Principles Governing the Selection and Change of Thesis Advisors for Graduate Students in the In-Service Master’s Program in Sport, Health and Leisure Management, National Cheng Kung University
(Applicable to Students Admitted in Academic Year 2018 and Thereafter)

Approved at the 4th Institute Affairs Meeting of Academic Year 2016 on February 17, 2017
Revised and approved at the 1st Institute Affairs Meeting of Academic Year 2017 on September 15, 2017
Revised and approved at the 5th Curriculum Committee Meeting of Academic Year 2017 on July 26, 2018
Revised and approved at the 6th Institute Affairs Meeting of Academic Year 2017 on July 26, 2018
Approved for record by the Legal Affairs Division and the Office of Academic Affairs on August 15, 2018
Revised and approved at the 2nd Institute Affairs Meeting of Academic Year 2023 on December 4, 2023
Revised and approved at the 3rd Institute Affairs Meeting of Academic Year 2023 on March 4, 2024

1. These Principles are established in accordance with the University Academic Regulations, the Graduate Student Regulations, and the University’s Principles Governing Graduate Students’ Applications to Change Thesis Advisors, in order to protect graduate students’ freedom in learning and research and to maintain a sound advisor–student relationship.
2. The purpose of appointing a thesis advisor is to assist students with course planning, research, and thesis writing, and to participate in the seminars of the graduate students under the advisor’s supervision. The qualifications for and appointment of thesis advisors shall be governed by the Institute’s regulations and are subject to the approval of the Director.
   (1) In principle, the thesis advisor shall be a full-time faculty member primarily appointed by the Institute.
   (2) A jointly appointed faculty member from the Office of Physical Education or an assistant professor or above appointed by the Ministry of Education (whose master’s or doctoral degree must be in a field related to physical education, sports, or leisure studies), and whose teaching at the Institute mainly consists of jointly offered courses, may also serve as a thesis advisor, provided that he or she meets at least one of the following conditions:
       1. Having published at least one international journal article indexed in SCI or SSCI as the first author or corresponding author within the past five years.
       2. Having served as the principal investigator of at least one research project funded by the National Science and Technology Council within the past five years.
3. Graduate students shall discuss their research interests with all relevant faculty members before selecting a thesis advisor. In choosing a thesis advisor, students shall take into consideration the faculty member’s expertise and experience, the learning environment, and their own research goals. After enrollment, graduate students must complete the selection of a thesis advisor before registration for the second semester of the first academic year and submit the Application Form for Graduate Thesis Advisor.
4. The principles governing the assignment of thesis advisors are as follows:
   (1) A full-time faculty member primarily appointed by the Institute may supervise up to three students in the same cohort. A faculty member not primarily appointed by the Institute but serving as a thesis advisor may supervise one student. When necessary, another teacher may be invited, upon consultation with the thesis advisor, to serve as a co-advisor. (The qualifications for selecting a thesis advisor shall also comply with Article 2 of these Principles.)
   (2) If a newly admitted student applies for leave of absence or deferred admission before or after enrollment, the thesis advisor shall be selected upon resumption of study in accordance with the advisor assignment principles applicable to the student’s original year of admission.
5. After selecting a thesis advisor, graduate students shall maintain regular and proactive contact with the advisor in order to receive substantial guidance. In principle, a change of thesis advisor shall be avoided. However, if the thesis advisor is unable to complete thesis supervision within the student’s period of study due to overseas travel, leave, or other reasons, the graduate student may apply to change the thesis advisor.
6. After selecting a thesis advisor, a graduate student may not apply for a change during the first semester, and in principle, the change may be made only once. If such a change is approved, the period of study must be extended by at least half a year. Any exceptional case shall be submitted to the Institute Affairs Meeting for resolution. If a change is deemed necessary after that semester, the student shall submit the Application Form for the Selection and Change of Thesis Advisor (Appendix 1). Such application shall only take effect upon written consent from the original thesis advisor, the new thesis advisor, and the Director. The newly appointed thesis advisor must supervise the student for at least six months before the student may apply for a different thesis topic. In addition, the student agrees that any research成果 obtained under the original thesis advisor may not be published or transferred in any form without the original advisor’s prior consent; otherwise, the student shall bear legal responsibility.
7. If a graduate student needs to change the thesis advisor during the period of study and any of the following circumstances occurs, the Director shall convene an Institute Affairs Meeting. Upon attendance by two-thirds of the representatives and approval by two-thirds of those present, an appropriate faculty member or the Director shall serve as the thesis advisor, or another appropriate arrangement shall be made:
   (1) The original thesis advisor refuses to give consent.
   (2) The graduate student is unable to obtain the consent of a new thesis advisor.
   (3) Any other circumstance that is sufficient to affect the graduate student’s selection or change of thesis advisor.
8. These Principles shall be implemented after approval by the Institute Affairs Meeting and submission to the Office of Academic Affairs for record. The same procedure shall apply to any amendments.