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Page 1: Davis College Graduate Handbook.doc

DAVIS COLLEGE

Of

Agriculture, Forestry, & Consumer SciencesWest Virginia University

A reference of guidelines, requirements, regulations, and procedures for M.S. and Ph.D. graduate students

in the WVU Davis College

September 2003

Dear Graduate Students:

W V U

W V U

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Welcome to graduate education at the Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer Sciences. Each graduate student is responsible for meeting deadlines and making sure all requirements are fulfilled for his/her degree. This booklet should serve as a reference to you throughout your graduate studies. Included in these guidelines is useful information such as: graduate deadlines, requirements, program areas, required forms, a guide to preparing your thesis, Institutional Review Board information, as well as various checklists to help keep you on time and on track. For detailed graduate information we recommend referring to the WVU Graduate Resources Page, which can be accessed at www.wvu.edu/~graduate/ . Your graduate academic program area may have specific procedures and requirements. Several graduate program guidelines are on-line on the Davis College web site: www.caf.wvu.edu. Be sure to check with your graduate advisor as to specific program requirements.

For assistance or more information about graduate education at the Davis College please contact the Office of the Associate Dean (304) 293-2691, [email protected]. For information about graduate records and requirements see Linda Tolka, 1004 Ag Sciences, (304) 293-8820 ext. 4523, [email protected]. We wish to be as helpful as possible to you throughout your educational experiences and will do our best to assist you in achieving your goals. Please note that the information in this booklet is not inclusive and may change over time. We plan to prepare annual updates for this booklet. If you are unsure of your graduate degree requirements, please see your advisor or the Associate Dean’s Office.

Jennifer L. Lewis, Program Associate Denny Smith, Associate Dean for 1010 Agricultural Sciences Building Academic Affairs(304) 293-2691 x. 4534 1006 Agriculture Sciences [email protected] (304) 293-2691

[email protected]

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Reference List of Contacts................................................................................................5

Graduate Programs...........................................................................................................7

Graduate Program Descriptions......................................................................................8Masters Programs:........................................................................................................8Doctoral Programs:.....................................................................................................12

Deadlines...........................................................................................................................14

Requirements...................................................................................................................15

Fees....................................................................................................................................17

Application for Transfer of Graduate Credit...............................................................18

Advising & Committee Selection....................................................................................19

Graduate Faculty.............................................................................................................21Division of Animal & Veterinary Sciences................................................................21Division of Family & Consumer Sciences..................................................................22Division of Forestry.....................................................................................................23Division of Plant & Soil Sciences................................................................................24Division of Resource Management.............................................................................25

Plan of Study....................................................................................................................26Masters of Science Degree...........................................................................................26Doctorate......................................................................................................................30

Shuttle Sheet Instructions...............................................................................................33

Shuttle Sheet Request......................................................................................................34

Graduate Assistantships..................................................................................................37

Handbook for Graduate Teaching Assistants: FAQ....................................................38

Graduate Education At WVU: Endowed Fellowship Program..................................43

Graduate Assistant Insurance........................................................................................45

Human Subjects Research..............................................................................................46

Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC)...................................................................47

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WVU Libraries Guide to Preparation of Theses and Dissertations............................48

Introduction................................................................................................................48

Arrangement of Contents..........................................................................................50Title.......................................................................................................................51Title Page (sample title page)..............................................................................51Abstract (sample abstract)..................................................................................53

Electronic Format Requirements.............................................................................54

General Format Issues..............................................................................................60

Print Formats.............................................................................................................64

Recommended Thesis and Dissertation Styles by Division..........................................72

Printing and Binding Services........................................................................................73

Electronic Submission Process.......................................................................................74

Electronic Thesis & Dissertation Signature Form........................................................80

Masters Thesis Checklist for ETD Submissions...........................................................82

Doctoral Dissertation Checklist for ETD Submissions................................................84

Approval...........................................................................................................................85

Check List for Masters Candidates................................................................................86

Check List for Doctoral Graduates................................................................................88

Graduate Requirement Guide............................................................................................90

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Reference List of Contacts for theDavis College of Agriculture, Forestry, & Consumer Sciences

Dean & DirectorCameron Hackney(304) [email protected]

Associate Dean for Academic AffairsDennis K. Smith(304) [email protected]

Associate Director of ResearchDr. William Vinson(304) 293-4421 ext. [email protected]

ANRCD Center DirectorKen Martin(304) 293-6131 ext. [email protected]

Graduate Student RecordsLinda Tolka(304) 293-8820 ext. [email protected]

Administrative AssistantMrs. Nancy Moody(304) [email protected]

Division of Animal & Veterinary ScienceDr. Paul Lewis(304) 293-2231 ext. [email protected]

Division of Family & Consumer ScienceMrs. Jan Yeager(304) 293-3402 ext. [email protected]

Division of ForestryDr. Joe McNeel(304) 293-2941 ext. [email protected]

Division of Plant & Soil SciencesDr. Barton Baker(304) [email protected]

Division of Resource ManagementDr. Peter Schaeffer(304) [email protected]

General E-Mail [email protected]

Graduate Major Contacts:

Agricultural Resource EconomicsDr. Tesfa Gebremedhin(304) 293-4832 ext. [email protected]

Agriculture EducationDr. Stacy Gartin(304) 293-4832 ext. [email protected]

AgronomyDr. Barton Baker(304) [email protected]

Animal & Food SciencesDr. Paul Lewis(304) 293-2231 ext. [email protected]

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Animal & Veterinary SciencesDr. Paul Lewis(304) 293-2231 ext. [email protected]

Child Development & Family StudiesDr. Carol Markstrom(304) 293-3402 ext. [email protected]

EntomologyDr. Linda Butler(304) 293-6203 ext. [email protected]

Environmental MicrobiologyDr. Gary Bissonette(304) 293-3911 [email protected]

Forest Resource ScienceDr. Joe McNeel(304) 293-2941 ext. [email protected]

ForestryDr. Ray Hicks, Jr.(304) 293-2941 ext. [email protected]

Genetics & Developmental BiologyDr. Joginder Nath(304) 293-6256 ext. [email protected]

HorticultureDr. Sven Verlinden(304) 293-6023 ext. [email protected]

Human NutritionDr. Cindy Fitch(304) 293-3402 ext. [email protected]

