University of Toronto Mississauga has published guidance for faculty who want to offer a Research Opportunity Program (ROP) course, laying out the proposal, approval, recruitment and grading steps involved. The process affects faculty planning an ROP project and the students who may later apply for those spots, with the project moving through EEU review before it reaches students.
Key facts
- Faculty must confirm eligibility through the Faculty Eligibility List on the Program Policies page before proposing an ROP project.
- ROP project and funding proposals are submitted together through a single form in the EEUAPP.
- Approved projects are later posted to students through the EEUAPP during the application period.
- Students may submit up to five ROP applications per upcoming academic term once the application period opens.
- Final grades for the ROP must be entered as numeric marks using the Office of the Registrar’s e-Marks tool.
What does this mean for faculty and students?
For faculty, the main practical step is to prepare a full project proposal before logging into the EEUAPP. U of T Mississauga says the submission should cover course information, project details, optional funding and student recruitment settings. The proposal then goes first to EEU staff and then to a chair, director or designate for approval.
For students, the key impact comes later in the cycle. Once a project is approved, it becomes visible in the EEUAPP during the application period, and students can apply to up to five ROP projects in an upcoming academic term. If selected, they receive an offer, digitally sign a contract and are then enrolled after the contract is countersigned by the supervisor.
- Faculty can request funding for consumables, hardware, software, travel, remuneration and other expenses.
- Recruitment settings let supervisors choose whether they receive individual email notifications or compiled application packages.
- Supervisors are expected to provide onboarding and training, including orientations or lab demonstrations when needed.
- Marked work worth at least 15% of the course mark for H courses, or 25% for Y courses, must be returned by the academic drop-date deadline.
What must an ROP proposal include?
An ROP proposal must give reviewers enough detail to understand the course and the research experience being offered. The university says faculty should include co-supervisors, external partners, the academic start session, course code, section and delivery type, along with the project title, course description, learning outcomes, recommended preparation, assessment and weekly hours expected from students.
If funding is requested, faculty must provide an itemized breakdown of the costs. The guidance names consumables, hardware, software, travel and remuneration among the possible expense categories, and says funding requests are assumed to be per student unless the request clearly states that the funding is per project.
How does the selection process work?
After submission, the proposal is reviewed internally before it can go live to students. Once approved, faculty may receive applications through the EEUAPP and can arrange interviews by email. After choosing a student, the supervisor extends an offer through the system, and the student must accept and sign the digital contract before the enrolment process is finalized.
The university says the EEU later sends a list of approved ROP contracts to the Office of the Registrar for upload into ROSI. After enrolment, final approval of any funding request is completed and the department manager helps transfer the funds.
What are supervisors responsible for during the term?
Supervisors are expected to set expectations clearly, meet regularly with students and ensure the project follows the approved proposal. The guidance also recommends that students keep a journal documenting meetings, progress, learning and the nature of the research.
For final grading, supervisors must submit numeric marks through the Office of the Registrar’s e-Marks online tool during the designated period. For courses without a final exam, marks are due five days after the end of the Study Break.
Frequently asked questions
How many ROP applications can a student submit?
Students may submit up to five ROP applications per upcoming academic term once the application period begins.
What happens after a student accepts an offer?
The student digitally signs an ROP contract, the supervisor countersigns it, and the contract is then forwarded for enrolment processing.
