2019 ACCUTE GSC Graduate Program Survey Results and Statistics
Survey results and statistics from the 2019 ACCUTE Graduate Student Caucus (GSC) provide quantitative findings on graduate programs from various institutions. The data includes enrolment statistics and program details such as faculty association with graduate programs, directed reading courses, and areas of courses offered by universities like University of Calgary, Simon Fraser University, University of New Brunswick, and more.
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2019 ACCUTE Graduate Student Caucus (GSC) Survey Results
Quantitative Findings Numerical data on graduate programs submitted by departmental representatives of the following institutions: U of Calgary Simon Frasier University University of New Brunswick Dalhousie University University of Saskatchewan Brock University Lakehead University Trent University University of Western Ontario University of Windsor Wilfred Laurier University
Enrolment Statistics University New Mas 10 Total Mas 21 New PhDs 5 Total PhDs 34 Postdocs 0 University of Calgary 16 27 2 21 1 Simon Fraser University 8 12 4 18 0 University of New Brunswick 8 10 3 18 0 Dalhousie University 8 18 3 30 1 University of Saskatchewan 10 10 0 0 1 Brock University 13 13 7 52 1 Queen's University 9 16 0 0 0 Trent University 12 21 0 0 0 University of Windsor 12 12 2 14 0 Wilfred Laurier University 7 17 0 0 0 Lakehead University 16 17 12 60 0 Western University 129 194 38 247 4 TOTAL
Program Statistics Faculty Associated w/ Grad Program Directed Reading Courses? # of Grad Courses Areas in Courses Offered University 2 Global Literature, 2 Theory, 1 Indigenous Literature, 2 Creative Writing (fiction), 1 Victorian, 1 Digital Humanities, 1 Medieval 1 Early Modern, 1 18th century, 1 Book History University of Calgary 28 13 Yes Simon Fraser University 26 9 N/A 4 theory, 1 19c, 1 Early Modern, 1 Gender Studies, 1 Diasporic, 1 American University of New Brunswick 3 Creative Writing, 2 Renaissance, 2 American, 1 Canadian, 1 Post-Colonial, 1 19th C. British 14 8 Yes 1 Medieval, 2 Early Modern, 2 Romanticism, 1 Victorian, 1 Contemporary Canadian, 2 Contemporary Culture 1 textual scholarship, 1 Modernism, 1 Canadian, 1 Early Modern, 1 Medieval, 1 Postcolonial/Decolonial, 1 Theory, 1 Film Studies Dalhousie University 15 8 Yes University of Saskatchewan 26 8 Yes Yes, but rare. Brock University 18 6 2 Early Modern, 1 Postcolonial, 1 Canadian, 1 Theory, 1 Professional Skills 2 Medieval, 2 Restoration & Early 18th Century, 2 Contemporary, 1 American, 1 Early Modern, 1 Romanticism, 1 Victorian, 3 Modernism, 1 Research Forum, 1 Professional & Pedagogical Skills, 1 Literary Internship, 1 Publishing Practicum, 1 Topics in Literary Study 1 per program Queen's University 24 18 Canadian, 1; American, 1; Medieval, 1; Theory, 1; Research and Professional Development, 2; Miscellaneous, theme-based, 3 Trent University 26 9 Yes Discourage d. 2 Creative Writing; 1 Renaissance Drama; 1 Romantic; 1 Victorian; 1 20th Century; 1 Canadian; 1 Genre Fiction / Criticism. University of Windsor 14 6 to 8 Wilfred Laurier University 8 plus practicum 1 Canadian, 1 film theory, 1 film genre, 1Victorian, 1Indigenous, 2 postcolonial/diasporic literature, 1 professional methods and pedagogy 17 Yes 1 Canadian, 1 Early Modern, 1 Children s Lit,2 Theory, 1 Cultural Studies, 1 Contemporary 1 Old & Middle, 1 Drama to the Restoration, 1 Renaissance Non Dramatic, 1 Restoration & 18C, 1 19C, 4 20C British & Irish, 1 Canadian, 2 Postcolonial, 3 Theory,1 Women s Literature & Gender Studies, 1 Cultural Studies, 1 Indigenous Literature and Literary Criticism/Theory. Lakehead University 14 7 Yes. Western University 44 17 Yes. 266 TOTAL
MA Program Options 8/12 offer both coursework and thesis options Only 2 ask for a language requirement (and one only for thesis option) 11/12 include a professionalization course Time to completion is most commonly 12 months. Language Requirement? No No N/A Yes Coursework or Thesis? Professionalization Requirement? Time to Completion University University of Calgary Simon Fraser University University of New Brunswick Dalhousie University Both Both Thesis Thesis 12-30 months 12-18months 12-18 months 12 months Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes for thesis option, No for coursework option University of Saskatchewan Both 12-28 months Yes Brock University Queen's University Trent University University of Windsor Wilfred Laurier University Lakehead University Western University Thesis Both Both Both Coursework Both Both Yes No No No No No No 12 months 12 months 13-25 months 24 months 8-10 months 20 months 12 months Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