Natural Resource EconomicsDr. Tesfa Gebremedhin(304) 293-4832 [email protected]

Plant PathologyDr. Gary Bissonette(304) 293-3911 [email protected]

Plant & Soil SciencesDr. Barton Baker(304) [email protected]

Recreation, Parks, & Tourism ResourcesDr. Michael Schuett(304) 293-2941 ext. [email protected]

Reproductive PhysiologyDr. Keith Inskeep(304) 293-2406 ext. [email protected]

Wildlife & Fisheries ResourcesDr. Kyle Hartman(304) 293-2941 [email protected]

Wood IndustriesDr. James Armstrong(304)293-2941 ext. [email protected]

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GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Masters Programs:

Agricultural and Resource Economics Agriculture Education Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer Sciences Agronomy Animal and Veterinary Sciences Child Development and Family Studies Entomology Environmental Microbiology Forestry Genetics and Developmental Biology Horticulture Human Nutrition Plant Pathology Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Resources Reproductive Physiology Wildlife and Fisheries Resources

Doctoral Programs:

Animal and Food Sciences Forest Resource Science Genetics and Developmental Biology Natural Resource Economics Plant and Soil Sciences Reproductive Physiology

Graduate Program Descriptions

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Students from across the country and around the world travel to West Virginia University to work with the internationally recognized faculty of the Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer Sciences. Masters and doctoral degree candidates pursue opportunities in varied programs such as entomology, genetics, resource economics, and child development, among others. Research and educational centers supplement classroom activities, and extensive farm and forest holdings provide “living laboratories” for scientific inquiry.

To be considered for admission as a degree-seeking graduate student at WVU, an applicant must have a baccalaureate degree with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. This is a minimum university standard. Specific degree programs frequently set higher standards and may set additional requirements, such as specific courses. The Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer Sciences requires that the student must:

1. Have an adequate academic aptitude at the graduate level as measured by the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or the New Medical College Admissions Test (New MCAT).

2. Provide three letters of reference from persons acquainted with the applicant’s professional work, experience, or academic background.

3. Submit a written statement of 500 words or more indicating the applicant’s goals and objectives relative to receiving a graduate degree.

4. International students have the additional requirement to submit a minimum score of 550 on the TOEFL examination if their native language is not English.

To assist students in continuing their education at the graduate level, many graduate programs offer research or teaching assistantships. West Virginia University annually employs 1,400 graduate students. All graduate assistants are eligible to apply for a remission of tuition and most fees. Programs encourage students to apply for these positions, which usually begin in the Fall semester.

Masters Programs:

Agricultural and Resource EconomicsAgricultural and Resource Economics is an applied economics program which deals with the analysis and understanding of natural resource, environmental, agricultural, rural development, and international agricultural and resource issues. Training in the area broadens intellectual horizons and helps prepare students for a variety of professional careers in business, government, and academia. Agricultural and resource economists work in a wide variety of careers including agricultural production and marketing, business management, consumer analysis, natural resource management, environmental assessment, energy economics, international trade, and

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economic development. For additional information contact Dr. Tesfa Gebremedhin, (304) 293-4832, ext. 4467.

Agriculture EducationA Masters program for persons desiring advanced study in teaching agriculture in public schools, or in communications and leadership, or extension education. Students in the curriculum take graduate courses in both technical and professional education. For additional information contact Dr. Stacy Gartin, (304) 293-4832, ext. 4480.

Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer SciencesThe master of science of Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer Sciences provides students with a broad-based working knowledge of all aspects of modern agriculture, forestry, and consumer sciences. This is a 36 credit hour, non-thesis, multidisciplinary program offering the student flexibility in designing a program of study to fit his or her career needs. Contact Dr. Dennis Smith (304) 293-2691.

Animal & Veterinary SciencesThe master of science in Animal and Veterinary Sciences allows maximum flexibility in courses and research problems. Students may emphasize physiology, production, nutrition, or food sciences. They may work with beef or dairy cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, or laboratory animals. Research problems on farm animals form the basis for many studies, but a comparative approach is emphasized. For additional information, contact Dr. Paul Lewis (304) 293-2231,ext. 4413.

Child Development and Family StudiesThis program is structured to give students a basis from which to conduct research and to work with families and children in educational and clinical settings. In addition, the program prepares students for entering doctoral programs in child development and family studies, family life education, psychology, or counseling. For additional information contact Dr. Wanda Franz at (304) 293-3402 x. 1774.

Forestry

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Candidates for Master of Science in Forestry may major in forest economics, forest biometrics, forest management, forest ecology, silviculture, or wood industries. Students must complete 30 hours of approved study, six hours of which shall constitute a thesis. The program ordinarily requires two years of residence. For more information, contact Dr. Ray Hicks, Jr. at (304) 293-2941 x. 2424.

Genetics and Developmental Biology This is an interdisciplinary program involving the faculty and facilities of a number of departments in the various colleges and schools of the university. The objective of the program is to give students an increase level of understanding in modern methodologies employed in genetics and developmental biological work to prepare graduates for a career in teaching and/or research. Students may concentrate in genetics or developmental biology. Contact Dr. Joginder Nath [email protected].

Human NutritionThis program offers students a variety of opportunities in clinical and applied nutrition. Students can apply to be enrolled concurrently in the dietetic internship program, to become eligible to take the registration examination for a dietetics profession. In addition, the program prepares students for entering doctoral programs in nutrition, education, and nutritional biochemistry. For additional information, contact Dr. Cindy Fitch at (304) 293-3402 x. 1768.

Plant and Soil SciencesThe educational experience obtained through courses and research is expected to provide students with the background and expertise to enter doctoral programs or professional careers. These disciplines are critical to maintain agriculture and forest productivity, solve environmental problems, and promote economic development. The Master of Science offers majors in agronomy, entomology, environmental biology, horticulture, and plant pathology. For more information please contact Dr. Barton Baker at (304) 293-4817.

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Resources

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This program at the Davis College is the only National Recreation and Parks Association accredited program in the Mid-Atlantic region focusing on natural resource recreation tourism, and social dimensions in natural resource management. The program prepares students for careers in one of the largest and fastest growing sectors of the West Virginia economy: resource based recreation and tourism. Faculty and graduate students conduct applied research on the critical problem of integrating recreation, tourism, and other social considerations into the use of natural resources. For additional information, contact Dr. Steve Selin, (304) 293-2941, ext.2442.

