Department Governance

Major Administrative Responsibilities

The Department Head is responsible for the administrative control of the Department and acts as the spokesman for the Department in college and university matters.

Activities related to the graduate programs are under the control of the College of Graduate Studies and Research. Within the Department, matters relating to graduate programs are coordinated by the Graduate Chair who is assisted on many matters by the Graduate Correspondent (who communicates with applicants).  The Graduate Chair chairs the Department's Graduate Committee which oversees all aspects of the graduate program and is the central forum for decision making and communication on graduate matters.  Most importantly, this Committee:

  1. determines admissions to the graduate program and makes recommendations for scholarships and research assistantships;
  2. carries out an annual examination of the progress of each graduate student (see Annual Review of Status); and
  3. forms Ph.D. comprehensive examination committees and adjudicates the results of the Ph.D. comprehensive examinations.

The Undergraduate Chair is concerned with a number of matters relating to the interaction between the undergraduate and graduate programs (e.g. curriculum).  The undergraduate assistant assists the undergraduate chair.

Currently, these administrative functions are the responsibilities of:

Department Head Dr. Eric Neufeld
Graduate Chair Dr. Mark Eramian
Graduate Program Secretary Gwen Lancaster
Undergraduate Chair Michael Horsch
Undergraduate Assistant Linda Gesy

Student Governance

The collegiality of our department is reflected in the high level of graduate student involvement and influence in its operation.  The Computer Science Graduate Course Council or the "CSGCC" for short, is the organization constructed and operated by our graduate students to act on their behalf.  The Council acts as the Computer Science Graduate Student’s representatives to the University of Saskatchewan Graduate Student’s Association (GSA).  It provides communication between the GSA and the graduate students in the department.  The CSGCC also takes on the task of maintaining a certain level of communication between the Department of Computer Science and the graduate student body that resides in it.  The CSGCC has non-voting representatives that attend Graduate Committee meetings and Faculty meetings.

In addition, the CSGCC receives some funding from the University-wide GSA to carry out its operations. In return, the CSGCC organizes social events for the Department, such as welcoming activities for new graduate students and social gatherings throughout the year.  The social events organized by the CSGCC include different sporting activities, games and outings to be enjoyed by the graduate students, faculty and staff.  

Finally, the Council assists and advises new students moving to the University of Saskatchewan. See Getting Settled in Saskatoon.