PhD Program Options Most common form of comps is 2 written elements, 1 oral 7/8 have language requirements. 5/8 have a required professionalization element. Average years to completion, according to faculty responses, is 5-6. Language Requireme nt? Yes Yes No Yes Yes Comps: Written or Oral? Professionalization Requirement? Years to Completion University University of Calgary Simon Fraser University University of New Brunswick Dalhousie University University of Saskatchewan Brock University Queen's University Trent University University of Windsor Wilfred Laurier University Lakehead University Western University 2w, 1o 2w 3 w/o 2w, 1o 1 w/o Yes Yes Yes 4.5 to 5 4 to 5 4 to 6 5 to 10 6.25 No? Answer unclear. Yes 2w, 1o Yes Yes 5 2w, 1o Yes Not required, but offered. 6 to 7 2w, 1o Yes No 5.5
Tuition Comparison MA TUITION PER TERM (FULL-TIME) PHD TUITION PER TERM (FULL-TIME) GUARANTEED FUNDING WINDOW UNIVERSITY MA Thesis Yr 1 = $1,864.50/term MA Thesis Yr 2 = $542.46/term MA Coursework: = $714.78/course First 28 months = $1,864.50/term Above 28 months = $542.46/term University of Calgary 0 MA, PhD 4 years Simon Fraser University 1,871.33 1,871.33 MA 1 year, PhD 4 years University of New Brunswick Approx 3100 to 2400 Approx 3100 to 2400 20 months MA; 4 years PhD Dalhousie University Approx. 3,000 to 3500 Approx. 3,200 to 3,700 MA 1 year, PhD 4 years Both MA & PhD students admitted w/ no funding MA students w/ guaranteed funding for 1 yr PhD students w/ guaranteed funding for 4 yrs University of Saskatchewan 1,379.00 1,379.00 Brock University 3028.24 N/A 12 months Queen's University $2,138.15 $2,138.15 4 years Trent University $3,308 N/A Thesis 2 yrs, courseowrk 1 yr. University of Windsor 2659 N/A No. Wilfred Laurier University N/A N/A PhD 4yrs. Lakehead University $3,213.89 N/A No; 2 yr. TA-ship guaranteed. Western University $2,355.67 $2,355.67 MA 1 year; PhD 4 years.
Qualitative Findings While the portion of the survey soliciting quantitative (i.e., numerical) data was sent directly to department administration, the following qualitative data is the result of self-reporting from one English graduate student per institution. Survey returned by graduate students from 20 universities: Dalhousie University University of Guelph University of New Brunswick Wilfrid Laurier University McGill University Western University University of Ottawa University of Manitoba Queen s University University of Saskatchewan Trent University University of Calgary Brock University UBC Okanagan University of Toronto Simon Fraser University Ryerson University University of British Columbia McMaster University University of Victoria
I. Graduate Representation for ACCUTE-GSC 15 of 20 respondents have departmental graduate student societies with annual elections 10 of these include the ACCUTE GSC rep in these elections 19 of 20 respondents have ACCUTE GSC graduate reps 7 of these positions are volunteers solicited by either students or faculty 9 of these planned to attend Congress and the GSC lunch
II. Institutional Graduate Representation 19 of 20 schools have graduate student associations or unions Ryerson has a joint undergraduate and graduate student union and is considering having a separate graduate union 19 of 20 schools teaching assistants are unionized Laurier is in the process of unionizing their TAs (Some of these unions do not extend to research assistants) 13 of 20 report overall awareness of student rights 14 of 20 report overall awareness of employee rights
III. Space, Service, Socialization 18 of 20 report overall satisfaction with their libraries 6 of these qualify that satisfaction with concerns about upcoming library budget cuts (i.e., reduced catalogue size), delayed access to books (having to reserve books 1-2 days ahead of time), and reliance on supplemental resources like RACER 2 report outright dissatisfaction with their library resources, with UNB reporting an absence of several of the required texts for comprehensive exams 13 of 20 report having designated office space for PhD students, whether shared or private Some of these do not provide office space for MA students 7 report having study rooms that can be booked ahead of time and are usually reserved for TA duties 9 report having designated computers, usually shared, with Queen s reporting access to personal laptops
