SGS ADMISSIONS POLICY WORKSHOP

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SGS ADMISSIONS POLICY WORKSHOP

• School of Graduate Studies
• University of Toronto
• January 22, 2009
• 200 - 400

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SGS Admissions Manual - Overview

• Part 1 Admission Requirements
• Part 2 Assessing Academic Credentials
• Part 3 Canadian Degrees
• Part 4 U.S. Degrees
• Part 5 International Degrees
• Part 6 School of Graduate Studies Admission
  Placement Guide
• Part 7 Appendices

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What is the SGS Admissions Manual?

• A tool to assist you with assessing applicant
  files
• To be used together with the SGS ROSI Manual
• Contains policy and assessment procedures
• Contains information on international educational
  systems and minimum admission requirements
• Available at http//portal.sgs.utoronto.ca/secure
  /gradadmin/admissions/manual/
• User name gradunit
• Password Access4U

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The Application Package

• Application is Online at https//apply.sgs.utoron
  to.ca
• Application package must include the following
• Electronic application form
• Official transcripts from all institutions
  previously attended
• Reference letters
• Results of required English language or
  standardized tests
• Statement of interest/intent
• Copies of academic papers, resume interview (in
  some units only)

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Receipt of Transcripts

• When you receive transcripts, ask yourself the
  following
• Is it received directly from the institution in a
  sealed envelope with official seal or signature?
• Does the envelope have the name and address of
  institution clearly identified?
• Is there any evidence of tampering?
• Note Reference letters are now received
  electronically if you do receive reference
  letters through regular mail, the same checks
  apply as above.

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SGS Admissions Requirements

• The minimum SGS admission requirements are as
  follows
• For a Masters Program
• Must hold an acceptable four-year bachelors
  degree with at least mid-B in the final year
• For A Doctoral Program
• Must hold an acceptable masters degree with at
  least a B standing
• In some programs, direct entry from an
  appropriate bachelors degree is permitted (A-
  minimum average)

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Upgrading Policy

• Inadmissible applicants (i.e. those who do not
  meet the minimum admission requirements) may be
  advised by the graduate unit to complete an
  upgrading year to gain the following
• 4-5 undergraduate senior-level full course
  equivalents
• Achieve a B average in upgrading courses

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Non-standard Admissions

• For Applicants Who
• Do not meet minimum admissions requirements
• Hold degrees from institutions that are not
  recognized
• Hold degrees that are not accepted as equivalent
  to a University of Toronto degree
• Non-standard Case form is available on the SGS
  website
• http//www.sgs.utoronto.ca/adminsupport/form.htm

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Five-year Rule

• Five-year Rule may be used when
• Applicant does not meet minimum requirements, but
  has graduated more than five years ago
• Since graduation, the applicant has done
  significant intellectual work or has contributed
  professionally to the field

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SGS Admissions and Programs Committee

• Meeting Dates for Remainder of Year are
• February 10
• March 10
• April 7
• May 5
• June 16

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Categories of Students at SGS

• Degree Students
• Students studying towards a degree
• Admissions Requirements
• Must meet all admission requirements for the
  degree program
• May be part-time or full-time, depending on the
  degree program
• Application
• Online at https//apply.sgs.utoronto.ca

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Categories of Students at SGS

• Special Students
• Students who are not studying towards a degree
• Admissions Requirements
• Full-time special students must meet same minimum
  admission requirements as masters degree
  applicants
• Part-time special students are required to hold a
  degree from an acceptable institution
• Part-time special students who are admitted with
  less than a mid-B average will not be eligible
  for future admission to a degree program

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Categories of Students at SGS

• 3. Exchange Students
• registered in a degree program at their home
  university
• Admissions Requirements
• Same admission requirements as degree students
  however, we do permit some flexibility and
  discretion for applicants who will participate in
  the exchange program
• Detailed information and application forms are
  online at
• http//www.sgs.utoronto.ca/adminsupport/form.htm
• SGS Contact Hasmik Sargsyan, Recruitment and
  Admissions Officer, Tel [phone],
  hasmik.sargsyan_at_utoronto.ca

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Degree Student on Probation

• Used when an applicants credentials are not
  easily assessed (e.g. applicant cannot get
  transcripts from university in home country
  because of war, etc.)
• May register for a period between four and twelve
  months
• Normally used for applicants who have presented a
  statutory declaration

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Statutory Declarations

• Requested if an applicant cannot obtain official
  academic record(s) or official confirmation that
  a degree was conferred.
• Statutory declaration is an affidavit sworn
  before a notary public
• Contact Doug McBean, Senior Policy AdvisorTel
  416-978-6643E-mail d.mcbean_at_utoronto.ca

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ASSESSING THE ACADEMIC RECORD

• Name of student
• Name of the institution with seal/stamp and/or
  official signature
• Name of the degree program
• Courses and grades for each year of study
• Confirmation of degree conferral with date
• Final standing in some cases

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IDENTIFYING THE FINAL YEAR

• Full-time students
• At least 4 FCEs in the final year

Part-time students Fewer than 4 FCEs in
the final year Consider the last five FCEs
completed at the senior level, regardless of
content
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CALCULATING THE FINAL-YEAR AVERAGE

• Method 1 Using the SGS scales
• If refined letter grades are available (e.g., A,
  A, A-) use the SGS 9-point scale
• If grades in the D range are included, use the
  12-point scale

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CALCULATING THE FINAL-YEAR AVERAGE

• Method 2 Using the institutions own grading
  scale
• Refer to the transcript legend
• Convert to U of T grading scale

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COURSE WEIGHTING

• Average weighted sum of grade points divided by
  number of courses

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ESTABLISHING EQUIVALENCY TO A U OF T AVERAGE

• Usually mid-B mid-B
• However, some grading scales do not match ours
  (Queens, York)

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LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCE CONTENT

• For degrees not offered by U of T (e.g., B.F.A.,
  four-year B.Ed.) look for at least 75 liberal
  arts or science content

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THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS

• SGS does not normally recognize these degrees

• EXCEPTION If the school is a member of the AUCC
  and the degree has at least 75 liberal
  arts/science content
• (Association of Universities and Colleges of
  Canada, www.aucc.ca)

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DISTANCE LEARNING

• SGS accepts degrees completed by distance
  education from recognized universities.

