Electronic Theses and Dissertation Report
Electronic Theses and Dissertation – Road to Mandatory Submission
Draft Report Shared by the VCU Libraries Advisory Committee
October 19, 2007
Full DRAFT Report here
Summary Statement for VCU Faculty Senate
Prepared by Mary Secret, Faculty Senate Representative to Libraries Advisory Committee
VCU will adopt a mandatory submission of electronic theses and dissertations (ETD’s) in the Fall 2009 semester.
The proposal for mandatory submission, in draft document format, outlines the changes in policy and major procedural decisions points needed to implement this initiative and is available from the Libraries Advisory Committee. Highlights of this document are:
o The software platform for ETDs will move to the open source DSpace system
o Intent of the new system is to maximize open access to theses and dissertations; simplification of the submission process and file integrity are guiding principles.
o The procedure/policy for VCU to embargo access to certain ETD material under certain conditions has been developed.
o Copyright issues have been considered.
o Recommendation has been made to make UMI/Proquest deposits mandatory.
o The new mandatory ETD platform provides the opportunity to streamline the workflow for the ETD; the workflow is detailed in the draft document.
o Students can opt to have their theses and dissertation bound via professional bindery services; VCU will discontinue such services.
o Total fee for mandatory ETD is Masters Thesis is $45.00 - $100.00; for PhD dissertation, $55.00 - $120.
o Timetable is detailed in draft document.