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Dissertation & Doctoral Project Formatting & Clearance: Submitting to the Library

After you successfully defend your dissertation or doctoral project, what happens? This is a guide to submitting your dissertation or doctoral project for the formatting check and final copy.

SPRING 2024 CHANGES TO THE DISSERTATION CLEARANCE PROCESS

In order to streamline the dissertation clearance process, the following changes have been made, effective 3-1-2024.

1. The Dissertation Cataloging Form is no longer necessary.

2. The Dissertation Clearance Form is now initiated directly by the student, and only through Adobe Sign - Signed PDFs and scanned forms have been replaced by Adobe Sign.

3. Students completing dissertation clearance are no longer required to schedule a meeting with their DCR (Dissertation Clearance Representative). If they have questions about what to do, they are welcome to schedule a DCR appointment, but it is not required.

If you have questions about these changes or other aspects of the process, contact library@alliant.edu and we will be happy to assist.

Submitting Your Dissertation to the Library - Steps

Students must be registered in dissertation (or dissertation extension if they have already completed all regular dissertation sequence courses), during the term in which they achieve dissertation clearance. Dissertation clearance means not only successful defense, but completion of any required revisions and submission of the dissertation in its final form to the University library.

  1. CONTACT ACADEMIC & ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES for an informational meeting. Review any questions about your program's or university's requirements for completing the dissertation clearance process. Ensure you are meeting deadlines relevant to DEX and related fees.
     
  2. FINAL ORALS: successfully complete the final orals for your dissertation and make all edits requested by your committee.
     
  3. FORMAT your final draft: follow both APA and Alliant's style guidelines. See "APA Style 7th Ed." and "Formatting Manual & Forms" tabs above.

    If you need an editor to help with formatting or writing, see the "Editors" tab above for recommendations.
     
  4. LIBRARY DISSERTATION CLEARANCE FORM: obtain program director, chair, and committee member approval of the revised document in writing on the "Library Dissertation/Doctoral Project Clearance Form." See "Formatting Manual & Forms" tab above.

    Note that ‘Section 1’ of the Library Dissertation/Doctoral Project Clearance Form’ must be signed by the dissertation/doctoral project committee and the Program Director after all final edits have been made and approved. Committee signatures on this form indicate that the student has successfully defended the dissertation and that the final written dissertation/doctoral project as submitted to the library is acceptable in content and format.  The Program Director signature indicates that the student has successfully completed all program requirements related to the dissertation (e.g., submitted departmental forms or any supplemental documentation the program requires for the dissertation/doctoral project).
  5. LAUNCH THE DISSERTATION CLEARANCE FORM IN ADOBE SIGN. Start at the "Formatting Manual and Forms" tab above.
  6. UPLOAD YOUR DISSERTATION TO PROQUEST FOR LIBRARY STAFF TO REVIEW. Start at the "Submitting to Proquest ETD" tab above.
        a)      As soon as you upload, library staff is notified that your dissertation is ready for review.  This review does not include proofreading.

b)      Within three business days of your submission, you will receive e-mail notification of revisions you need to make, if necessary.  Make the changes and re-upload. Repeat until all necessary revisions have been made and the library approves the format. The student repeats this process until the document is acceptable.  Allow three business days for review of any revised, reuploaded version of the manuscript. The time frame for completing the entire clearance process will vary depending on the time of year (i.e., allow more time as graduation or other due dates approach), the extensiveness of problems, responsiveness of the student to initial feedback, etc.

c)      If this three-day period must be extended due to unusual circumstances, the DCR will notify the
         student about when he or she can expect feedback.

  1. ACCEPTANCE! Once the manuscript has been accepted, The DCR officially verifies that the electronic version has been uploaded to ProQuest and cleared.  Library DCR signs the clearance form in Adobe Sign, and copies of the completed clearance form are automatically sent to the registrar and to all signers.
  1. PUBLICATION! The Library DCR approves and delivers the electronic copy of manuscript to UMI/ProQuest.

Additional Personal Copies of your Dissertation

Want personal copies of your dissertation?

  • You can purchase bound copies through ProQuest/UMI (University Microfilms).

  • You can make copies on any paper of your choice and find a local bindery to do the binding.

  • Alliant Campuses have used the following binderies. You must work with them separately from Alliant.  We do not request copies on your behalf:

Valley Library Bindery
1203 E Divisadero St  Fresno, CA 93721
(559) 237-5224 
http://www.valleylibrarybindery.com/
(They can work with you by mail and accept electronic files.)

Kater-Crafts Bookbinders
4860 Gregg Road, Pico Rivera, CA 90660-2199
(562) 692-0665  
http://www.katercrafts.com/
(They can work with you by mail and accept electronic files.)

Golden Rule Bindery
242 Bingham Dr. #101, San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 471-4331
http://www.goldenrulebindery.com

Who to Contact for Help

EMERYVILLE
Scott Zimmer
858-635-4553
szimmer@alliant.edu 

FRESNO
Adan Ortega
559-253-2288
adan.ortega@alliant.edu

IRVINE
Scott Zimmer
858-635-4553
szimmer@alliant.edu 

LOS ANGELES
Scott Zimmer
858-635-4553
szimmer@alliant.edu 

ONLINE
Scott Zimmer
858-635-4553
szimmer@alliant.edu 

SACRAMENTO
Scott Zimmer
858-635-4553
szimmer@alliant.edu 

SAN DIEGO
Scott Zimmer
858-635-4553
szimmer@alliant.edu 

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