ISEE 771 Engineering of Systems, RIT Dubai: Thesis Instructions

INSTITUTE POLICY STATES THAT YOU MUST SUBMIT AN ELECTRONIC VERSION OF YOUR THESIS/DISSERTATION TO PROQUEST.

Once you receive final approval from your committee, you are REQUIRED to do the following:

• Submit your electronic thesis/dissertation to ProQuest following these submission guidelines.
• Be sure to use an email address that you regularly monitor for your electronic submission.
• Once your ProQuest submission been accepted, your PDF will be submitted to our open access digital repository, RIT Scholar Works, for free.  No additional action is needed by you.  A cover page is automatically generated upon submission to Scholar Works and not needed when you submit to ProQuest or the Binding Office

You have the option of binding one or more print copies for personal use.  Additionally, certain departments may require print copies for their departmental records.  If you are binding print copies, please follow these instructions:

1. Print all necessary copies needed for binding.

a. If you have supplemental material on a CD-ROM, DVD, etc., burn copies for each print copy needed. Make sure your name, title, and the year are on each CD-ROM.

2. You MUST pre-order bound copies.  Fill out your information and make your payments. You will receive an e-mail confirmation and the Thesis Binding staff will be notified of your order.

a. Please consult this chart for details on the costs of bound copies. 

b. Check with your department to see if they pay for their own copies.  The department will submit their own payment by also filling out an order form. 

3.  Request an appointment to drop off your printed copies at the Thesis Binding Office

a. All copies MUST be printed PRIOR to your appointment.  Unprepared theses/dissertations will NOT be accepted.

Graduate capstones and projects are not submitted to ProQuest.

However, you are encouraged to submit your work to RIT Scholar Works.  This is an open access digital library where your work will be preserved and made available globally.

When writing, use the Chicago Manual of Style if your department does not have specified style guidelines.  General requirements for your document are available here.

Once you receive final approval from your committee, submit your project to RIT Scholar Works:

• A PDF of your work should be submitted by your advisor or another department contact via e-mail to etdlib@rit.edu
• Exclude advisors' signatures from the PDF of your paper
• Include up to five keywords and an abstract - these will be included in the Scholar Works record

SPECIAL NOTE for students at RIT's Global Campuses

• Graduate students at any of RIT's Global Campus sites are encouraged to submit their theses, capstone projects, or master's projects to RIT Scholar Works
• A PDF of your work should be submitted by your primary advisor via e-mail to etdlib@rit.edu
• Exclude advisors' signatures from the PDF of your paper
• Include up to five keywords and an abstract for the Scholar Works record.  Please also include the name of the specific campus you are studying at on your title page (RIT Dubai, RIT Croatia, etc.)

Thesis/Dissertation Binding FAQ

Commonly asked questions and their answers concerning the steps to be taken after the successful completion of your Master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation are listed below.

Formatting

Why do I need to provide an abstract of my work?

An abstract provides those reading your work with a brief overview of your research topic, findings and conclusions. This is a standard practice in academia, and mandated for publishing in scholarly journals and conference proceedings. RIT requires that you follow this practice.

Why can’t I single-space my text, and why can’t I print my work on both sides of the page?

Standard scholarly publishing practices require 1.5 or double-spacing of text and the use of only one side of a page in order to accommodate peer review and editing processes, and for ease in reproducing the text.

Submission to RIT Scholar Works

Why is an electronic version of my thesis/dissertation placed in RIT Scholar Works?

RIT supports open access to all RIT scholarship, including graduate theses and dissertations. Your work will be preserved permanently in digital form. Each thesis/dissertation is assigned a persistent URL for consistent citation purposes, and is searchable via the Web, making it easily accessible to other scholars, students and future employers.

How do I submit my thesis/dissertation to RIT Scholar Works?

Once you have submitted your electronic version of your thesis/dissertation to ProQuest, a staff member at The Wallace Center retrieves your work from ProQuest, and submits it to RIT Scholar Works for you, at no additional cost.