Reproductive PhysiologyThe emphasis of this program is to provide a high quality apprenticeship in research in reproductive biology. In the past, many of the doctoral graduates from this program have gone directly into academic positions or research roles in government or industry. The M.S. program provides the opportunity to become involved in research and scientific writing before commencing a doctoral program. Faculty members are located in the Division of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, and the Departments of Biology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Physiology and Pharmacology. For more information contact the Chair of the Faculty of Reproductive Physiology, Dr. Keith Inskeep at [email protected], (304) 293-2406 ext. 4422.

Wildlife and Fisheries ResourcesThis program at WVU is recognized by the West Virginia University System Board of Trustees as a “Program of Excellence” and leads the successful candidate to professional certification as wildlife or fisheries scientists. The program prepares students for careers in wildlife and fisheries management, wildlife and fisheries biology, and ecology. Faculty and graduate students conduct applied research on the critical problems addressing wildlife and fisheries resources in the Appalachian region and other ecosystems. For more information, contact Dr. Kyle Hartman at (3040 293-2941 x. 2494.

Doctoral Programs:

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Animal and Food Sciences and Plant and Soil SciencesStudents entering these programs may select research and classes to emphasize areas of interest appropriate to either the Animal & Veterinary Sciences or Plant & Soil Sciences divisions. Areas include environmental microbiology, agronomy, animal nutrition, entomology, horticulture, or plant pathology. For more information, contact Dr. Paul Lewis at [email protected] or Dr. Barton Baker at [email protected] .

Forest Resource Science

This program prepares students for an active role in the utilization or management of forests, the management of wildlife and fisheries resources, and the provision of recreational services. Students may choose to emphasize forest resource science, wood industries, wildlife and fisheries science, or recreation, parks and tourism resources. Contact Dr. Joe McNeel at (304) 293-2941 [email protected].

Genetics and Developmental BiologyThis is an interdisciplinary program involving the faculty and facilities of a number of departments in the various colleges and schools of the university. The objective of the program is to give students an increase level of understanding in modern methodologies employed in genetics and developmental biological work to prepare graduates for a career in teaching and/or research. Students may concentrate in genetics or developmental biology. Contact the Chair of the Faculty in Genetics and Developmental Biology, Dr. Joginder Nath [email protected], (304) 293-6256 ext. 4333.

Natural Resource Economics Students in this program may choose to specialize in natural resource and environmental economics, commodity market analysis, modeling and forecasting, or economic development. Graduates will be prepared to teach or work in government and industry. Contact Dr. Tim Phipps [email protected].

Reproductive Physiology

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The graduate program in reproductive physiology, leading to a Ph.D. is an interdisciplinary degree program, with faculty located in the Division of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, and the departments of Biology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pharmacology, Physiology, and the Division of Plant and Soil Sciences. The program has an internationally recognized faculty and a reputation for excellence in graduate education. For more information contact the Chair of the Faculty of Reproductive Physiology, Dr. Keith Inskeep at [email protected], (304) 293-2406 ext. 4422.

DEADLINES

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Note: It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of all set deadlines and to make sure they are met. Specific dates can be acquired from Linda Tolka, 1004 Agricultural Sciences, (304) 293-8820 x. 4523.

Plan of Study…completed by the end of first semester of study for M.S. students, by the end of the first year for Ph.D. students.

Shuttle Sheet Request…must be submitted 2 weeks prior to final examination for Masters candidates and 3 weeks prior to final examination for Ph.D. candidates

Application for Graduation…approximately 2 months prior to graduation date, check with Linda Tolka for specific date

Oral Defense…must be completed before graduation (usually 2 weeks)

ETD Submission of Thesis/Dissertation…must be submitted by the set deadline.

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Requirements

As a graduate student returning to the Davis College or entering for the first time, you may be wondering where to start. There are many requirements that you must fulfill in order to earn your graduate degree. The following describes some of the many required forms and processes.

Graduate Committee: a committee composed of faculty members who you will select by the end of the first semester to oversee and review your research and course of study.

Plan of Study: a binding agreement between you and your committee members. This plan is required and outlines your intended course of study, total credit hours, proposed research topic, and members of your graduate committee. It should be completed and submitted for approval by the end of the first semester for M.S. students, or by the end of the first year for Ph.D. candidates.

Shuttle Sheet: required form that indicates tentative clearance of you for graduation by checking courses listed and total hours for accuracy. This sheet should be completed two weeks prior to final examination date for M.S. students, three weeks prior to final examination date for Ph.D. candidates.

Thesis: depending on the intended degree a thesis may be required for your Masters Degree. A thesis is a report of the designated research project that is usually composed of an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, and conclusions (5 to 6 chapters), which must be approved by your committee members.

Dissertation: report of original research that must be completed and approved by your committee members.

Institutional Review Board: if you intend to use human subjects in your research, you must submit your intentions to the IRB for approval prior to proceeding with any experiment, survey, questionnaire, etc. This board was designed to prevent any possible human harm that might be brought about by research. In many cases exemptions may be granted by submitting an Application for Exemption.

Defense: prior to graduation and official submission of your thesis or dissertation you must defend your research to the members of your committee. This will consist of presenting your research process and findings for examination and answering questions about your project. Committee members must sign the approval page to be included in your thesis or dissertation.

Electronic Thesis Submission: all theses and dissertations are required to be officially submitted electronically following your successful defense. A complete guide to electronic submission can be found in this packet.

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Application for Graduation: these applications are available to you in the Associate Dean's office, and should be completed at registration or shortly thereafter. There is a graduation fee that must be paid to WVU Admissions and Records prior to graduation.

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FEES

Fees per credit hour for Graduate Studies as of September 2003, fees subject to change without notice.

WVU GRADUATE TUITION AND FEES (2003 - 2004) Tuition and Fees Per Year

Resident Tuition and Fees $3,904.00

Non-Resident Tuition and Fees $11,108.00

Tuition and Fees Per Credit Hour

Resident Tuition and Fees $220.00 per credit hour

Non-Resident Tuition and Fees $620.00 per credit hour

Special Notes

Certain laboratory courses have a $60.00 fee for each course. Individual programs may have additional fees. Costs are subject to change. Tuition and fees for graduate and professional programs

vary.

