College of Graduate Studies
Proposal to Implement the GSU Electronic Thesis/Dissertation (ETD) Initiative
Recommendation:
That the Graduate Programs Directors and Program Coordinators, Graduate Committee, and Dean's Council endorse the concept and implementation of the GSU Electronic Thesis/Dissertation (ETD) Initiative.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
What is an Electronic Thesis/Dissertation (ETD):
An ETD is an electronic document that explains the research of a graduate student. The ETD is similar to its paper predecessor. It has figures, tables, footnotes, and references. However, being an electronic file, the document can be displayed on the World Wide Web and can be retrieved and archived electronically.
An ETD can be simple, such as a traditional text-only document converted into an electronic version or it can be enriched with new electronic tools characteristic of emerging areas of scholarly communication.
Who supports and uses ETD:
The Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD), housed at Virginia Polytechnic University, has nearly 150 members including 127 member universities located world wide including 3 consortia. Institutions in the region are: Clemson, East Carolina, East Tennessee State, Florida State, University of Central Florida and the University of Georgia.
Why change to ETD format (Benefits):
- Richer content. Multi-media components such as high-resolution images, video and audio clips as well as some databases and programs can be embedded in an ETD.
- Broader, faster exposure of work. World wide accessibility (24/7) shortly after successful submission of ETD
- Enhanced full test searchability.
- Demonstrated ability to implement the tools of electronic scholarship
- Less costly to submit than paper versions.
- Greater visibility of electronic theses and dissertation.
- Learning enhancement valuable to students
Concerns:
- Publication of articles, etc., derived from material that is available on the Web
- Loss of intellectual property rights
- Plagiarism
- Long-term convertibility
- All fair-use and copyright requirements must be strictly observed
- Infrastructure support, training and cost
- Continued use of intermediate paper copies
Major File Formats:
- PDF- Portable Document Format
- SGML - Standardized Generalized Markup Language
- XML - eXtensible Markup Language (simpler subset of SGML)
- HTML - HperText Markup Language (subset of SGML)
Projected Time Line:
| Spring 2003 | Governance Issues: Program Directors - Graduate Committee - Deans Council |
| Spring, Summer 2003 | Legal Issues |
| Summer, Fall 2003 | Policies and Procedures |
| Summer, Fall 2003 | Information dissemination to Campus |
| Summer, Fall 2003 | Website Development and Training Workshops |
| Spring 2004 | Pilot ETD Project |
| AY 2004-05 | Trial Year - Students required to submit
ETD but would have OPT-Out option to still submit paper version |
| AY 2005-06 | First Full Implementation Year |