas?
All
graduate students must enroll in one of the two graduate seminar
courses (35.714 for MSc students and 35.739 for PhD students).
Graduate seminars will be marked as "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory".
A final satisfactory mark (pass) will be required
in Graduate Seminar to complete a program.
The
three credits for seminar are not included as a part of the
minimum number of credit hours in graduate programs in the
department.
Graduate
students are not required to register in graduate seminar
in each year of studies,* but attendance at graduate
seminar by MSc and PhD students is mandatory; failure
to attend without valid reasons may result in a mark of unsatisfactory.
Even though the minimum number of required seminars might
already have been presented, attendance remains mandatory.
Part of the training process in being able to present a seminar
is attendance at the seminars, observing various methods of
seminar presentation, and determining the best method of presentation,
both for the person presenting the seminar, and the audience
at hand.
*Students
are normally advised to register for seminar at the beginning
of the year that they intend to graduate. This is done so
that the CO grade doesn't appear on their transcript every
year prior to graduation.
| 4.
Assistantships, Scholarships, Fellowships, etc. |
|
The
policy of the department of animal science is, financial resources
permitting, to provide an assistantship to each full-time
graduate student on a thesis-type program of study unless
the student is the recipient of a scholarship or fellowship
or is supported financially by other sources while enrolled
in a graduate studies program. The policy on stipends is listed
below.
Current
scholarships and bursary awards available.
| 4.1
Amount of Assistantships |
|
As of April
2005, the following levels are suggested for graduate student
stipends:
(a)
MSc stipends: $15 000 per year.
(b)
PhD stipends: $17 000 per year.
Maximum
duration of funding will be 24 months for an MSc program,
36 months for a PhD after a masters and 48 months for a PhD
program following a bachelor's. Exceptions to this time limit
must be requested by the student's advisor to the graduate studies
committee of the department.
| Students
with No Financial Support |
|
A
student may be accepted without financial support if the student
meets academic standards (i.e. grade point of 3.0 during last
60 credit hours), agrees to enter the program without support,
and a faculty member is willing to supervise. Careful consideration
should be given by staff and students before entering a program
without financial support.
| 4.2
University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships |
|
A
limited number of University of Manitoba graduate fellowships
are awarded each year. The current University of Manitoba fellowship
rates are $10 000 per year for MSc students and $16 000 per
year for PhD students. A student normally requires a grade
point average of at least 3.5 in order to compete. If you feel
that you may qualify contact the department. The deadline
for applications is February 1 of each year.
| 4.3
Duties and Responsibilities |
|
Students
Supported with Assistantships
A full-time
student on an assistantship may be expected to perform duties
which are not part of the student's program of study or research
up to a maximum of 12 hours per week on the average.
The duties which in most instances will be directed by the
student's academic advisor may consist of research other than
the student's own project and/or teaching duties: the latter
may include marking assignments or tests, demonstrating in
labs, tutoring, occasional lectures, etc. Time required to
prepare material for labs or lectures will be included in
the number of hours.
A student
who is the recipient of a scholarship or fellowship is not
normally expected to perform the duties of an assistantship
unless the duties are part of a study or training program.
The student is permitted to receive additional remuneration
during the 12 month period from September 1 to August 31 up
to the equivalent of 125 hours for services performed. In
most instances the added remuneration will be paid on an hourly
basis. It is recognized that in some instances the terms of
the scholarship, fellowship, etc. may restrict or prohibit
the earning of additional remuneration.
| Part-Time
Graduate Students, Students on Non-Thesis Programs, Pre-Master's
Students |
|
Students
in these categories will not normally receive assistantships
but may undertake specified duties for remuneration on an hourly
basis.
5.1
Ownership of Data
All research
data collected by the student is normally owned by the university
unless certain provisions of contract research take precedence.
Data includes information in books, notes and stored in computer
files. All original information should be left with the advisor
prior to the departure of the student. Information stored
under code in a computer file must also be given to the advisor
as it is difficult to access this information. Custody of
all original laboratory data must therefore be retained in
the department. The analysis and interpretation of research
data as found in a thesis is the property of the student.
When a
research project is known to contain patentable items as defined
in the research contract, it is the responsibility of the
advisor to give written information of the restrictions on
publication to the student prior to the start of the thesis
research. If the student agrees to carry out the research,
the following regulations will apply.
Where
a patentable item is found during the course of research,
the advisor and the student may make application for patent
rights through the university patent committee. The dean of
graduate studies will receive the approved thesis and copies
of it as required by faculty regulations. On written joint
request of the advisor and the student, the dean will keep
the thesis and copies of it in his/her office for a period
up to one year. For further information, reference should
be made to the thesis copyright licence.
It is
essential to carefully define the ownership of materials,
patents and copyrights arising out of MSc or PhD study
before the study commences. The university industry liaison
officer will develop an agreement for signature, based on
discussions between the advisor, the student and the employer,
to define the ownership provisions before commencement of
the study. Contributions to the research by all parties should
be considered in the development of this agreement.
| 5.2
Record of Research Data |
|
The location
of research data collected by each leaving student will be recorded
by the grad secretary on the master check out sheet (Graduate
Student Entry & Exit Form).
