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Graduate Faculty Memberships at RSI

The Rehabilitation Sciences Institute offers Graduate Faculty Memberships so faculty members can supervise graduate students and teach graduate courses at the University of Toronto. At U of T, members of teaching staff do not automatically have supervisory privileges in graduate programs. Authority to teach or supervise graduate students is a separate layer of responsibility with specific criteria.
Graduate Faculty Membership (GFM) Types
- Full GFM
- Associate GFM
- Associate GFM (Restricted)
- Full GFM (Emeritus)
- Associate GFM (Emeritus)
Please visit the SGS website for information on the types of GFMs offered at SGS.
Who needs an RSI GFM?
- Those who wish to serve as a primary supervisor to RSI graduate students
- Co-supervisors do not necessarily have to have an RSI membership, but must have a GFM at another department or institute at U of T
- Those who teach, as a lead/ primary instructor, an RSI graduate course
- Those serving as voting members of the student supervisory committees or examinations (e.g., candidacy, transfer or defenses), unless they have an SGS membership with another department or institute at U of T. Please check the Supervisory Committee Policy, Candidacy Examination Policy, Transfer Examination Policy as well as the Final Oral Examination Guidelines for details on RSI/SGS membership requirements for specific committees.
Criteria for RSI GFM
The criteria for a GFM at RSI are based on academic criteria defined by SGS. These include:
- Commitment to support RSI’s mission
- Commitment to participate in mentorship and supervision
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To be a primary supervisor to an RSI student, candidate must have a research-track university/hospital appointment and qualify to be a primary investigator on national and international research grants
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Those who aim to supervise graduate students must show evidence of scholarship through peer-reviewed research, grants and publications. In the case of individuals who have recently received an academic appointment, evidence of strong potential for such scholarship is a must
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- Commitment to contribute to teaching and service activities of RSI
- Evidence of a faculty appointment at U of T (e.g. tenured, tenure stream, status-only, visiting, adjunct, etc.) as entered on the Human Resources Information System (HRIS) with academic qualifications to the level of PhD or equivalent
NOTE: Appointees to RSI may not be graduate trainees registered at the University of Toronto.
Application Procedure for GFM
If you are interested in the applying for GFM at RSI, please complete the: GFM Application Form*
*Applicants must be logged in using their U of T email address to access the form
Those applying for a graduate faculty membership in RSI at the Associate or Full levels should (1) schedule an appointment with the RSI Director to discuss their application and (2) submit the following documentation for review:
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An up-to-date academic curriculum vitae (CV)
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Application letter addressing all of the RSI GFM criteria listed above, with emphasis on how the applicant intends to support RSI’s mission and what they can contribute to RSI in terms of graduate supervision, with a statement of funding to support students, teaching (e.g. required or elected courses), and service (e.g. serving on RSI committees).
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Letter of support from the chair of the primary academic department in which the applicant has a faculty appointment stating university appointment and its expectations as well as describing how RSI responsibilities would fit into the appointment’s responsibilities and help the faculty member in promotion.
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Status only faculty members must provide an additional letter from a director or employer, confirming the GFM request, their knowledge of the RSI GFM criteria, and supporting the applicant’s involvement in all RSI-related activities (i.e., supervision, teaching and service).
Applications will be reviewed by RSI twice in an academic year. Documents must be submitted online by:
- October 1st by end of day (11:59pm)
- February 1st by end of day (11:59pm)
Multiple GFMs
If a faculty member is already holding a graduate membership through another graduate unit at the University, they may apply for a graduate cross-GFM in RSI, if they intent to teach a graduate course and supervise (as primary supervisor) RSI graduate students. These applicants require the same documentation and are reviewed using the same criteria for new memberships as outlined above. Please use the following GFM APPLICATION FORM* to submit your request.
*Applicants must be logged in using their U of T email address to access the form
A professor with an associate graduate membership at their primary GFM unit cannot be offered a full GFM at RSI.
Graduate faculty with an emeritus GFM will hold emeritus status across all units/memberships.