Graduate Education Council (GEC)

Role & Mandate

According to the SGS Constitution (PDF), the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) is responsible for all graduate studies in the University of Toronto. SGS is responsible to develop and implement appropriate regulations and operating procedures for admissions, programs of study, and completion of degree requirements. SGS is also responsible for the Degree and General Regulations found within the SGS Calendar. To fulfil this mandate, SGS is governed by the Graduate Education Council (GEC) (PDF).

GEC is an academic advisory and approval body responsible for academic policy and regulations for SGS and for graduate studies at the University of Toronto. It considers, recommends and, where appropriate, approves new and / or revised SGS academic policies and regulations; policies regarding graduate awards, subject to final approvals as required; reports of its standing committees; and other related matters as they arise.

Membership

GEC membership includes several ex-officio voting members, including representation from the University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union (UTGSU), and the following 35 elected members: five graduate faculty members from each of the four divisions, three graduate students from each of the four divisions, and three graduate administrators (one from SGS and two from graduate units).

Click to view / download the current list of Graduate Education Council members (2023–2024) (PDF)

Elections

Elections are conducted annually each spring, with by-elections held as required. In addition to serving on GEC, members have opportunity to contribute to ad hoc committees or other work of SGS.

Meeting Schedule (2024–2025)

Important Links

• Meeting Agendas and Documentation Packages and Minutes
• Representation on GEC (PDF)
• SGS By-law #1: Rules of the Graduate Education Council (PDF)
• Mandate of Governance – Governing Council (PDF)
• Graduate Student Representation on GEC Nomination Form (PDF)

Committees

Standing committees of the Graduate Education Council:

• Non-Standard Admissions and Programs Committee (NSA&P)
• Graduate Academic Appeals Board (GAAB)

The following are not formal standing committees of GEC but have relevance to its work and draw their members from the GEC membership:

• Awards Committee 

Introduction to GEC