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U.S. DEGREES

• All universities and colleges in the U.S. must be
  accredited by a recognised accrediting body
• MSA/CHE - Middle States Association of Colleges
  and Schools Commission on Higher Education
• NWCCU - Northwest Commission on Colleges and
  Universities
• NCA - North Central Association of Colleges and
  Schools- The Higher Learning Commission
• NEASC-CIHE - New England Association of Schools
  and Colleges, Inc./Commission on Institutions of
  Higher Education
• SACS-CC - Southern Association of Colleges and
  Schools/Commission on Colleges
• WASC - Western Association of Schools and
  Colleges/Accrediting Commission for Senior
  Colleges and Universities

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LENGTH OF U.S. BACHELOR DEGREES

• Usually four years in length
• e.g., Bachelor of Arts (B.A. or A.B.),
  Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
• Associate Bachelors degrees are only two years
  in length and not equivalent to a U of T
  bachelors

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ACADEMIC YEAR

• Traditional semester system
• Academic year 30 credit hours
• Four-year bachelors 120 to 124 hours of
  credit

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CALCULATION OF GRADE AVERAGES

• Most American universities use a four-point scale
• Credit hours usually range from 1.00 to 4.00
• Most courses have a value of 3.00, while lab
  courses are usually 1.00

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INTERNATIONAL DEGREES

• Same basic procedures
• Different educational cultures and expectations

• Student may only receive one copy of official
  documents

• Course grades may not be provided

• Receipt of diplomas military service

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SGS ADMISSION PLACEMENT GUIDE

• Tool to assist with evaluating credentials from
  international institutions
• http//portal.sgs.utoronto.ca/secure/gradadmin/adm
  issions/manual/
• http//portal.sgs.utoronto.ca/current/admission/in
  tdegequiv.asp

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SGS ADMISSION PLACEMENT GUIDE

• Country Entries Contain
• Equivalent to SGS mid-B
• Degree(s) equivalent to UofT four-year bachelors
  degree
• Equivalent to SGS B
• Degree(s) equivalent to UofT masters degree
• Sample of grading scales
• Sampling of recognized institutions
• Language(s) of instruction
• Notes
• Contact information

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THE APPLICATION PACKAGE

• Transcripts - original language and official
  translations
• English language facility test (EFT) official
  scores
• Reference letters
• Writing samples

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ENGLISH LANGUAGE FACILITY

• EFT Results Required When
• First language is not English
• Language of instruction was not English

• Accepted Tests
• TOEFL
• COPE
• MELAB
• IELTS
• International ESL (Level 60), SCS

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REVIEWING TRANSCRIPTS

• Student name and date of birth
• Name of institution - is it recognized?
• Type of degree - is it equivalent to a 4-year
  UofT degree?
• Is degree conferral date clear?
• Are all grades and courses listed?
• How many years did a program take to complete?

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REVIEWING TRANSCRIPTS

• Potential Problems
• Transcript may not breakdown courses by session /
  year
• Grading scale may be mixed

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TRANSCRIPT FRAUDIS THIS TRANSCRIPT OK?

• Are there erasures, irregular characters, etc.?
• Check seals, size of paper, type of paper
• Compare grades on translations with originals
• Question applicant about irregularities
• Ask applicant to obtain clarification from
  institution about irregularities
• Contact institution for verification

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MAKING THE OFFER

• Final Offers Are Made When
• Official transcripts and translations, including
  all grades, and confirmation of degree conferral
  and/or diplomas are received
• Institution is accredited
• Academic content meets SGS requirements
• Official and satisfactory English language
  facility score received
• Grades meet SGS and department minimum
  requirements
• Official GRE score received, if applicable

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MAKING THE OFFER

• Conditional Offers With Appropriate Severe Or
  Non-severe Conditions Can Be Made With
• Receipt of unofficial transcripts and diplomas
• Receipt of unofficial translations
• Receipt of all grades except final year

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SGS RESOURCES

• Institutional fax s, addresses and email
  addresses, websites
• Detailed information on international educational
  systems
• International admissions reference books and
  websites
• SGS Admissions Manual (appendices)
• SGS ROSI Manual
• Admissions Policy Workshop available online
  (Training Documentation) http//www.sgs.utoronto.
  ca/adminsupport/gradadmin/admission.htm
• Your Student Services Officer

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YOUR SGS STUDENT SERVICES OFFICER

• Michael Godwin, Division I FI, MGT, CERES, LAW,
  416-978-6390, michael.godwin_at_utoronto.ca
• Vesna Makarovska, Division II, 416-946-3381,
  v.makarovska_at_utoronto.ca
• Steve Rutchinski, Division III, 416-978-2657,
  s.rutchinski_at_utoronto.ca
• Victoria Hurlihey, Division IV, 416-978-4592,
  victoria.hurlihey_at_utoronto.ca