III. Space, Service, Socialization Number of department-wide social events per year 9 of 20 report 1 or 2 events per year 6 of 20 report 3 to 4 per year Dalhousie reports more than 20 per year Number of department-wide non-social events per term (e.g., lecture series, readings, colloquia, competitions, etc.) 5 of 20 report 1 to 2 events per term 6 of 20 report 4 to 6 events per term 6 of 20 report more than 10 per term
IV-A. Professionalization 12 of 20 report mandatory professionalization courses Aside from these, 2 report having methods courses that have a brief professionalization component 9 of 20 report department professionalization workshops/training 8 of 20 report having a faculty graduate placement officer responsible for graduate professionalization initiatives Ryerson has a practicum placement option, with a faculty member assigned to help place graduate students in internships 16 of 20 report professionalization workshops offered by their faculties of graduate studies
IV-A. Professionalization Departmental vs. Graduate Studies Faculty professionalization efforts: 6 5 4 3 2 Dept 1 Grad 0 Ottawa McGill UNB Saskatchewan Calgary Victoria Dalhousie Queens Toronto Ryerson UBC Trent Manitoba UBC O Western Simon Fraser Laurier Brock McMaster
IV-A. Professionalization Summary of department professionalization efforts ranking: Lowest rankings: 3 of 19 rank these efforts at 2 or below Mid-range rankings: 7 of 19 rank these efforts at 3 or 3.5 Upper rankings: 5 of 19 rank these efforts at 4, 4.5 Highest rankings: 3 of 19 give these efforts a perfect score of 5 UNB s ranking is specific to their faculty s mentorship and not necessarily to the department itself
IV-A. Professionalization Desired professionalization efforts Academic Non-Academic Teaching training and lecturing opportunities beyond Taships More rigorous support for academic/tenure-track oriented professionalization E.g. Workshops, appointments, guaranteed teaching Dissertation writing support Alt-Ac & Para-Academic support E.g. Job search and CV- writing workshops, co- op/internships, mentors A designated faculty placement officer for professionalization Public humanities initiatives
IV-B. Hiring 15 of 20 departments alert their graduate students when hiring new faculty 15 of 20 departments encourage their graduate students to be involved in the hiring process 5 of 20 departments give their graduate students a vote in the hiring decision 4 of 20 departments solicit and consider graduate student feedback in their hiring decisions
V. General Specific concerns raised by English graduate students: Mental Health Support Limited or lack of funding for mental health services including private therapy, medications, and medical leave Discriminatory attitudes towards mental illness TA Support Increased ESL teaching load without proportionate training, support, or compensation Comprehensive Exam Support Standardized procedures Increased awareness of exam alternatives Travel Funding Program administration and toxic departmental politics Lack of interdisciplinary community-building (e.g., social spaces for graduate students across departments)
V. General In September 2018, how aware were our graduate student representatives of ACCUTE? 12 of 20 fully aware 4 of 20 minimally aware 4 of 20 not aware the GSC? 11 of 20 fully aware 2 of 20 minimally aware 7 of 20 not aware the GSC Survey? 8 of 20 fully aware 1 of 20 minimally aware 11 of 20 not aware
V. General Suggestions & future questions for the 2019-2020 GSC survey: Survey timing (avoid month of April) Document outlining the responsibilities of GSC representatives Questions re: peer relationships and support networks Questions re: graduate student advocacy Year X penalties Are grad students penalized for not completing their degree within a certain number of years? Travel funding To what extent does travel funding negatively impact your department s students likelihood of attending Congress/conferences generally?
GSC Representatives Each year, the GSC Executive members need graduate student liaisons at English departments across Canada, especially as we conduct the GSC Survey. These representatives responsibilities are chiefly as follows: Filling out the qualitative questions of the GSC Survey Soliciting numbers from departmental chairs or graduate assistants for the quantitative portion of the survey Passing on survey data to graduate student colleagues or respective graduate student societies in order to advocate for specific reforms in home departments Raise awareness of the ACCUTE GSC, the GSC Survey, and GSC events during Congress Ideally, we would like GSC representatives able to attend ACCUTE. However, given the variability of travel expenses and limits of graduate student funding, attendance is not mandatory.
