Thesis Guide One University Park Drive Nashville, TN 37204 (615) 966-6287 or (800) 333-4358 ext. 6287
1 Thesis Process This outline is an overview of paperwork needed by the office, and may not include some items required by the student s particular program. 1. Thesis registration a. Permitted after consulting with department chair concerning thesis topic. b. Binding fee charged when student registers for Thesis II credit. c. Thesis continuation course number is used beyond normal thesis course registrations (typically 2 courses at 3 hours each). Grades of IP are assigned for the initial courses. The thesis continuation course carries a fee charge and no credit. 2. Thesis topic selection and mechanical approval a. Topic and Mechanical Style Signature form to be filed in office. 3. Committee selection and approval a. Committee consists of 3 members (at least 1 full-time professor) and one alternate approved by department chair and graduate program director (when applicable). b. Committee Announcement form submitted to office. 4. IRB approval a. If necessary, IRB approval should be received during this phase of the process. Student should contact Dr. Jeff McCormack for IRB forms. b. Form filed in office (include IRB Signature Page and IRB Approval, if appropriate). 5. Defense a. Defense should be scheduled no later than 4 weeks prior to graduation/conferral date. b. Clean copy of thesis submitted to committee at least 1 week prior to defense. c. Copies of Signature Page (4) reproduced on acid free paper taken to defense (retained by student after signatures have been acquired and submitted along with final copies of thesis). d. Mechanical and content corrections as recommended by committee at defense made to thesis and submitted to committee chair no later than 4:30 p.m., 1 week prior to graduation/conferral date. e. Committee chair submits Comprehensive Examination and/or Thesis Defense to office no later than 1 week prior to graduation/conferral date. f. Student makes copies of thesis (4) on acid free paper and submits to Graduate Studies office no later than Wednesday of the week of graduation/conferral date. Submit Signature Pages from defense as a group and not with individual copies of the thesis.
6. Grade submission (including grade changes from IP to final thesis grade) a. A final grade (thesis grade) for the registered course (either Thesis or Thesis Continuation) should be submitted during the grade entry period of the semester in which the defense is held. b. A Grade Change Reminder form for Thesis or Thesis Continuation courses that have IP grades associated with them should be submitted to office prior to graduation/conferral date. 7. Bound thesis copies a. The Thesis Author Permission Statement should be submitted with the final copies of the thesis. b. The Thesis Author s Address / Mailing Form should be submitted to the Graduate Studies office with the final copies of the thesis. c. The office will mail a copy of the bound thesis to the student (approximately an 8-week turnaround). d. The office will send by campus-mail a copy of the thesis to the committee chair. e. Two copies of the thesis will be shelved in the Beaman Library.
2-a Thesis Topic & Mechanical Style Signature Page Any study/survey involving Lipscomb students/employees must be approved by the Office of the Provost following IRB approval. If human subjects are involved in this research, a copy of the IRB (Institutional Review Board or Departmental Review Board) approval MUST accompany this form. Candidate s Name: (Last) (First) (Middle) Program: Thesis Title: Projected Term of Thesis completion: Mechanical style guide to be used: Thesis Committee approval date: Signatures: (Signatures indicate agreement with title and mechanical style.) Chair: Member: Member: Member: Alternate: Student: Date received in Associate Provost for office: A fee of $50.00 will be charged when the student registers for the second thesis course. The fee is used by the Lipscomb University library to cover costs of binding thesis copies.
2-b Consulting Project / Research Project Signature Page If human subjects are involved in this research, a copy of the IRB (Institutional Review Board or Departmental Review Board) approval MUST accompany this form. Candidate s Name: (Last) (First) (Middle) Program: Project Title: Projected Term Project completion: Mechanical style guide to be used: Project Committee approval date: Signatures: (Signatures indicate agreement with title.) Chair: Member: Member: Member: Alternate: Student: Date received in Associate Provost for office:
3 Thesis Committee Announcement Name of Student Date (Last) (First) (Middle) Address L Number Phone (Area Code) (Number) Program Degree Concentration (if applicable) Please indicate the semester(s) and circle the number of hours for which you wish to be enrolled for thesis credit: Fall 20 3/6; Spring 20 3/6; Summer 20 3/6 Proposed Thesis Topic (tentative): Will research involve human or animal subjects? Yes No (See Institutional Review Board policy; request it from Jeff McCormack: jeff.mccormack@lipscomb.edu) Date Committee Appointed Anticipated Date of Thesis Completion Listed below are the names of thesis committee members: (Signatures indicate willingness to serve on the committee.) Printed Names Chair: Signatures Phone: E-mail (if adjunct): Member: Member: Member: Alternate: Signature of Graduate Program Director: Date: Associate Provost for : Date: Student Signature: (Student signature indicates agreement to work with committee.)
