Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Submission

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Frequently Asked Questions about Graduation and ETD Submission

Why submit documents electronically?
Electronic submission allows any graduate student to submit their document from any computer in any location, saving the cost of paper copies, the time spent processing by the student and Graduate School staff, and space savings at the library. ETD (electronic thesis or dissertation) submission provides desktop publishing experience and is a graduation requirement which makes UNC-CH research accessible to the world via the internet.
How might I produce the format required by university?
The UNC Thesis and Dissertation Guide gives detailed information about formatting and sample pages at the end. Students not admitted by the Graduate School should refer to the current submission practices of their Deans Office: Audiology, Business MBA and MAC, Dentistry, Education EDD, Law, Medicine, Physical Therapy, and PharmD.
Are signatures required on the title page?
For security reasons signatures are not part of any ETD, so create your title page with names only. The approving signatures will be submitted separately by the department via the internal Exam Report Form. Committee signatures must be on file in the Graduate School for you to be cleared for graduation.
When do I submit my thesis or dissertation?
Only after the defense has occurred and all final edits are approved by the department. Documents submitted prior to internal or external approval will be rejected. After submission, please patiently allow sufficient time for staff to review the document for necessary format revisions. You will be notified if revisions are needed and/or if your document has been approved.
What is the due date for submission?
Future term graduation deadlines are always available on every Registrar’s calendar at: http://regweb.unc.edu/calendars/, but do not wait until the posted deadline to submit your document. If you choose to submit close to or on the deadline, expect a delay in our response with your revisions required immediately after receiving that response. If returned revisions do not arrive immediately, you will not meet degree requirements for that term and the document rejected.
How do I get my document into PDF format?
Use the converter available during submission, or one of the many .pdf converters available on campus or through your department.
Will the visual quality of the thesis or dissertation be affected?
The conversion to PDF format should not affect the quality of the original document (if converted properly).
Can I use the same submission service to send a PDF to my department?
No, but you may (with committee approval) use existing electronic methods such as email or fax.
What formats are accepted?
PDF is the only accepted format for the text portion of the document; additional digital files may be attached including audio, video, pictures, etc. The ProQuest website provides listings of all acceptable electronic formats as well as general FAQs about submission: http://dissertations.umi.com/unc/faq.html
Can I make revisions after submission?
Revisions can be submitted only until you receive final approval from the Graduate School. Once the Graduate School accepts the final document, no revisions or resubmissions are accepted — so make certain you have received all approvals and have left no typographical errors.
Can I request a restriction of release of my thesis or dissertation to the public (due to patent or publication concerns)?
Yes. The submission software provides a method for written restriction requests and the university will consider all such justifications for no more than a one year embargo period, during which your document would not be made available. At the end of the requested period your document will join all other theses and dissertations available to the public at UMI and the UNC Libraries.
What if I have concerns about copyrighting, patents and internet distribution?
Your committee chair or advisor is the first point of contact as well as published general information about patent, trademark, servicemark and copyright at: http://www.uspto.gov/ and http://www.copyright.gov/. General questions concerning copyrighting issues and internet distribution may also be answered by UNC-Library officials Deborah Gerhardt or Leah McGinnis Dunn, Chair, UNC Committee on Copyright.
Will my department still receive a printed copy from the Library?
The library will no longer provide copies since the entire document will be a printable .pdf on the library websites; however some departments may continue to require students to provide a bound copy to them.
How do I get extra copies for me and my department?
You may order bound copies through the UMI site, or there are several campus and library-recommended options available to you.
  1. A student can usually get better quality by printing out his or her thesis on acid-free paper (sometimes called archival or legal bond) and sending it to a company that does library binding. The Bull's Head Bookshop in the UNC Student Stores will send documents out to a library bindery on behalf of students. The Bull's Head handles payments, provides on-campus customer service, and takes care of the shipping and order tracking. For more information, visit the Bookshop or call 919-962-5060.
  2. Lulu is a digital marketplace business, and they have a service specifically for theses and dissertations. For more information, please visit their website at: http://www.lulu.com/en/products/dissertations/.
  3. A self publisher company called Blurb may also assist with publishing theses and dissertations. For more information, please visit their website at: www.blurb.com
How do I know I have completed all requirements for graduation?
After you receive notification the ETD was approved, please monitor your graduation candidate status at studentcentral.unc.edu
Where will my electronic thesis or dissertation be located?
After graduation, your document may be available electronically at the following locations:
Who do I contact about my in process ETD?
Once submitted, you may call or email:
Who served on the UNC-Chapel Hill ETD Committee?
  • Dr. Brad Hemminger, Library Science, Chair
  • Ms. Cheryl Thomas, Graduate School
  • Mr. Pat Mullin, Davis Library
  • Mr. Tim Shearer, Davis Library
  • Ms. Elizabeth Evans, ITS
  • Mr. Fletcher Fairey, University Counsel