Guidelines regarding Nominal Co-Supervisions with Adjunct Professors and Adjunct Research Professors

As per Carleton University’s Graduate Supervision Appointments Policy, Professors Emeriti and Adjunct Research Professors (for master’s and doctoral students) and Adjunct Professors (for master’s students) may co-supervise graduate students, but the other co-supervisor must be a full-time Group 1 faculty member with sole supervisory status (who may be nominal) and an appointment in the student’s academic unit.

Ideally, both the faculty member and the Adjunct/Adjunct Research/Emeriti (AP/ARP/E) Professor should be fully involved in the co-supervisory process. However, there can be situations where only the AP/ARP/E Professor has the background necessary to supervise the student’s research. In such cases, a nominal co-supervisor should be appointed. The nominal co-supervisor is not expected to get involved in the student’s research itself but is to be primarily an administrative help to the student. The purpose is to provide the student with a point of access to the Department. Being a nominal co-supervisor should be recognized as a valid administrative item for the faculty member’s annual activity report to the Faculty Dean.

1. The role of the Nominal Co-Supervisor is:

 (i) to monitor the student’s progress through the program;
 (ii) to ensure the student understands the administrative rules for their degree;
(iii) to verify that the student’s advisory committee meets on a regular basis and to participate in these meetings;
(iv) to provide general support should the student experience difficulties in the program, with their supervisor, or with their thesis project;
(v) to help the student with other practicalities of conducting research, such as how to access university resources, etc.;
(vi) to attend and participate in the final thesis examination, according to Carleton University’s Thesis Examination Policy.

2. Assignment of Nominal Co-Supervisors:

(i) Only tenured members of the Department should be asked to serve as nominal co-supervisors. The expectation is that the nominal co-supervisor will be available to see the student through to the end of their degree;
(ii) Attempts should be made to take into account the faculty member’s individual preferences;
(iii) Similarly, student preferences should be considered;
(iv) The Department Chair is responsible for ensuring that all students needing a nominal co-supervisor are assigned one.