4-a Office of the Provost Approval Signature Page Any study/survey involving Lipscomb students/employees must be approved by the Office of the Provost following IRB approval. Include this form, signed by the Provost, with IRB document. Please Print Student (Researcher) Name: (Last) (First) (Middle) Student (Researcher) Contact Information: Mailing address: Email address: Phone: Graduate Program (if applicable): University Name (or sponsoring agency): Thesis (Project) Title: Thesis Committee Chair/Project Director (print): Email address: I am requesting that I be allowed to involve Lipscomb University employees/students in my research. I understand that any participation by Lipscomb employees/students will be voluntary, and I agree to protect the anonymity of the participants. Student (Researcher) Signature: Date: Please provide (1) a letter of introduction explaining why you are requesting approval, (2) a brief description of the study and how Lipscomb University faculty, staff, administration, and/or students will be involved in the study, and (3) a copy of any data collection instrument that will be used to collect information Provost remarks/requests for changes: Approved Approved subject to above changes Not approved Provost Signature: Date:
4-b IRB Signature Page (optional) If human subjects are involved in this research, a copy of the Institutional Review Board or Departmental Review Board (IRB) approval MUST accompany this form. Candidate s Name: (Last) (First) (Middle) Graduate Program: Thesis Title: Projected Term of Thesis completion: Date of IRB approval: Exemption: IRB Chair Signature: Date: Student Signature: Date:
5 Sample Signature Page This thesis, directed and approved by the candidate s committee, has been accepted by the Graduate Psychology and Counseling Program of Lipscomb University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree. (Title of Thesis) By (Name of Student) for the degree of (Name of Degree) (Signature lines should be of equal length and at least 3 inches long.) Director of Graduate Program Date (This page should appear balanced although spacing may vary slightly from this sample.) Thesis Committee Chair
6-a Comprehensive Examination and/or Thesis Defense (Please PRINT) **APPLICATION and REPORT** I. STUDENT: The student should complete Part I and return the form to the Office: Name: L Number: Degree: Major: Examination/Thesis Committee Members: (Chair) Examination/Thesis Schedule: Time: Date: Place: Examination Information: Check each category that is applicable: Written Oral Combination written & oral Thesis Committee Chair Signature: II. PROGRAM: To be completed by Graduate Program Director and returned to Office. Based on the performance of the student named above, members of the examining committee acted as follows (Check each category that is applicable): Approved Required retesting Disapproved Conditions: (Examination/Thesis Committee Chair) (Date) **INSTRUCTIONS** Student s Responsibility: 1. Obtain a Comprehensive Examination and/or Thesis Defense form from the Office of Graduate Studies at least two weeks before the exam or defense is scheduled. 2. In order to complete Section I of the form: a. List thesis or examining committee b. Select date and time for exam/defense c. For comprehensive exam only: Identify how the exam will be administered (based on committee chair s decision) 3. Return the form to the Office of at least ten days prior to the exam date. Office of and Program Responsibility: 1. Office of sends copy of form to Program Director. 2. The committee chair will record the results of the exam/defense in Section II and will return the form to the Office of prior to graduation/conferral date. A completed Comprehensive Examination and/or Thesis Defense form, with results recorded, must be received in the office no later than 1 week before graduation/conferral date.
6-b Submission/Presentation of Consulting Project / Research Project (Please PRINT) I. STUDENT: The student should complete Part I and return the form to the Office: Name: L Number: Degree: Major: Project Committee Members: (Chair) Submission / Presentation Schedule: Time: Date: Place: Committee Chair Signature: II. PROGRAM: To be completed by Graduate Program Director and returned to Office. Based on the performance of the student named above, members of the examining committee acted as follows: Approved Disapproved (Project Chair/Coordinator) (Date)
7 Grade Change Reminder Name of Student: L Number Thesis Course # and Department: Semester(s) and Year(s): Committee Chair:
8 Thesis Author Permission Statement Title of thesis: (Please Print) Name of Author: Degree: Program: I understand that I must submit four printed copies of my thesis to the Lipscomb University Library, per current university guidelines, for the completion of my degree. I hereby grant to Lipscomb University and its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible my thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media in perpetuity. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis. Print Reproduction Permission Granted I,, hereby grant permission to Lipscomb University to reproduce my thesis in whole or in part. Any reproduction will not be for commercial use or profit. Signature of Author: Date: Print Reproduction Permission Denied I,, hereby deny permission to Lipscomb University to reproduce my thesis in whole or in part. Signature of Author: Date: Inclusion in the Lipscomb University Library Permission Granted I,, additionally grant to the Lipscomb University Library the nonexclusive license to archive and provide electronic access to my thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media in perpetuity. I understand that my work, in addition to its bibliographic record and abstract, will be available to the world-wide community of scholars and researchers throughout the university library. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis. I am aware that Lipscomb University does not require registration of copyright for electronic theses. I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached written permission statements from the owners of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my committee. Signature of Author: Date:
9 Thesis Author s Address / Mailing Form Thesis Author s Name: (Last) (First) (Middle) Author s mailing address: (Street) (City) (State) (Zip code) Phone: Program: Date:
10 Recommended Thesis Final Countdown This sheet enables the author of the thesis to keep up with important deadlines according to the semester graduation date (fall or spring) or degree conferral date (summer). Individual programs may have different requirements. Graduation (or degree conferral) Date:. 5 Weeks before Graduation: The deadline for submitting a clean copy to committee is. The deadline for submitting the Defense Form to the Office of is. 4 Weeks before Graduation: The deadline for defending my Thesis is. 1 Week before Graduation: The deadline for submitting mechanical and content corrections as recommended by committee at defense, to committee chair is. 1 Week before Graduation: The deadline for the committee chair to report the results of the Thesis Defense to the Lipscomb University Office of is. Non-negotiable. 4 Days before Graduation: The deadline for delivering the 4 Final Copies of thesis (including defense signature pages) to the Lipscomb University Office of is the Wednesday before graduation/conferral date. That Wednesday is. Thesis Author Permission Statement is submitted with final copies of Thesis. Thesis Author s Address / Mailing Form is submitted with final copies of Thesis. Non-negotiable. Congratulations Graduates!!