ADDS criteria

Approved Doctoral Dissertation Supervisors (ADDS) in the Faculty of Environment

Background

Approved Doctoral Dissertation Supervisor (ADDS) should possess: (i) a record of research achievement since his/her highest earned degree, and, normally, (ii) experience in the supervision of graduate student research. In addition, one does not have to be a member of a department which has a Ph.D. program in order to become a Ph.D. Supervisor.

The main role of Approved Doctoral Dissertation Supervisors is to serve as a pool of faculty members who are (i) permitted to independently supervise Ph.D. students, (ii) eligible for membership on the Faculty Graduate Studies committee and University Senate Graduate Council, and (iii) eligible for the positions of Graduate Officer in a Department, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in a Faculty, or Dean of Graduate Studies in the University.

ADDS status is granted for a period of five years and reviewed at that time for renewal.

Criteria for Approved Doctoral Dissertation Supervisor

An ADDS candidate must be a faculty member at the professorial rank at the University of Waterloo.

Degrees

Normally, a Ph.D. degree is required, but in some cases, extensive experience and high quality research activities will be considered as an alternative to the degree. In other words, we are more interested in whether the faculty member is capable of supervising Ph.D. thesis research than whether or not he/she has certain degrees. However, active candidates for a degree at any university will not be considered for approval as Ph.D. supervisors.

Research

The applicant must present evidence of competence and achievement in research or scholarship, some of which should be subsequent to his/her highest earned degree. Evidence must be provided to show that the research has been judged acceptable by peers in his/her profession or discipline. This criterion could be met by one of more of the following:

• having a book published and favourably reviewed in a scholarly journal;
• publishing several articles in refereed journals;
• having several major research reports evaluated by other professionals before being submitted to some governmental or other agency;
• having obtained, as principal investigator, several research grants or contracts in which the proposal was refereed by peers.

The applicant should provide any other evidence that indicates his/her scholarly stature in his/her professional meetings, consultation for a granting agency, review of manuscripts for a scholarly journal, and so on.

Graduate instruction

Before becoming a Ph.D. Supervisor, a faculty member should have some experience in teaching and in successfully supervising completion of theses at the Master's level and have participated in a Ph.D. Supervisory Committee. Thus, the candidate is required to give detailed information about his/her graduate teaching experience, particularly about his/her involvement in advising thesis research, in graduate student committees, and in oral examinations. (For new faculty members ADDS status may be granted earlier than normal based on the demonstrated research supervisory experience of the individual.) Any other relevant information that would help evaluate the applicant's ability to supervise advanced graduate research should be submitted.

Co-Supervision

Non-ADDS faculty members may co-supervise Ph.D. students along with a faculty member with ADDS status, and may serve on Ph.D. committees. Information on recent changes in the availability of ADDS can be obtained from the Graduate Officer of the particular department.

Approval procedure

1. Nomination for ADDS status must be initiated by the Unit Head to the Associate Dean Graduate Studies.
2. The applicant should prepare a special vita containing all the information required to evaluate his/her capability to supervise advanced graduate research (see Appendix 1).
3. Applications from a member of any Department or School in the Faculty of Environment for ADDS status should be reviewed by the Unit Head and the Graduate Officer using the CV submitted by the applicant. In cases where the applicant belongs to a Department or School without a graduate program, the Chair or Director should approve the application. The positive recommendation will be submitted to the Associate Dean. In the event of a negative recommendation, the Unit Head will ask three ADDS peers to act as referees. If that should also produce a negative recommendation, the applicant will be advised and given the choice of (a) withdrawing the request, or (b) agreeing that the recommendation and documentation be submitted to the Associate Dean, Faculty of Environment.
4. The Unit Head should submit the application and the complete documentation along with a recommendation to the Associate Dean Graduate Studies.
5. The Associate Dean will consult with the ADDS of his/her Graduate Studies Committee and other ADDS in other units, with at least three consultants from outside the applicant's unit. If, after these consultations, the application is not a "clear-cut case" in the judgment of the Associate Dean, he/she may convene a meeting of a screening committee composed of the consultants mentioned above. The Unit Head and the applicant may be requested to attend to provide further information.
6. At both the Unit and Faculty levels, if the applicant appears to fail to meet the criteria, or the majority of reviewers are negative, the candidate should be informed of the difficulties and be permitted to withdraw the application. Appeals should be made to the Dean of Graduate Studies.
7. When the Associate Dean is satisfied with the merit of the applicant, the application will be submitted to the Dean of Graduate Studies for final approval.

Review of Approved Doctoral Dissertation Supervisor

University policy requires a review of approved doctoral dissertation supervisors every five years. The unit should initiate the process and should ask for documentation on pertinent activities since the last confirmation as an approved doctoral dissertation supervisor; i.e., personal scholarly activities, graduate teaching, advising thesis research, participation in graduate student committees and oral examinations and acting as Chair for Ph.D. oral examinations at the request of the Dean of Graduate Studies. The Unit Head or his/her designate should review the materials submitted and make a recommendation to the Associate Dean who will make the final decision on the review

Other

All faculty members of a Faculty Graduate Studies Committee should hold ADDS status.

(i) Appendix 1 - Suggested format for Vita for ADDS application

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

I Education

II Employment

III Major Publications

Major publications of the last ten years. Include only those that indicate research capability. Do not normally include book reviews or articles in popular magazines or newspapers. Indicate with an asterisk journals that are refereed. Start with the earlier publications and leave a couple of inches of space at the end so that new publications can be added later. Include items that are in press; i.e., manuscript accepted for publication.

IV Other Research Experience, Research Reports and Papers at Professional Meetings

V Research Grants

VI Graduate Teaching and Advising Experience

1. Thesis Advisor – Student Name, Short Thesis Title, Degree, Year
2. On Thesis Committees; e.g., 4 M.A., 1 M.Sc. UW
3. Official Thesis Reader; e.g., 6 M.A. UW, 1 Ph.D. U. of T.