***The Davis College requires a special fee of $150 for residents, and $200 for non-residents per semester for the upkeep of labs and facilities.

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APPLICATION FOR TRANSFER OF GRADUATE CREDITTO WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

Instructions

Credit earned at other institutions of higher education can only be credited toward graduate degrees at WVU if the institution is accredited at the graduate level. The maximum transfer credit permitted is 12 semester hours in Masters degree programs requiring 30 to 41 semester hours. Eighteen (18) semester hours will be accepted for degree programs requiring 42 or more semester hours. Transfer credit is not restricted for doctoral students as doctoral degrees are not credit hour accumulation degrees. The student is responsible for having an official transcript sent to the office of Admissions & Records.

Return completed forms to the Transcript Unit of Admissions and Records.

TO BE COMPLETED BY THE STUDENT:Name: _____________________ Social Security Number: ________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Date of Last Enrollment at WVU: _______________________

Name of Institution: _________________________________________________

(TO BE Attended)

Address of Institution: ____________________________________________

____________________________________________

COURSE (S) (TO BE) COMPLETEDDepartment &

NumberCourse Title

Semester Hours

Equivalent WVU Course

Semester & Yr (TO BE)

completed

As the Chair or designate of this student’s graduate program, I approve the use of the above course (s) to fulfill requirements for a graduate degree.

____________________________________ Approved by: Graduate Program Chair Signature ____________________________________ ______________________________

Type or Print Name Associate Dean for Academic AffairsDavis College of Agriculture, Forestry

& Consumer Sciences9/03

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ADVISING & COMMITTEE SELECTION

AdvisingFaculty members advise the students in the Davis College. Upon

entering graduate school you will be assigned an advisor from your division or academic discipline, who will remain your advisor throughout your graduate career unless substitutions are made.

Committee SelectionShortly after entering graduate school you should choose the members

of your graduate committee. The committee is typically composed of 3-5 faculty members. The majority of these, two of three for M.S. students and three of five for Doctoral students, must hold regular graduate faculty status (refer to the attached list of faculty status for 2003). It is sometimes recommended that not all committee members be from the same discipline, and at least one must be from outside your department for Ph.D. candidates. Usually one of the members will serve as committee chair. Your committee must approve your plan of study, and you will defend to members of your committee. A substitution can be made at the time of defense in one of your committee members in the event that he/she is unavailable, however no more than one of your committee members may be substituted.

Graduate FacultyFaculty in the Davis College may be regular or associate members of the

graduate faculty.

Regular Membership Regular members may chair students’ committees or direct

Masters and doctoral research, theses, and dissertations. Regular members must hold appointments in tenure-track

positions. Regular members must hold either a terminal degree or have

demonstrated equivalent scholarly or creative achievement as defined by their school or college. The definition of equivalent credentials must include, as a minimum, the attainment of the rank of associate professor.

Regular members must present evidence of continuing scholarly research or creative activity.

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Associate MembershipAssociate members do not meet the same criteria as regular members

but may perform the same function as regular members with the exception of chairing students’ committees or directing Masters theses and doctoral dissertations (or equivalent).

A list of current graduate faculty members (by division) follows

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Graduate Faculty in Division of Animal & Veterinary Sciences

2003

Name Regular Associate

Blemings, Kenneth P. X

Dailey, Robert X

DeGraft-Hanson, June X

Felton, Gene X

Gibson, Mark (M.D.) X

Inskeep, Keith X

Jaczynski, Jacek X

Kenney, P. Brett X

Klandorf, Hillar X

Knights, Marlon X

Lewis, Paul X

Moritz, Joseph X

Osborne, Phillip X

Russell, Richard X

Semmens, Kenneth J. X

Smith, Paul X

Wagner, Wayne X

Wilson, Matthew E. X

Woloshuk, Jean X

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Graduate Faculty inThe Division of Family & Consumer Sciences

2003

Name Regular Associate

Beacham, Cindy X

Brown, Guen X

Fitch, Cindy X

Forbes, Betty X

Franz, Wanda X

Jacob, John X

Liddell, Marian X

MacDonald, Nora X

Markstrom, Carol X

Nath, Charlotte X

Rauch, Dottie X

Strasburger, Richard X

Warash, Barbara X

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Graduate Faculty inThe Division of Forestry

2003

Name Regular Associate

Anderson, James X

Anderson, R. Bruce X

Armstrong, James X

Bricker, Kelly S. X

Brooks, John R. X

Dawson-Andoh, Ben X

Edwards, John X

Fajvan, Mary Ann X

Ford, W. Mark X

Grafton, William X

Hartman, Kyle X

Hicks, Ray X

Lang, Elmer X

McGill, David X

McNeel, Joseph X

Milauskas, Steven X

Mazik, Patricia X

Petty, J. Todd X

Pierskalla, Chad D. X

Rentch, James S. X

Selin, Steven X

Whitmore, Robert X

Wang, Jingxin X

Wood, Petra X

Welsh, Stuart X

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Graduate Faculty inThe Division of Plant & Soil Sciences

2003

Name Regular Associate

Amrine, James X

Baker, Barton X

Balasko, John X

Baniecki, John X

Bhumbla, Devinder X

Biggs, Alan X

Bissonnette, Gary X

Bryan, William X

Butler, Linda X

Chandran, Rakesh X

Doelling, Jed X

Kotcon, James X

MacDonald, William X

McDonald, Louis X

Morton, Joseph X

Nath, Joginder X

Panaccione, Daniel X

Rayburn, Edward X

Sencindiver, John X

Sexstone, Alan X

Skousen, Jeffrey X

Verlinden, Sven X

Wenger, Sharon X

Zimmerman, Richard X

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Graduate Faculty inThe Division of Resource Management

2003

Name Regular Associate

Armstrong, Donald X

Boone, Harry X

Brown, Cheryl X

Collins, Alan X

D’Souza, Gerard X

Fletcher, Jerald X

Gartin, Stacy X

Gebremedhin, Tesfa X

Labys, Walter X

Longenecker, George X

McBride, Steven X

Nasar, Hala X

Phipps, Tim X

Rosenberger, Randall X

Schaeffer, Peter X

Smith, Dennis X

Sperow, Mark X

Yuill, Charles X

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WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY DAVIS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY

AND CONSUMER SCIENCES

PLAN OF STUDYMasters of Science Degree

Name____________________________________ Soc. Sec. No.___________________

Degree Sought_____________________________Graduate Program: ______________

Tentative Completion Date_________________________________________________

College and Universities previously attended, dates attended, and degrees received.