Students
are urged to prepare their data for publication in peer reviewed
journals as this not only should be of benefit to them but also
the department. The advisor has the right to publish the data
collected by the student, without the person's permission, if
he/she has not submitted this data for publication within six
months of graduation. If considerable revision of the manuscript(s)
is (are) required, the advisor can opt to be either a senior
or a junior author.
Who should
be listed as an author of a paper? It is the position of the
department that no strong guidelines should be used in establishing
authorship but that each author should have made a significant
contribution to the paper. Also, a person should not be a co-author
if they have only contributed to routine type analyses.
| 6.
Thesis - MSc and PhD Programs |
|
6.1
Thesis Guidelines
The faculty
of graduate studies has summarized several aspects concerning
the writing and subsequent submission of a thesis in a booklet
entitled "Thesis Guidelines." This booklet is available from
the office of the faculty of graduate studies, room 500, University
Centre. Animal science graduate students may prepare theses
in either the traditional style or in the manuscript style.
A "Guide to Thesis Preparation for Animal Science Graduate
Students" is available from the general office, animal science
and should be consulted before beginning writing of the thesis.
| 6.2
Costs of Photocopying Thesis Material |
|
The
student pays for the copies provided to each committee member
prior to the oral exam. The student pays for the two copies
required by the faculty of graduate studies.
The department
pays for the department copy.
The student
pays for any other copies that he/she may wish to obtain.
| 6.3
Disposition of Copies of Thesis |
|
After
approval of the thesis by the thesis examining committee, and
the completion of any revisions required by that committee,
two copies of the thesis must be submitted to the faculty of
graduate studies in unbound form enclosed in an envelope
or folder. The faculty of graduate studies requires these copies
of the thesis for the university library. The copies deposited
with the university become university property.
In addition,
the department of animal science requires that all graduate
students provide a hard-bound copy of their thesis
to be kept in the department. Copies of theses can be bound
at the Campus Copy Centre located in Room 118, University Centre.
Binding should be the standard university hard-bound format.
The department pays for the department copy. (Please see the
secretary in charge of graduate students for
proper procedures). The student pays for any other copies
that he/she may wish to be bound.
| 7.
Non-Academic Regulations and Guidelines |
|
7.1
Animal Care
Research
undertaken with all species of animals in the department of
animal science falls under the regulations of the Canadian
Council on Animal Care and is administered by a local animal
care committee (ACC) of the faculty of agricultural and food sciences.
These regulations apply to farm livestock as well as the traditional
laboratory animals such as rats and mice. A copy of these
regulations entitled "Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental
Animals, Volume I" is available at the web site www.ccac.ca.
These guidelines for animal care must be followed.
Depending
upon the direction of the student's research a student may
be responsible for the care of experimental animals, under
the guidance of the student's supervisor. The departmental
representative(s) on the local animal users committee may
bring notice of breaches of guidelines to both the student
and the advisor of that student.
Before
any experimentation with animals is undertaken in the department,
a "University Animal Use Protocol" form must be filled out
and approved by the chair of the protocol management and review
committee. These forms are kept on file in the departmental
office. Copies of a document entitled "General Guidelines
and Procedures for Conducting Research Experiments in the
ASRU and Animal/Poultry Units" is on file in the departmental
office. Students are advised to read this document early in
their program. In addition, students must read the animal
care protocol relating to their research and must not deviate
from this without an amendment to their protocol.
Veterinary
care is available for all sick animals through Dr. Nora Lewis,
228 Animal Science Building.
Each student
on commencing graduate studies will be assigned a desk by the
grad secretary. Associated with the desk may be a table and
shelf space. In each of the main graduate student rooms will
be a filing cabinet. Students are expected to maintain their
desks and room in a presentable condition. Locks are provided
for each of the graduate student rooms.
Each graduate
student is provided a key to the main entrance doors of the
animal science building. Keys will also be supplied to laboratories
or outside buildings according to the student's needs. Keys
are obtained from the department key coordinator in the general
office and are to be returned at the completion of studies.
A charge of $25.00 is levied for replacement of each key
which is lost.
The departmental
computers are located in rooms 145 and 235, together with some
of the more frequently used programs. They are available for
use by graduate students for analysis of data and word processing.
Students should consult their advisor before undertaking computer
use. Any malfunction of the unit should be reported immediately
to Dr. Gary Crow. Students have no authority to call servicemen
to make repairs. Students requiring computing or word processing
needs should consult with their advisor.
Our department
insists on ethical use of software and computers. Documentation
outlining acceptable behaviour in this regard entitled: "A
Guide to the Ethical and Legal Use of Software for Members
of the University of Manitoba" is available from the general
office in animal science and should be consulted.
| 7.5
Photocopying Equipment |
|
Graduate
students are permitted restricted use of the photocopier
in the department. The unit is not intended for mass reprinting
of articles in journals or textbooks. It can be used for material
intended for distribution in classes and seminars. Students
should get instruction from the secretarial staff in the use
of the machine. They will also need to obtain permission for
an identification number from their advisor. These identification numbers are programmed
by the secretarial staff.
