Governor General's Academic Gold Medal (Convocation Award - Spring)

A gold medal is awarded to a student who achieves the highest academic standing in a Master's or Doctoral degree program.

Eligibility

A gold medal is awarded at the Spring Convocation to a graduate student who has had a thesis or exhibition deemed meritorious by the Examining Committee; who is convocating at the current year's Spring Convocation or at the previous Fall Convocation and who has achieved the highest level of academic excellence in a Master's or Doctoral program.

NOMINATION CRITERIA

ALL nominations should be based on recognition of outstanding performance in the graduate program and should include information on the following:

• quality of the thesis/exhibition;
• external examiner’s report (quality of thesis);
• quality of the defense;
• course work;
• CGPA;
• publications and presentations deriving directly from the research done for the thesis/exhibition;
• awards received;
• other relevant activities and documents, e.g., support letter from the supervisor(s);
• time to completion may also be considered;
• special circumstances may also be considered. These may include, but are not limited to, students who have been part-time throughout their program; explanation of any FGSR approved leaves of absences.

Please see Terms of Reference for full details.

Application Information

Candidates are recommended to the FGSR Scholarship and Awards Committee by the academic areas.

PROCEDURES

1.  The Manager of Graduate Scholarships and Awards will compile a list of all those that were deemed meritorious and send to each Academic Unit’s Graduate Coordinator. Each student’s supervisor will also receive notification that his/her student is eligible for the award. 

4. 1. Nomination package
   2. External Examiner’s Report
   3. Unofficial Transcript or Advising Report by Term

Submit Application To

NOMINATION PACKAGE

Each academic unit will forward the following information to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research for consideration by the Scholarship and Awards Committee:

• A letter from the Graduate Co-ordinatoror designate, detailing the rationale for the nomination (two page typed letter – 11 pt. font size with ¾ inch margins on all sides, and on letterhead). It is preferable that the nomination letter address each of the nomination criteria in a separate section of the letter. 
• Summary and Lay Person Abstract of thesis or exhibition– A one-page document including lay-person abstract and summary to be completed and signed by the student. The summary part of the document should highlight the key points outlined in the award requirements and the focus should be on activities undertaken during graduate years.
• Additional letters or documents will not be considered.

SELECTION

In making its determination the Scholarship and Awards Committee will take into consideration:

• The Nomination Package, as outlined above
• External Examiner’s Report
• Transcripts

The Scholarship and Awards Committee will recommend to the Dean’s Office, FGSR, which in turn will recommend to Executive of Council, the name of one individual to receive the Medal at that year's Spring Convocation. The recipient’s name is then reported to FGSR Faculty Council for information only.