________________________________________________ G.P.A._________________

________________________________________________ G.P.A._________________

________________________________________________ G.P.A._________________

Courses Accepted from Other Institutions

Course Institution Semester Hours Grade

Directions1. This form should be typewritten or computer generated and completed in full.2. It must be signed by the student and his/her graduate committee.3. When approved by the Associate Dean, it becomes a binding agreement for the

student, committee, and the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences.

4. Requests for change in the plan of study should be submitted in writing:a. For a small change in an approved program, a letter of request should be

submitted to the Associate Dean after written concurrence has been obtained from a majority of the graduate committee.

b. Major changes in a program will require that a revised plan of study be submitted to the graduate committee for its approval and transmission to the Associate Dean.

5. Due date: Masters degree plan of study required prior to or at the end of the first semester enrolled, excluding the summer sessions. This pertains to committee selection and course work approval only.

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Page 1/MS/9-02

Courses Taken or to be Taken at WVU for this degree ONLY

Course Number Course Title Sem. Hour Grade

Total Graduate Credit

Hours:______________________________________________

Credit Hours at 400 Level:_____________________% of Total __________________

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Credit Hours at 500+ Level: ___________________% of Total __________________

NOTE: No more than 40 percent of course work at the 400 level may be applied to a Masters degree; 60 percent must be 500+ level. Transfer credit is counted as 500 level.

Page 2/MS/8-02

Please check one: Thesis _____ Problem Report ____ Course Work____

Proposed Research Topic: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________

The budget unit manager (Division Director) under which this student’s work will be done has been advised of the composition of the student’s committee and the plan of study.

____________ Initials

Approved by the Graduate Committee:

Name Typed Signature Date

Major Professor

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Approved by the Student:

________________________________ ______________________________ ________Name Typed Signature Date

Approved by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs:

________________________________ ______________________________ ________Name Typed Signature Date

Page 3/MS/-02

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WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITYDAVIS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY

AND CONSUMER SCIENCES

PLAN OF STUDYDOCTORATE

Name___________________________________ Soc. Sec. No.___________________

Degree Sought_____________________________ Graduate Program_______________

Tentative Completion Date:_________________________________________________

College and Universities previously attended, dates attended, and degrees received.

________________________________________________ G.P.A._________________

________________________________________________ G.P.A._________________

________________________________________________ G.P.A._________________

Courses Accepted from Other InstitutionsCourse Institution Semester Hours Grade

Directions5. This form should be typewritten or computer generated and completed in full.6. The student and his/her graduate committee must sign it.7. When approved by the Associate Dean, it becomes a binding agreement for the

student, committee, and the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences.

8. Requests for change in the plan of study should be submitted in writing:c. For a small change in an approved program, a letter of request should be

submitted to the Associate Dean after written concurrence has been obtained from a majority of the graduate committee.

d. Major changes in a program will require that a revised plan of study be submitted to the graduate committee for its approval and transmission to the Associate Dean.

5. Due date – Doctorate degree plan of study is required prior to or at the end of the first year of enrollment. This pertains to committee selection and course work approval only.

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Page 1 / Ph.d./ 9-02

Courses Taken or to be Taken at WVU for this degree ONLY

Course Number Course Title Sem. Hour Grade

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Total Graduate Credit

Hours:______________________________________________

Credit Hours at 400 Level:_____________________% of Total __________________

Credit Hours at 500+ Level: ___________________% of Total __________________

NOTE: Transfer is counted as 500 level.

Page 2/Ph.d./9-02Proposed Research Topic:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________

The budget unit manager (Division Director) under which this student’s work will be done has been advised of the composition of the student’s committee and the plan of study.

____________ Initials

Approved by the Graduate Committee:

Name Typed Signature Date

Major Professor

Approved by the Student:

________________________________ ______________________________ ________Name Typed Signature Date

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Approved by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs:

________________________________ ______________________________ ________Name Typed Signature DatePage 3/Ph.D./9-02

Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences

Shuttle Sheet Instructions

The release of this Shuttle Sheet indicates the tentative clearance of the student for graduation. Please check the courses listed on the shuttle sheet for accuracy.The final recommendation for the degree depends on:

1. The receipt of evaluated transfer credit from the Office of Admissions and Records. Such transfer credit must have had the prior approval of the major professor of the student’s graduate program.

The transcripts should be sent directly to the Office of Admissions and Records.

2. Removal of incomplete grades (by WVU Grade Modification Form sent to the major professor, Associate Dean and Admissions and Records).

3. Receipt of the thesis or dissertation in the form required for electronic submission.

4. Receipt by the Associate Dean’s Office of the signed Shuttle Sheet indicating the passing or failing of the final examination.

It is the responsibility of the student and major professor to provide this information to the Associate Dean’s Office at the proper time. (One week prior to the end of each semester or summer term.)

5. Even if all of the above requirements are met, the student may still be removed from the graduation list if there are outstanding bills to the University.

NOTE: For further information, consult the latest issue of the instruction sheet “Completion of Graduate Degree Programs, Instructions to Graduate Advisors and Department Chairs.”

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO USE PROPER NAMES (NO NICKNAMES) AND TITLES OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON SHUTTLE SHEET REQUEST

7/03

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Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer SciencesShuttle Sheet Request

TO: Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

FROM:

DATE:

The following student is anticipating graduation at the end of this semester or summer session. Please check the student’s record and send a shuttle sheet to this office if degree requirements can be met.

The student’s committee below has previously been approved. All members have received draft copies of the thesis or dissertation, and scheduling of the final examination is requested below.

