Thesis and Dissertation Information
Virginia Commonwealth University requires thesis and dissertation candidates to deposit print or electronic copies of their work with the VCU Libraries. The VCU Libraries encourages electronic submission through the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) Project.
SPRING 2008 GRADUATES
The deadline for turning in theses and dissertations is MAY 9, 4:30pm.
The Cabell Library Business Office (room 201) must receive your completed signature page with either printed copies or your ETD online by this deadline.
If you are unable to meet this deadline for any reason, contact Lori Floyd-Miller at the School of Graduate Studies, 828-2233, lafloyd@vcu.edu.
GETTING STARTED
VCU School of Graduate Studies Manual 2004 (PDF)
Formatting Tips (setting margins, page numbers, dot leaders, etc)
Template with margins, page numbers, and headings set according to the VCU School of Graduate Studies Manual (This may take a few minutes to download)
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Project
The ETD Project highlights VCU's research and creativity in full text documents and multimedia presentations. Submitting your work electronically is fast, easy and free. Browse ETDs here. Authors complete the process in three steps. First, provide information about yourself and your degree. Second, provide the names of your committee members. Last, upload the file(s) of your work. Formats are described here. To submit your ETD, start here.
Binding Information
The ETD Project and print binding are separate operations. ETD is free and fulfills the university requirement to provide the library with a copy of the thesis or dissertation. The minimum number to bind is based on the Graduate School Manual. The processing fee for dissertations ($60) includes four copies (2 for the dept, 2 for the library). The processing fee for theses ($45) includes two copies (1 for the dept, 1 for the library).
Forms Required for Binding
Dissertation
The Online Processing Form must be completed. This form allows you to pay online with a credit card. Another option is to pay when you bring your dissertation copies to the library. The library accepts check, credit, or cash. The $60 processing fee includes 4 required copies: 2 for the VCU Libraries (1 for the archives, 1 for the general collection), 2 for the author's department. Print copies are brought to the VCU Libraries Business Office in Cabell Library, room 201. Copies may also be mailed. See the FAQ below.
A signed copy of the Special Collections Agreement Form (pdf) is required by the library and must be received before your dissertation is sent to the bindery.
ProQuest Information and Learning (also known as University Microfilms, Inc.) is the North American repository for theses and dissertations and publisher of Dissertation Abstracts International. VCU deposits all print dissertations with Proquest. The Dissertation Publishing Agreement Form (pdf) is required when you turn in your dissertation. Print and complete only pages A4-A5. Print copies of this form are available in the Libraries Business Office, Cabell Library, room 201.
Thesis
The Online Processing Form must be completed. This form allows you to pay online with a credit card. Another option is to pay when you bring your dissertation copies to the library. The $45 processing fee includes 2 required copies: 1 for the VCU Libraries, 1 for the author's department. The library accepts check, credit, or cash. Print copies are brought to the VCU Libraries Business Office in Cabell Library, room 201. Copies may also be mailed. See the FAQ below.
A signed copy of the Special Collections Agreement Form (pdf) is required by the library and must be received before your thesis is sent to the bindery.
OPTIONAL: Theses may be published and copyrighted with ProQuest. Complete pages A4 and A5 of the Thesis Publishing Agreement Form (pdf). Be sure to indicate you want this service in the Online Processing Form.
ETD
Students who submit their thesis/dissertation online to the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Project are not required to pay processing charges. Bound copies are charged at the same rate as non-ETD submissions. If bound copies are requested, the Online Processing Form must be completed.
For more information about the ETDs go to the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Project website.
Payment
- Online Processing Database
Students must register their thesis or dissertation online and get a statement of charges for binding from the Libraries' online processing form. Completing the information allows quick calculation of the charges, faster processing, and accurate cataloging of the work. The system allows for payment online with a credit card. Once payment is made, however, the form is locked and cannot be revised. - Payment at VCU Libraries Business Office
The VCU Libraries Business Office is located on the second floor of Cabell Library, Room 201. Students can pay all fees in person at the time the work is delivered. MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express credit cards are accepted. Check or money order should be made payable to "VCU Libraries". The University Cashier's Office will not accept payment for theses and dissertations. - Payment by Department or School
Departments that pay for all or a portion of the library fees must authorize all charges to accounts with a memo on department letterhead, including the name of the student, the account number to charge, and the authorizing contact person and phone number. Students will receive a receipt to return to the paying department. The charge will be processed through the online system.
FAQ Theses and Dissertations
1. How much does it cost for binding?
Basic Fees
Dissertation: $60 (includes 2 department copies and 2 library copies)
Thesis: $45 (includes 1 department copy and 1 library copy)
Additional copies: $17.50 each
2. How long does it take for binding?
It usually takes 4-6 weeks. The bindery order is shipped out every 2 weeks with a 2 week turn-around time.
3. What's the right kind of paper to use?
Since the early 1990s, most commercially available papers in America are acid-neutral. Any commercially available paper, whether it is photocopy paper, laser printing paper, bond paper, etc. is acceptable. Many believe that cotton content indicates a "good" paper. In fact, it is simply an aesthetic texture that doesn't add to the chemical stability or durability of the paper.
4. I'm having trouble with the Online Processing Form.
Prior to submitting print copies of your thesis or dissertation to the VCU Libraries, you must complete the Online Processing Form. The form records information about your work and calculates your fees. An eID is required to enter the Online Processing Form.
If your eID has expired, the message "Try again. Wrong username or password. If it still does not work after you have tried again, please use this form " appears. Try again or click on the large red words "this form." Enter any 9 random digits to get to a form you can use.
5. How do I pay for my thesis or dissertation?
You can pay directly online with a credit card. You can also bring the unbound copes to the Business Office (room 201, Cabell Library) and pay by check, cash or money order.
6. I'm out of town. Can this be handled long distance?
Yes! Use the Online Processing Form to pay by credit card or send a check and mail the unbound copies to:
Patricia Selinger
VCU Libraries
901 Park Avenue, room 201
P.O. Box 842033
Richmond, VA 23284-2033
It is strongly advised you use a service that requires a signature upon delivery.
7. Where do my print copies go if I don't pay for mailing them?
They will be sent to your department.
8. I don't have Adobe Acrobat to convert my ETD. What do I do?
Upload your document file to the database and our office will convert it for you. Your document is secure until your work is approved. Open Office software and newer versions of Word have the ability to convert text documents and images to PDF. Media Resources in Cabell Library and Tompkins-McCaw Library as well as many of the computer labs on campus have the full version of Acrobat that enables conversion to PDF.
9. Should I pay to copyright my work?
Copyright is inherent in any work you create. Having your work registered with the Library of Congress gives you standing in a court of law. Therefore, if your work contains something marketable such as a survey instrument you created, a description of an invention or something you will patent, data sets, images or text, you might consider paying the optional copyright fee. A copyrighted work must be published so the publishing fee is required in addition to the copyright fee. Use the Proquest form for your work (thesis or dissertation) above. VCU Libraries recommends including a copyright page as the first page of your work. It is not numbered or counted. It simply includes the copyright symbol © followed by your full name and the year you completed your work. See the copyright links below for more information.
Copyright Information Links
Copyright Basics - VCU Technology Services
Copyright Law & Graduate Research - UMI
Copyright Quickguide - Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
Copyright & Fair Use - Stanford University Libraries
US Copyright Office
If you have any questions, contact Patricia Selinger at peselinger@vcu.edu, or call 804-828-8679.