Full-Time Status and Residency Requirements
All students in the PhD Program are admitted on a full-time basis. In accordance with Graduate Studies regulations, all full-time graduate students are expected to be regionally located to be eligible for funding through Graduate Studies. Classes for the first year of the program are in-person. If students leave the general region to do research for an extended period they must file an away from campus form with Graduate Studies.
Program Standards
Students must attain a minimum of B+ in each course. If this standard is not attained and all efforts have been made to assist the student to attain this level, they could potentially be asked to leave the program upon recommendation of the Student Progress Committee. Students are also expected to complete all coursework in each academic year. Students with outstanding work from year one will not be allowed to register in second-year courses (unless prior approval has been granted by the program director).
Part-Time Status
Part-time status is only available to students who have completed and defended a dissertation Proposal, and who have approval from the program. Students who wish to change to part-time status must contact the Program Assistant for appropriate forms.
Language Requirements
Students will be required to demonstrate an introductory level of understanding in an Indigenous language. This can be demonstrated by:
a) Passing an examination in an Indigenous language (either Mohawk or Nishinaabemowin) administered by the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies. If a student speaks a different Indigenous language, the Program will hire a language examiner, on a case-by-case basis, to conduct exams in an Indigenous language other than Mohawk or Nishinaabemowin.
b)Presenting a transcript with a grade of B+ or better in a 1.0 credit course in an Indigenous language taken at an accredited university. Enrolling in a 1.0 credit undergraduate Indigenous language course (such as INDG 2800Y, INDG 2250Y). A grade of B+ or higher must be achieved in the course.
c)Enrolling in two 0.5 credit courses in one Indigenous language (such as INDG 3851H and INDG 3852H) or by taking two of the following courses: INDG 6625H-EDUC 5625H and INDG 6626H-CSID SUST 5626H when they are offered periodically. A grade of B+ or higher must be achieved in both 0.5 credit courses.
d)Taking a community language course or one-on-one instruction with a fluent language speaker for an 8-month long period. Upon completion of a language course or one-on-one instruction, students must submit a copy of a transcript or letter from a language instructor to the program assistant clearly stating the course taken, the length of the course, the level of language learned, and the letter grade provided to the student. This transcript or letter can come from an Indigenous community outside of Canada. It will be at the discretion of the Director of Studies or the Program Director to approve the letter in cases where a family member of the student has been the language instructor.
Please note: The Graduate Studies Committee requires proof of proficiency in the English language for candidates whose first language is not English, by means of one of the following:
1) Test of English as a Second Language - TOEFL- Minimum Score of 550 F (Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA);
2) Carleton Academic English Language Assessment - CAELA, alternate test only for applicants who do not have access to TOEFL(Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S5B6);
3) The English Language Institute, Testing and Certification Div., North Univ. Bldg., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor., Michigan 48104, USA.
Student Accessibility Services (SAS) for Graduate Students
Students seeking formal accommodation with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) need to follow this process:
- Incoming graduate students seeking accommodation should register with SAS in order to receive a formal accommodation. It is recommended incoming students register two months in advance of the start of term, (i.e. register July 1 for September 1 term start). Booking early is advisable.
- Following your appointment, you will receive a formal letter of accommodation from Student Accessibility Services. The Director of Graduate Studies will be copied on this letter.
- Immediately following your assessment with SAS you need to meet with your Program Director and/or Supervisor to determine your revised plan of study. This plan might include moving to part-time studies or another means of reduced course load.
- Request an appointment with the Director of Graduate Studies to share your revised plan of study and discuss options for tuition reduction, if applicable.
- Graduate Studies will send a revised offer of admission letter to you and adjust tuition and funding as indicated by the accommodated plan of study. Ideally your assessment is completed prior to the third week of your first term, which is when tuition is charged to student accounts. If the accommodation is assessed past week three of your first term and you are eligible for tuition reduction, your account with be credited when the accommodation has been formally assessed.
Families and Field Trips
Note About Travel and Families: Families are welcome to accompany you on any day or overnight trips. However, we have limited funding, which only covers students in the program. Given the high cost of accommodation and food, students will be asked to cover costs for family members that accompany them on any overnight trips. The program normally books two students into one room when travelling away from campus. If you are bringing your family and need your own room, you would be expected to pay the additional cost that would be incurred. As an example: if a room costs $150 per night, then the program will reimburse you half of that cost for that room which is $75.00. You would need to book this room on your own and submit an expense reimbursement form to the financial officer, Sandra Tomatuk. The same would apply to meals eaten out while travelling. The program can cover your meals as a student but not those of your family. You would submit a reimbursement form for the meals and the hotel upon returning. You must submit original receipts with the form.