Theses and Dissertations Deposit Guide

The University requires that the approved final version of all graduate dissertations, theses, or doctoral projects, which satisfy UNF degree requirements, be permanently and electronically deposited in the Thomas G. Carpenter Library. Since libraries no longer accept paper submissions, the term Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) is often used to refer to born-digital or online theses and dissertations. 

Submitted theses and dissertations will be retained in the institutional repository, UNF Digital Commons, and students may also opt to submit their ETDs to the ProQuest database. (*If submitting to the ProQuest database in addition to the institutional repository, it takes an average of 6-12 weeks for the work to appear in the ProQuest database.) The Certificate of Approval with signatures of the thesis, dissertation, or project committee is submitted as supplemental material and retained in the system. 

For more information on writing your thesis or dissertation at the University of North Florida, see the page below:

Theses and dissertations are only accepted electronically by the library.  Do not submit drafts or preliminary versions of the paper with comments, edits, or "track changes" visible. Only the final version is acceptable for the repository.  Copies of the signed Availability Agreement and Certificate of Approval are uploaded by students as supplemental files accompanying the paper. 

After papers are approved by the Graduate School, the library commences its work behind the scenes ensuring that the electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) have the appropriate metadata, bookmarks, name authority records, and archival versions. This process involves several members of the Digital Projects & Preservation department and may take up to 5 months from the date the paper is approved by the Graduate School. 

Each paper must be accompanied by the Thesis/Dissertation Availability Agreement. Within this agreement you'll have the opportunity to choose a length of time for an embargo, if applicable, and a choice of whether to submit your paper to the ProQuest Theses and Dissertations Global database. *If you submit your paper to the ProQuest database in addition to the institutional repository, it takes an average of 6-12 weeks for the ETD to appear in the ProQuest database.

1.  Click here to access the UNF Digital Commons ETD submission page. Log in using your UNF N# and password.

The submission process consists of the following steps:
1. Read and accept the Submission Agreement.
2. Provide information about yourself and any co-authors.
3. Upload your electronic file and any associated files, including the signed Availability Agreement and the Certificate of Approval.

Before you begin, please be sure you have the following items ready:
• The submission's title
• The abstract (up to 300 words)
• A list of keywords (6 maximum)
• The complete electronic version of your thesis or dissertation
• Any supplemental files that need to accompany the paper

2.  Read through the Instructions and Submission Agreement page, then continue. The Submission Agreement contains the following text:

Submission Agreement for UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations
By checking the box below, I grant UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations on behalf of University of North Florida the non-exclusive right to distribute my submission ("the Work") over the Internet and make it part of the UNF Digital Commons.
I warrant as follows:
1. that I have the full power and authority to make this agreement;
2. that the Work does not infringe any copyright, nor violate any proprietary rights, nor contain any libelous matter, nor invade the privacy of any person or third party;
3. that the Work has not been published elsewhere with the same content or in the same format; and
4. that no right in the Work has in any way been sold, mortgaged, or otherwise disposed of, and that the Work is free from all liens and claims.
I understand that once a Work is deposited in the repository, it may not be removed.
 

3.  Fill in the form with title, author, and other required fields. You may need to add your middle name by clicking the pencil icon. Be sure to include University of North Florida as the institution affiliated with your name.  

4. Provide an abstract.

5. Upload the final approved version of your paper in Word or PDF. 

6.  You will also have supplemental files to attach to this upload, such as your signed Availability Agreement and the Certificate of Approval.  You may also have other supplemental files such as source code or documentation related to your attempts to seek permission for copyrighted images used in your paper.  Source code must be uploaded as a zipped file and named with your last name, the supported platform(s), and the programming language.  For example:  JonesLinuxC++       
Copyright documentation should be named with your last name and permission.  E.g.  Jonespermission.