Duplication
of theses will be permitted if students pay the costs involved
as indicated earlier on the section concerning theses.
The telephone
(number 474-9087) located in the graduate student hallway may
be used for incoming and outgoing calls. Long distance calls
by students on any department phone can be made only with the
authorization of the students' advisors.
Because
of the heavy use of 9087, students should refrain from engaging
in protracted discussions, especially during working hours.
| 7.7
Stationery and Supplies |
|
Students
are expected to provide their own supplies (stationery, pencils,
etc.) for their classroom and other personal work. Transparencies
will be supplied for seminars in departmental courses. Supplies
for experimental studies will be provided by the secretarial
staff. In general, large orders should be authorized by the
advisor.
| 7.8
T.K. Cheung Reading Room - Room 234 |
|
The T.K.
Cheung Reading Room is available to graduate students during
the regular hours and in the evenings and on weekends. Students
should be aware that the room is not a public facility. Adherence
to regulations posted in the room is essential, particularly
those regarding removal of reading material from the room and
non-use as a lunch room.
Lockers are
available for storage of clothes and other material. To be assigned
a locker, a student should consult the grad secretary. A limited
number of combination locks are available or you may purchase
your own. All locks should be removed and department-owned locks
returned at the completion of a graduate program.
Personal
mail may be sent to the department. Similarly, personal letters,
if stamped, may be mailed through baskets in the general office.
Postage is not affixed to official business mail.
Laboratories
Students
may be assigned bench and cupboard space in the nutrition
or physiology laboratories in order to carry out analyses.
They are expected to observe the regulations pertaining to
the laboratory in question and will be required to attend
a lab safety training session..
Such regulations contain provisions concerning:
a)
neatness and tidiness
b) storage of equipment and reagents
c) proper use of equipment and analytical instruments
d) safety, e.g. corrosive liquids, inflammable liquids,
radioactive substances.
Upon completion
of laboratory work, all glassware that was used, and the assigned
bench-space must be left in a clean condition. All frozen
biological samples must be removed from freezers, or left
in the responsibility of the student's advisor until a paper
is published based on those samples.
Graduate
students are expected to inform their academic advisor of their
whereabouts and to be available in the Animal Science Building
when required. It is recognized that students may be performing
duties in other areas of the campus, like the library,, or may be
conducting research in barns at Glenlea or off the university
campus itself. While precise regulations may not be stated as
to the working hours, it is generally advisable to commence
work at the same time as the support staff unless otherwise
directed. Students should consult with their advisor as to working
hours, evening hours, weekend duties, etc.
The
normal holiday entitlement is two weeks for funded students.
| Association
with Support Staff |
|
Many graduate
student projects involve the assistance of support staff, both
technicians and agricultural attendants, in care of experimental
animals, the preparation of diets, and the collection and analysis
of data and samples, as well as secretarial staff for word processing
assistance. Technical support staff are normally responsible
to academic members; agricultural attendants are responsible
to the farm manager. The duties to be performed by support staff
in assisting graduate students are determined by the academic
staff (most frequently the student's advisor), or by the farm
manager. Graduate students have no authority to direct the activities
of support staff: students who feel that they are encountering
difficulties should discuss the matter with their advisor. Students
should, of course, recognize the necessity of establishing and
maintaining good relationships with support staff.
The
need to reduce the possibility of theft and vandalism should
be apparent to graduate students. Locking doors after normal
hours and reporting the presence of strangers is part of security.
The projects
of many graduate students require that the student travel to
the Glenlea Research Station, or other destinations in Manitoba.
Whenever possible,departmental or university vehicles should
be used for this purpose. Should such a vehicle not be available,
a student with the permission of the student's advisor or the
head of the department may use the student's own vehicle and
be compensated on the basis of mileage traveled. Full or partial
compensation will be negotiated at the discretion of the student's
advisor or the head of the department.
The Animal
Science Building itself and other buildings under the department's
jurisdiction should not be used for repair or storage of privately
owned boats, vehicles, animals, and equipment, etc.
| 7.12
Getting done and getting out |
|
Some
ideas on motivating students to finish their theses
Some students
leave the department and take up employment before completing
their thesis. The reason is that the students are nearly
done and the opportunity of a lifetime has come along in the
form of a position that just suits them. This is a big problem
when the majority of the thesis is yet unwritten when the
student leaves. One solution is to make the unwritten part
smaller by starting the writing process early in a student's
program.
This can
be done by setting a schedule for writing the thesis early
on in the program. This has two advantages - it gets done,
and the student has time to learn how (and even to like it?!).
A suggested
writing schedule for a two-year MSc student that started in
September 2002 could be:
Sept
2002 - April 2003 -- Coursework, accumulation of literature,
begin organization of literature.
May
2003 - August 2003 -- First and second drafts of literature
review
September
2003 - December 2003 -- First draft of materials and methods
January
2004 - April 2004 -- Second draft of M&M, data analysis,
first draft of results and discussion.
April
2004 - September 2004 -- Final drafts and defence.
One other
suggestion for students would be to join up with other students
to organize writing workshops. Students need to learn to like
to write. Leaving it all as one huge job at the end ensures
that students will not like it!
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