Copyright

Should I file for copyright?

Your work is automatically copyrighted once written.  If you wish to add another layer of protection, you may register your work with the U.S. Copyright Office directly. There are fees associated with this service.  You also have the option for ProQuest to file for copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office on your behalf for a $55 fee.  More information on copyrights can be found here. 

My address has changed since I had the copyright of my thesis/dissertation registered with the U.S. Copyright Office (either directly or through ProQuest.) What do I need to do to have my information updated with the U.S. Copyright Office?

Contact the U.S. Copyright Office directly by phone 202-707-6787, fax: (202) 252-3519 or email copycerts@loc.gov .

Print Copies and Binding

Can the Wallace Center make copies of my thesis/dissertation for me?

No, the Wallace Center does not provide this service. You are responsible for making all copies of your thesis/dissertation that will be sent to the bindery.

What do I do if my thesis/dissertation is not printed on 8 ½ x 11 inch paper?

If your thesis/dissertation is either smaller than or exceeds the dimensions of 8 ½ x 11 inches, and/or is more than 2 ½ inches thick OR is in the form of a special project please contact Thesis Binding staff before you pay for binding in case extra fees are required.

If I have accompanying materials, such as slides, CD-ROMs, DVDs, etc., do I have to include them with my thesis/dissertation?

You must provide any accompanying material with the original copy of your thesis/dissertation that will be placed in the RIT Archive. You must also provide a copy of the accompanying material for each departmental copy and personal copy you would like bound. All copies of the accompanying material should be properly labeled (with the title, author’s name and date). If you are including slides, please provide preservation sheets along with your thesis/dissertation. The library will provide adhesive pockets for accompanying CD-ROMS.

The title of my thesis/dissertation is very long. Will the entire title be printed on my additional bound copies?

If your title is long, but your thesis has a thickness of ½ inch or more, it may be possible for your entire title to be printed. However, if the thickness of your thesis is less than a ½ inch, the bindery will shorten your title with an ellipses. You may provide a shorter, alternate title for the binding only. You will not need to re-create your title page.

My name and/or title contain special characters or symbols (i.e. accents, formulas, etc.). Can this be printed on my bound copies?

In many instances, the bindery has been able to accommodate special characters and symbols. It is strongly suggested that you contact the thesis binding staff if you are unsure so that they can inquire directly to the bindery.

Do my personal and departmental copies need to be bound through the Wallace Center?

No, but the Wallace Center’s service is very inexpensive and conveniently located on campus, but you are free to have personal and departmental copies bound elsewhere.

What does the bound copy of my thesis/dissertation look like?

All RIT Master’s theses are bound in black buckram cloth, with gold lettering on the spine. All RIT dissertations are bound in a medium-blue buckram cloth, with gold lettering on the spine.

How long does it take for my thesis/dissertation to be bound?

The normal bindery cycle is at the end of every month. The time needed to bind your copies depends on the time of their receipt at the Wallace Center. If your thesis/dissertation copies are dropped off a few days prior to pick-up, your copies will be in process for a little over two weeks. If you drop them off just after a pickup, they will be in process nearly four weeks. Please contact the Thesis Binding Staff for specific dates to drop off or pick up copies if you plan to leave the area AND want to receive your bound copies before you depart.

Can I designate someone to drop-off copies for me?

Yes. Although the Wallace Center Thesis Binding Staff prefers that you drop off your own copies, we understand that there are circumstances where that becomes impossible. You may certainly designate a friend, family member, faculty advisor, staff assistant, etc. to come to the Thesis Binding Office on your behalf. Please make sure that your designee has all the appropriate information needed for proper binding of your copies and that you have placed an order for binding PRIOR to your designee's drop-off appointment.

Can my bound personal copies be mailed to me?

No, the Wallace Center is unable to provide this service. If you are unable to pick up your personal copies yourself, please arrange for another person to pick them up and deliver them to you, or make arrangements with your department to do so.