RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities of the Student Preparing a Thesis/Dissertation

·        The student adheres to the University requirements for the preparation of theses and dissertations as described in this guide.

·        The student complies with U.S. copyright law with respect to using previously published material in the thesis/dissertation.

·        For any research activity which involves or will involve observing, surveying, interviewing, or experimenting on human subjects, the student should consult with his/her department/school representative to the University Institutional Review Board (IRB) for guidance.  Copies of American University regulations regarding human subjects are available from the department chair or the chair’s designee and the Compliance Administrator, Office of Sponsored Programs.

·        The student makes modifications to the thesis/dissertation as required by the thesis/dissertation chair and other committee members.

·        The student prepares a thesis/dissertation acceptable to University Microfilms, Incorporated (UMI), which is the publisher of University theses and dissertations.  The student uses University Microfilms’ Publishing Your Dissertation or Publishing Your Thesis, as appropriate.  The UMI guides are available in the library or through the college or school.

·        The student presents the document to the head of the teaching unit or to the dean of the college or school, depending on the structure of the academic unit.

·        After the college or school has accepted the thesis/dissertation, the student carries it and the Thesis/Dissertation Completion Form to the Office of Student Accounts and the Office of the Registrar for appropriate clearances and then delivers the original document and the required forms to the University Library.

Responsibilities of the Thesis/Dissertation Chair

·        The chair of the thesis or dissertation committee (or his/her designee) reviews the manuscript to ensure that the University requirements are met and to advise the student about any necessary modifications to fulfill these requirements.

·        The chair approves the final document before the student forwards it to the head of the teaching unit or to the dean of the college or school, depending on the structure of the academic unit.

Responsibilities of the College or School

·        The college or school distributes this guide to students who undertake the preparation of a thesis/dissertation.

·        The college or school may provide guidance or workshops to assist students with the preparation of theses and dissertations.  The college or school may request assistance from library faculty to provide these workshops. 

Responsibilities of the University Library

·        The library may provide students with guidance on document preparation.

·        The library receives the document on behalf of the University and arranges for its publication by University Microfilms.

·        The library preserves a bound copy in the archival collections of the library.

·        The library provides access to the published thesis/dissertation as requested by users.