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Progression and Activity Reports
PhD Progress and Activity Reports
Every doctoral student is required to submit an annual progress and activity report to their advisor by April 15 annually. This report will then be reviewed by your advisor and commented upon by the full advisory committee. The full report (which includes both your statement and the advisor's submission) is then reviewed and acknowledged by you and your program's graduate officer.
The full report, including your submission, is due in the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies by June 1 annually. Late submission of this report may result in a delay of your financial support from the university.
If you hold a multi-year external scholarship (e.g. TriCouncil), this completed report will be used to confirm progression for continued eligibility and may be released to the granting agency if required for audit purposes.
Students and their advisors are encouraged to complete and review, at least on an annual basis, the Graduate Student Advisor Resource which is intended to help establish a positive framework for the mentor/trainee relationship, to articulate the expectations of the advisor and the student, and to promote a successful graduate student experience at Laurier.
The Annual Progress and Activity Report highlights the student’s progression through the program, to identify successful achievements, professional development opportunities, and any areas for improvement. The process is undertaken collaboratively between the student, and the full advisory committee (or in cases where there is not yet an advisory committee established, between the student and the Graduate Program Coordinator).
Three assessment decisions are available, as follows:
- Satisfactory – may be assigned if the student is meeting all the normal progression requirements in a timely and satisfactory manner.
- With some concerns (first instance): may be assigned if the student is struggling to meet the normal progression requirements of the degree, or if the student’s academic and professional development is partially meeting the overall expectations of the program. Where progress is deemed (C) With Some Concerns, an Action Plan, including specific activities and/or accomplishments and timeline to completion, is required. The Progress and Activity Report must be completed within a maximum of 6 months.
Action Plan attached; 6-month review scheduled for MM/YY
- With Some concerns (second instance): the second instance normally will result in the student being placed on Academic Probation. An Action Plan, including specific activities and/or accomplishments and timeline to completion, is required. The Progress and Activity Report must be completed within a maximum of 6 months.
Action Plan attached; 6-month review scheduled for MM/YY
- Unsatisfactory: Only in exceptional cases or circumstances is this category available without an initial assessment of With Some Concerns and may be assigned if
- the student is not meeting the normal progression requirements of the degree and/or
- the student’s academic and professional development is not meeting the overall expectations of the program, or
- The student has not met the requirements of the Action Plan following a second assessment of ‘with some concerns’ in an earlier review period.
Should progress be deemed With Some Concerns, an Action Plan, including specific activities and/or accomplishments with timeline to completion is required. The Annual Progress and Activity Report must be completed within a maximum of 6 months to verify that the student’s progress is then either:
- Satisfactory – student is making progress to degree consistent with the program objectives and requirements, as confirmed by having met the stipulated requirements as outlined in the details of the Action Plan, or
- With Some Concerns (second instance) – the second instance normally will result in the student being placed on Academic Probation. An Action Plan, including specific activities and/or accomplishments with timeline to completion is required. The Annual Progress and Activity Report must be completed within a maximum of 6 months to verify that the student’s progress is then either:
- Satisfactory – student is making progress to degree consistent with the program objectives and requirements, as confirmed by having met the stipulated requirements as outlined in the details of the Action Plan, or
- Unsatisfactory – student has failed to make progress to degree consistent with the program objectives and requirements and the advisory committee and Graduate Program Co-ordinator recommend that the student be required to withdraw. The decision will rest with the Associate Vice-President and Dean, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. The student may appeal that decision to the Graduate Student Appeals Committee.
- Satisfactory – student is making progress to degree consistent with the program objectives and requirements, as confirmed by having met the stipulated requirements as outlined in the details of the Action Plan, or
An assessment of With Some Concerns may be assigned only twice for the duration of the student’s PhD program.
Master’s Progress and Activity Reports
Master’s students are expected to maintain continuous registration in each semester (three semesters per year), unless on an approved leave. You must attain at least a B- grade in each course and, where required by the degree program, must present and defend an acceptable thesis/research paper.
Most two-year master's programs also require periodic progress reports. Consult the graduate coordinator for your program for details.
Academic Probation
You may be classified as a probationary student following a formal review by the department, school or faculty if:
- You fail a course; or
- You are permitted to continue in a program without fully meeting some requirements.
You remain on probation until the course or its equivalent is successfully completed or until some predetermined requirement or condition has been met. Failure to remove your probationary status within three terms will result in you being required to withdraw from the program.
Notice of Extended Absence
In order to qualify as a full-time graduate student, you must be geographically available to and visit the campus regularly. Without forfeiting full-time status, graduate students, while still under supervision, may be absent from the university (e.g., visiting libraries, doing field work, attending a graduate course at another institution, etc.).
If any period of absence exceeds four weeks in any one term, a Notice of Extended Absence must be submitted to the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
Related Forms
- PhD Progress and Activity Report
- Annual Progress and Activity Report (Doctoral) - Action Plan
- PhD - Dissertation Advisory Committee Membership Formation
- PhD - Dissertation Advisory Committee Membership Change
- Master's Student Committee Membership/Notice of Change form
- Dissertation Proposal Approval
- MRP/Thesis Proposal Approval
- Notice of Extended Absence
- Graduate Student Advisor Resource