Graduate Council Thesis & Dissertation Policies

This document outlines the formal policies established by the Graduate Council regarding the preparation and submission of theses and dissertations. All graduate students are expected to adhere to these guidelines to ensure academic integrity and compliance with institutional standards.

Co-authorship

The Graduate Council recognizes that scholarly research is often a collaborative endeavor. Students may include work that has been co-authored with faculty, peers, or external researchers. However, the student must be the primary author of the thesis or dissertation. If a chapter or section of the document is based on co-authored material, the following requirements must be met:

• The student must clearly state their individual contribution to the research and writing process.
• Written permission from co-authors must be obtained and kept on file if the work has been previously published.
• The role of the student in data collection, analysis, and drafting must be explicitly defined in an introductory section of the relevant chapter.

Previously Published Material

Students are encouraged to incorporate work that has been published or accepted for publication during their graduate studies. When including such material, the following policies apply:

• The student must ensure that the format of the published material conforms to the general document formatting standards set by the University (e.g., margins, font size, line spacing).
• The student must include a statement at the beginning of each chapter that incorporates previously published material, identifying the publication venue and the current status of the work.
• The student is responsible for verifying that the inclusion of this material does not violate any agreements made with the publisher.

Copyright

The student retains ownership of the copyright to their thesis or dissertation upon completion. However, by submitting the work to the University, the student grants a non-exclusive license to the University to archive and distribute the work for educational and research purposes.

• Third-party material: It is the student's responsibility to obtain necessary permissions for the use of any copyrighted material (e.g., images, long quotations, data sets) owned by third parties.
• Fair Use: Students should familiarize themselves with the principles of "Fair Use" under copyright law. When in doubt, students are encouraged to contact the Office of Research Integrity for guidance on whether permission is required for specific inclusions.

Acknowledgements

The Acknowledgements section is an opportunity for the student to formally recognize individuals, organizations, or funding sources that supported their research journey. While this section is personal in nature, it must maintain a professional tone.

• Funding Sources: Students must explicitly acknowledge all grants, fellowships, and scholarships that directly supported their research.
• Mentorship: It is customary to acknowledge the contributions of committee members, laboratory staff, and mentors who provided academic guidance.
• Support Systems: Acknowledgement of personal support (family, friends, or institutions) is permitted but should remain concise and professional, keeping in mind that the document will become a permanent part of the academic record.

Failure to comply with these policies may result in a delay of the degree conferral process. Students are encouraged to consult with their committee chair or department graduate coordinator if they have questions regarding the application of these policies to their specific research projects.