Student’s Name: _______________________________________ SS#:

____________________________

Degree:

_______________________________Major:___________________________________

________

Area of

Emphasis:_______________________________________________________________

________

Examination Date: _____________________________________ Time:

____________________________

Room Number and Building:

______________________________________________________________

Anticipated Date of Graduation:

____________________________________________________________

Program: _______ Dissertation _______Thesis _______Problem _______Course

Work

Title of Dissertation or

Thesis:_____________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

______________

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________________________________________________________________________

______________

Committee Members:Name

(Use proper names and titles) example: John Doe, Ph.D.

Signature of Agreement

-Major Professor

Signature of Division Director: ____________________________________________________________

NOTE: No Doctoral examinations are to be given without a minimum of five of the committee members present Masters, a minimum of three committee members must be present.

Students should complete an Application for Graduation and Diploma and submit it to the Associate Dean’s Office at registration or within two weeks thereafter.

Students must be registered for the semester they expect to graduate.

A Shuttle Sheet should be requested at least two (2) weeks BEFORE a scheduled final Masters examination and three (3) weeks BEFORE a Doctoral examination.

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COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & CONSUMER SCIENCESWEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

Ph.D. Qualifying Examination Report

M E M O R A N D U M

TO: Dennis K. Smith, Associate Dean

FROM: ____________________________ Chairperson of Doctoral Committee

DATE: ____________________________

RE: Qualifying Examination

This is to certify that ________________________________________, a Ph.D.

candidate in _______________________________________, College of Agriculture,

Forestry & Consumer Sciences completed his/her qualifying examination (s) on

___________________.

Date

Oral: Approved _______ Failed ______

Signatures of Committee Members:

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

Submit to the Student Records Office (1004 Agricultural Sciences) immediately following the final examination.

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Graduate Assistantships

There are several opportunities for financial assistance and employment for students who attend graduate school at the Davis College. Students may be employed by the college or in the industries in which they hope to find permanent employment once they graduate. Valuable knowledge and experience can be gained by taking advantage of these opportunities. There are also tuition waivers available to those students who qualify. West Virginia University annually awards about 1500 graduate assistantships, and about 200 fellowships. All graduate assistants and fellows are required to be full-time (nine hours or more) graduate students. It is important to note that graduate assistants are expected to perform duties satisfactorily, as specified by the graduate professor to which they are assigned, unlike fellowships, which require no service in return.

Graduate Teaching Assistant: A person who holds a graduate teaching assistantship is obligated to the extent of teaching two three-hour courses per semester, or for the equivalent in laboratory classes, or for other forms of departmental assistance, except research assistance, amounting to a minimum of 12 hours a week.

Graduate Research Assistant: A graduate research assistant is a graduate student whose duties consist of assisting in the research of a faculty member with an obligation of 20 hours per week in any semester. A Graduate Research Assistant’s research may or may not correspond to the research conducted for their thesis or dissertation. The division and the faculty advisor determine your assignments.

Graduate Fellow (Ph.D.): Fellowships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and require no service in return. Graduate fellows are expected to spend fulltime in pursuit of their studies, but may teach to the extent that the particular degree program requires.

Contact the Division Directors for more information about the availability of assistantships and fellowships:

Animal & Veterinary Science: Plant & Soil SciencesDr. Paul Lewis Dr. Barton Baker(304) 293-2231 ext. 4413 (304) [email protected] [email protected]

Family & Consumer Sciences Resource Management:Mrs. Jan Yeager Dr. Peter Schaeffer(304) 293-3402 ext. 1760 (304) [email protected] [email protected]

ForestryDr. Joe McNeel(304) 293-2941 ext. [email protected]

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Handbook for Graduate Teaching Assistants: FAQ

Home Degrees Contact

Table of contents  

  1. Preface

  2. WVU Mission Statement

  3. Frequently Asked

 

  4. GTA Rewards

  5. GTA Roles

  6. Time Management

 

  7. Preparing

  8. Conducting a Course

  9. Communication/ Responsibility

 

  10. Emergencies

  11. Teaching Resources

  12. Campus Resources

 

3. Frequently Asked Questions

   What It Means to Be a "Graduate Teaching Assistant" at WVU

   GTA Rights and Responsibilities

   Terms of Employment

   Policy on Remuneration for Graduate Asisstants

   Remission of Fees

What It Means to Be a “Graduate Teaching Assistant” at WVU

What is the “official” definition of a graduate teaching assistant?

Technically, a graduate teaching assistant is a person who holds a graduate teaching assistantship and is obligated to the extent of teaching two three-hour courses per semester, or for the equivalent in laboratory classes, or for other forms of departmental assistance, except research assistance, amounting to a minimum of 12 clock hours per week. These assistantships are generally registered to academic units.

How many graduate assistantships does West Virginia University award per year?

West Virginia University annually awards approximately 1,500 graduate assistantships supported

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from state appropriations, federal funds, private grants and contracts. WVU also awards about 200 fellowships and traineeships derived from federal agencies and from industries and private foundations.

Top

GTA Rights And Responsibilities

How will I know if I have been awarded an assistantship? How will I know what my job as a graduate assistant is?

Upon initial appointment, and prior to subsequent appointments, each graduate assistant must be provided with a letter of appointment which describes and clearly defines his/her work assignment, term of appointment, and expectations of the position.

As a graduate assistant, am I required to be a full-time student? Can I be a graduate assistant if I am not enrolled into a program?

No one may be offered an assistantship unless he/she is a full-time graduate student and until she/he has been accepted into a graduate or professional program. Non-degree students may not hold a graduate teaching assistantship.

How much time per week will my duties as a graduate assistant involve?

The maximum work assignment associated with the assistantship, including any preparation time, should not exceed an average of 20 hours per week for the semester.

As a graduate assistant, will I receive a waiver of my tuition and fees? What are the time limits for receiving a waiver?

All graduate assistants are provided with full waiver of tuition and mandatory fees -- a fee waiver period for a Masters student is up to 3 years while that for doctoral students continuing beyond the Masters is up to 5

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years. Exceptions to these time limits may be requested from the Office of Graduate Education.

Top

Terms of Employment

What kinds of tasks would not be appropriate to my position as a graduate assistant?

Graduate assistants should not be assigned clerical duties or other duties generally considered to be "hourly-rate activity." Such assignments are reserved for student assistants who are treated as employees. A graduate assistantship must provide for the enhancement of the student's professional skills and knowledge.

When do I need to attend the WVU GTA Professional Development Workshop?

