HONOURS THESIS (CHYS 4499)

RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS

The following guidelines are designed to promote a cooperative and productive relationship between students, their thesis supervisors and the Department of Child & Youth Study.

Responsibilities of Supervisors
  1. To know the Departmental and University regulations and standards to which Honours Thesis applicants and accepted students are required to conform.
  2. To be available for information sessions, at which time faculty members will briefly outline their areas of research interest and respond to questions from students. To subsequently provide reasonable access to students and to be available for consultation regarding Honours Thesis applications.
  3. To meet with students as promptly as possible following acceptance to the Honours Program, in order to collaborate in the development of a written and signed statement of decisions regarding the student’s thesis (special conditions, timelines, expectations of the student or supervisor, choice of faculty thesis committee member).
  4. To arrange regular meetings with the student and to provide prompt, clearly-written feedback to any submitted materials from the student.
  5. To be as helpful as possible in developing research topics, assisting students to define their theses, and advising students regarding major expectations of the Honours Thesis Program (policy and guidelines, responsibilities of supervisors, students and the Department).
  6. To ensure that students using humans in their research adhere to University and Department policies and guidelines governing Honours Theses and general research production, especially guidelines and policies regarding the ethical conduct of research available from the University Research Office, located in Evaristus, Room 231; 902-457-6350 or the MSVU website: www.msvu.ca click on Research, then Research Ethics, then choose appropriate heading (Forms, Policies, Ethics Review Process, etc.).
Responsibilities of Students
  1. To consult with faculty advisor regarding Honours Thesis regulations and application procedures, to which Honours Thesis applicants and accepted students are required to conform.
  2. To attend the initial information session in order to receive all information and materials that are pertinent to the Honours Thesis Program.
  3. To meet with their appointed thesis supervisor immediately following acceptance to the program.
  4. To meet regularly with their thesis supervisor to facilitate the ongoing progress with the development of their thesis.
  5. To give serious and considered attention to all advice and direction offered by their thesis supervisor to enhance the quality of the student’s thesis.
  6. To accord with all established University or Department policies and guidelines governing Honours Theses and general research production, including guidelines and policies regarding the ethical conduct of research, available from the University Research Office located in Evaristus, Room 231; 902-457-6350 or the MSVU website: www.msvu.ca click on Research, then Research Ethics then choose appropriate heading (Forms, Policies, Ethics Review Process, etc.).
Rights of Supervisors
  1. To have students give serious and considered attention to their advice concerning the thesis process, essential changes needed in the thesis, and feedback regarding their thesis progress.
  2. To be protected by the standards and practice governing research and professional conduct.
  3. To seek Department approval to terminate supervision should circumstances merit, and to advise the student to find another supervisor if the student is not putting forth a reasonable effort and full consultation with the student has taken place.
  4. To terminate the thesis if students have made limited progress in the thesis process by the December 1st deadline, and to consider the student’s work for the term as a Directed Study.
Rights of Students
  1. To have a clear explanation of what is expected in thesis-writing (expected length, acceptable methodology, validity of topic, writing quality, APA style, notification of progress).
  2. To expect help from their supervisor in establishing a feasible topic and in solving problems and assessing progress as the thesis is being written.
  3. To receive Department assistance in seeking a new supervisor should circumstances merit and the Department approve.
  4. To receive a fair assessment of the completed thesis and explanations of any critiques.
Responsibilities of the Department
  1. To organize information sessions to apprise students of the nature of the Honours Thesis Program, including all pertinent documents
  2. To uphold a good standard for theses.
  3. To provide supervision at all times, so that, should a supervisor be unavailable to fulfil his/her responsibilities for an extended period of time, substitute arrangements are made as soon as possible.
  4. To consider student or faculty requests for a change of supervisor, should circumstances merit.
  5. To provide procedures which assist and encourage students to complete the thesis, such as early review and approval of topic and methodology, guidelines on access and appeals, oversight of the student’s schedule, and a clearly-stated system of thesis review and evaluation.
  6. To provide a fair evaluation of the thesis, normally by giving considerable responsibility to the second reader (faculty committee member) as well as the supervisor.