SUBMITTING A THESIS

Registering:  Beginning with the 2007-2008 academic year, students will be required to submit their honors thesis electronically as a PDF file. 

You must register an electronic PDF version of your thesis through the secure website (detailed instructions on uploading PDF files will be forthcoming) before you come to the Registrar's Conference Room to complete the thesis registration process on April 14.  The PDF file will be used to print and bind copies of your thesis for your department and library archives as well as any tutor/personal copies. After uploading your PDF file, you must print out the form indicating that you have completed this step and bring it with you to the Registrar's Conference Room.

In addition to the PDF file, you must register all of the "reader" copies of your thesis with Beth Labriola by 4 pm on April 14, 2008 in the Registrar’s Office Conference Room in North College. Please DO NOT submit copies in boxes.  Each reader copy of your thesis must be in an unsealed (self-adhesive) envelope with a legible label that includes the following information in the top left corner (orient your envelope so that it is portrait-style):

You are responsible for making sure that the thesis is in its final form when it is submitted as a PDF file and as reader copies to Beth Labriola.  Margin and title page formatting must be correct.  The PDF file and the reader copies must be identical.  All reader copies must be properly collated and proofread BEFORE submission.  This is an important and time-consuming step, so leave plenty of time for it. 

Once your reader copies have been registered with Beth Labriola, you will deliver your thesis copies to your readers or to your department (when applicable).

Number of reader copies: You will need to register enough copies for all your readers by the April 14 deadline.  You will be informed, prior to the thesis submission deadline, whether your department/program requires a one-sided or two-sided reader copy. A small number of departments/programs may only require a PDF version of your thesis for readers.  If your specific department/program only requires a PDF version of your thesis for their readers, you will be notified prior to the thesis deadline.

Keep the original copy of the whole manuscript for yourself in case more copies are needed. Candidates who write a thesis to be evaluated by more than one department will need to submit as many copies as needed so all readers receive a copy.  Some departments where the tutor is not a reader (most notably English and History) expect the tutor to receive a reading copy at the same time as the evaluators.  It is the responsibility of the student to make sure enough copies are made for all readers.

Please note that your readers may write on their copies.  Reader copies will not be bound.  These copies will be returned to you directly by your department/program. 

Registration Check List:

• PDF version of manuscript uploaded to secure website.  You will have the ability to indicate what your shortened title should be for the spine of the bound copy as well as the number of copies to be printed and bound, and charged to your student account, at the time that you electronically register your thesis.  Once you've completed this step, remember to bring the paper confirmation letter indicating that you've completed the step with you to the registrar's office along with your reader copies.

•  Reader copies of completed manuscript

•  A manila envelope for each reader copy, each labeled per above

Late submission of theses:

Theses may not be submitted late.  If you are having problems, contact Beth Labriola at the earliest possible time.  Computer problems are absolutely not an acceptable excuse for late submission of a thesis.  Please do not print a final copy or create your PDF file at the last minute.  Print early to make sure your thesis meets margin requirements, tables and footnotes print correctly, and that your title page is in the proper format.  You are responsible for adhering to these guidelines.

What happens once the readers are done with my thesis?:  Department/Program recommendations for Honors are due by April 28, 2008.   You may check with your department/program  for results around this date.   Your department/program will return your reader copies directly to you after this time.  If you receive an honors recommendation, a minimum of two copies must be bound:  #1 will be stored in Olin Library, #2 will go to the department (CHEM, ENGL, GOVT, and MUSC do not require a copy).  Most students bind at least one additional copy to keep for themselves.  You must indicate during thesis registration the total number of copies that you would like printed and bound.

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