All graduate teaching assistants, except those at the Health Sciences Center, are required to attend the WVU GTA Professional Development Workshop in the first fall semester of their appointment. While attendance at this workshop is mandatory for all newly appointed GTAs, experienced GTAs and those from the Health Sciences are encouraged to participate.

What are the usual terms of service for graduate assistants receiving a stipend?

Stipends for graduate assistantships are generally stated in terms of nine- or twelve-month appointments and require service to the institution. The term of service normally runs from August 15 to May 15 for nine-month appointments or from August 15 to December 31 for the fall semester or January 1 until May 15 for spring semester. The total hours of work, as well as the particular days of service (e.g., weekends and/or holidays) required, must be made clear to the student by the appropriate graduate department at the time of assigning the assistantship.

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May I have more than one assistantship at a time?

Students may not hold more than the total equivalent of one assistantship. This rule applies even if the appointment comes from several sources (e.g., graduate teaching assistantship, graduate research assistantship, graduate administrative assistantship, graduate residence hall assistantship, and/or teaching fellow).

Top

Policy on Remuneration for Graduate Assistants

How are the minimum salaries for graduate assistants set?

Graduate assistant salaries must meet or exceed the University minimum on a 9-month equated basis as set by the Office of Academic Affairs, with the minimum salary for doctoral students set higher than the minimum for Masters level students.

What requirements are used to establish graduate teaching assistant salary ranges?

Academic and other units are required to establish discipline-based salary ranges by student level (i.e., Masters, doctoral, first-professional) for graduate assistants funded in their units.

What criteria must international graduate teaching assistants meet to qualify for a Certificate of Eligibility?

International students must meet financial support criteria from an assistantship and/or other sources in order to qualify for a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or IAP-66) and, subsequently, a student visa.

Top

Remission of Fees

Are graduate teaching assistants eligible for remission

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of fees? Which fees must graduate teaching assistants pay?

Students appointed as graduate assistants are eligible to apply for remission of tuition and certain fees. All students must pay the Mountainlair construction, radio station, Daily Athenaeum, Technology, and Health Services fee. Payment of most other fees is at the graduate assistant’s option.

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Graduate Education At WVU: Endowed Fellowship Program

Home Degrees Contact

Endowed Fellowship Program.The Endowed Fellowships are provided to assist schools and colleges in the recruitment of high quality doctoral students and are funded from a variety of endowments. These fellowships provide supplemental stipends (i.e., to students who have been offered a graduate assistantship) of $2000 to attract a select group of graduate assistants to WVU. The fellowship awards are made on the basis of academic merit and do not require service to the University beyond the duties specified in the appointment as a graduate assistant. Endowed Fellowships can only be offered to new, incoming students and may be renewed annually for up to a total of three years. 

The Endowed Fellowships are administered through the schools/colleges. Recipients must hold a minimum of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and be admitted to a terminal degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., D.M.A., or M.F.A.) program. It is particularly useful if recipients can be selected late in the fall or early in the spring semester in time for the awards to be useful for recruiting purposes. Individual schools/colleges determine the mechanisms for selecting and notifying Endowed Fellows. 

Graduate assistants, including Endowed Fellows, are required to pay the mandatory special fees each semester and summer term (when applicable). Deans or their designees are responsible for monitoring the academic progress of recipients of these awards. If a

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fellow withdraws, leaves the University, or fails to meet the other conditions of the award, the Provost's Office should be notified immediately. 

HERF Supplemental Fellowships.These $2000 supplemental teaching fellowships may be offered to Masters as well as doctoral students. They are intended to help schools/colleges recruit excellent teaching assistants, and they may be renewed if in the best interest of the college. Since one of the University's highest priority goals is to attract women, blacks, and persons in other protected classes into every aspect of life in the University community, it is strongly encouraged that schools/colleges use HERF Supplemental Fellowships for protected class students. 

The funds for the HERF Supplemental Fellowships have been made part of the base amount provided to individual schools/colleges and, therefore, it is not necessary to request funds, but a report on how the funds were used is asked for by the Provost's Office. A final list of fellowship recipients, including HERF, Protected Class, and Endowed Supplemental, should be reported to the Provost by August 1 of each year. 

Home Degrees Contact Top

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Graduate Assistant Insurance

West Virginia University is now offering non-comprehensive health insurance to students involved in graduate teaching or research assistantships, or fellowships. Upon entering an assistantship or fellowship, students will automatically be covered at no expense to them. Family members are not automatically covered, however coverage for spouse/children may be purchased. The insurance is provided by the MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company of Dallas, Texas. Coverage is provided up to $50,000 per year with a $250 deductible. It is a one year, non-renewable policy, therefore each year a student is involved in an assistantship/fellowship new identification cards will be sent. Interim coverage spans from August 12, 2003 to August 12, 2004.

The policy will cover 100% of expenses for illness, minor injury, or non-emergency health problems only if students report to University Health Services. To receive any care that requires a specialty clinic or other facility, students must first report to University Health Services for a referral. Referral preference is given to Ruby Memorial, and the policy will pay 100% of those expenses. For health care outside the network, such as Mon General Hospital, the policy will pay 70%. For day surgeries outside the network, the policy will pay $400. The insurance does not cover regular dental or eye care, however these services may be added for an additional charge.

Students wishing to add family members to their plan must pay $1,993 per year for a non-student spouse, $699 per year per child, or $415 per year for a spouse who is a WVU student carrying at least 3 credit hours. The policy will pay $200 per year for prescription medications. Students are covered during the summer even though they may not be taking classes. Graduate students who are not involved in assistantships or fellowships may purchase coverage; call for premium estimates.

For details about specific coverage contact University Health Service 304-293-2315 (Morgantown), 304-424-8205 (Parkersburg). Claims or inquiries should be directed to:Student InsuranceP.O. Box 809025Dallas, Texas 75380-9025972-233-8200, 1-800-767-0700

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Brochures, Enrollment Cards, Coverage Receipts, ID Cards, Claims Status, and other information can be accessed at www.student-resources.net. Students are encouraged to call and ensure coverage is complete, up to date, and all information is accurate.

Human Subjects Research

Research dealing with human subjects may fall into three different categories: Exempt, Expedited Review, or Full Quorum. Students whose research falls into Expedited Review or Full Quorum categories must submit the same form, however there is a separate form for research which falls into the Exempt category.

