Theses and Dissertations Binding Policy

The MTU University?s Graduate School Office (GSO) handles all orders and requirements for theses and dissertations. The GSO verifies and approves all thesis and dissertation binding orders, including proper formatting.  The GSO then sends the orders and appropriate documents to the Library Binding Manager through campus mail. The majority of theses and dissertations are now submitted by students in PDF format on a CD-ROM to be printed and bound at the bindery. Paper submissions are still allowed with permission from the Graduate School.

Graduate students also have the option of submitting an ETD (electronic thesis/dissertation), which is a separate CD-ROM submitted in addition to the CD-ROM used to create the printed and bound versions of theses/dissertations. ETD?s will be checked and verified by GSO staff prior to receipt by the library. The library personnel will transfer the ETD to the Library?s web server and make it available through the library?s catalog (following any access restrictions stated by the GSO). However it will not be available until the printed version of the thesis/dissertation has been cataloged.

All CD-ROMS submitted for binding purposes are sent back to the GSO when binding of all ordered copies is complete. The CD-ROMS submitted for ETD purposes are stored in the library.

All communication to or from graduate students/authors should be directed to the Graduate School Office.

Library Technical Services staff will process and ship all theses and dissertation orders received from the GSO according to approved procedures. Batches of theses and dissertation orders will be processed and shipped to the bindery, within 30 days of receipt from the GSO. The Library will send thesis and dissertation orders to the Bindery no more than once per month.

Any errors in formatting discovered by the Bindery will be immediately communicated to the GSO by the Library Binding Manager. Students will be contacted by the GSO and given 2 months to correct the error with either an email submission or by submitting a new CD-ROM of their document. If no corrections are submitted, the bindery will print the thesis/dissertation as is. 

Upon completion of the theses/dissertations binding process (return of bound copies from the Bindery to the Library), the Library will retain two copies of each title (except for reports) and adhere to any and all access restrictions specified by the GSO. All personal copies will be sent directly to their respective academic department (listed on the title page of the thesis/dissertation as the degree granting department) for any further dispensation.

Invoices received from the Bindery for binding of theses/dissertations will have the charges and quantities verified by the Library Binding Manager. Then the invoice and the UPS tracer slip with shipping charges will be sent to the GSO for payment processing.

(Date:1/19/2007)