Exempt: exempt research is research that does not require expedited or quorum review. This is typically non-invasive research using surveys or interviews, research in accepted educational settings, taste and food quality research, research using educational or cognitive testing, or studies of existing data.

Expedited Review: this is usually minimal risk research, meaning that the probability or magnitude of physical or psychological harm does not exceed that encountered in ordinary daily life or during routine physical or psychological tests. This research may encompass blood sample collection, collection of biological data by non-invasive means, data collected solely for non-research purposes, data from voice, video, digital, or image recordings.

Full Quorum Review: this type of review is necessary for research involving risk of physical or psychological harm greater than that encountered in everyday life, or research involving manipulation, stress, or deception.

****Students performing research likely to be exempt must submit an Application for Exemption. Students performing research likely to be Expedited or requiring Full Quorum must submit a Protocol Review.

Students should check with their advisor to see which category their research will likely fall under. All IRB forms must be competed and submitted, and the

IRB must grant approval prior to proceeding with any research. The Application for Exemption and the Protocol Review form can be accessed

at

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www.wvu.edu/~rc/irb/

Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC)

The ACUC is the institutional animal care and use committee. Its activities are mandated by the U.S. Animal Welfare Act and Public Health Service Policy. Among other things, the ACUC is charged with reviewing and approving all proposed uses of live vertebrate animals in teaching and research.

Any student who wishes to use live vertebrate animals in their research must receive core training and comply with all rules and regulations of the ACUC prior to conducting any research on the animals. More information about the Animal Care and Use Committee can be accessed at www.wvu.edu/~rc/acuc/index.htm or by contacting the committee members in the Davis College.

Please Contact:

Dr. Robert Pitts(304) 293-2231 ext. 4439

Dr. John Warren(304) 293-2631 ext. 4418

Bill Jones(304) 293-7092

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WVU Libraries Guide to Preparation of Theses and Dissertations

Introduction

        This guide describes the regulations governing the preparation of Masters theses and doctoral dissertations to be submitted to West Virginia University in

partial fulfillment of the requirements for any doctorate or masters degree conferred by the University, as issued by the Office of Academic Affairs and

Research and the University Libraries.  It gives the general requirements applicable to all fields of study and provides guidance on the arrangement,

format and submission of the student's manuscript.

        As of August 15, 1998, WVU requires the electronic submission of all theses and dissertations (ETDs).  ETD exemptions will only be granted in rare instances.  While this guide focuses on formats generally applicable to both paper and electronic documents, be advised that you must also consult the WVU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Web pages at http://www.wvu.edu/~thesis/ to learn about the new program.  Links have been provided, where applicable, to facilitate navigation to topics regarding electronic formats.

        You have the responsibility to present to the major professor for final approval a well-written manuscript that is free from error.  Copies of the thesis or dissertation submitted to the University Libraries must be of professional quality. The text and any tables, figures and graphics must be sufficiently clear, sharp, and large enough to be easily readable in print and electronic formats, and suitable for microfilming, photo-duplication or other means of reproduction.

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The following are some publications of general interest to all graduate students:

Getting What You Came For:  The Smart Student's Guide to Earning a Masters or Ph.D., by Robert L. Peters, Revised edition, Noonday Press, 1997.

The Ultimate Grad School Survival Guide, by Lesli Mitchell, Peterson's, 1996.

        The regulations herein described take precedence over previous publications issued by the Office of Academic Affairs and Research and the University Libraries.  All program information is currently published and made available on the World Wide Web.  Administrators, faculty and staff should make this information known to the student at the commencement of the thesis or dissertation writing.        In addition to the electronic filing of your thesis or dissertation, an ETD Submission Packet  must be presented in person or by mail to the University Libraries.  See the Submission Forms page for a list of packet items.Packets are to be delivered to:

The University Libraries Acquisitions Department, Downtown Library Complex, Rm. 2510 Wise Library.

        Questions regarding the format of your thesis or dissertation or the submission process not adequately answered in this guide may be directed to the University Libraries; questions regarding the creation of your electronic document not adequately addressed may be directed to the Office of Information Technology, who will be pleased to give assistance.

Last Revised

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Arrangement of Contents

        Organization of Document

        Proper arrangement and construction of the parts of a thesis or dissertation manuscript will likely vary according to the styles adopted by different disciplines. The following are suggestions concerning the organization of the manuscript. They should be taken as a norm from which deviations may be made under the guidance of your advisor or committee. 

Document Divisions

The document is divided into front matter, body matter, and back matter.  For an illustration, see ETD document division (jpeg).

A thesis or dissertation manuscript should consist of the following parts: Front Matter

Title Page o Committee Members listing should appear on the title page. o Keywords listing should appear on the title page. o Notice of Copyright, if applicable, should appear on the title page

(copyright is optional, but recommended). Abstract Dedication (optional) Acknowledgments Table of Contents List of Tables List of Figures List of Symbols, Abbreviations, or Nomenclature List of Multimedia Objects or Files

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Body Introduction Review of Literature Text of Investigation Summary and Conclusions Recommendations

Back Matter Bibliography Appendix Curriculum Vitae (Resume)

At the beginning of each chapter, place the word "Chapter," the chapter number, and the chapter title in large type.

A Signature page should not be included in the ETD.  The ETD title page format includes a citation of your committee members.  Signature pages should only appear in printed complementary copies.  The actual signatures will be provided via the ETD Submission Signature Form.

Title         Because library retrieval systems use words in the title to locate manuscripts, it is essential that a title provide a brief description of the contents of the work. Words should be substituted for formulas, symbols, Greek letters, and so on.

Title Page

The title page should include the following: Title Author Type of Manuscript (thesis or dissertation) College/School Degree Conferred (Ph.D., M.A., M.S., etc.) Degree Program (as listed in the WVU Graduate Catalog or

latest update) Department Committee Members Listing Place of Publication Year of Publication (year submitted for graduation) Keywords Listing (from your discipline) Copyright Notice

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For a pdf version of the title page, see  sample title page.

The institution of record (West Virginia University) must be cited on the title page of all thesis or dissertation submissions. In the event of joint programs (inter-university), both institutions may be cited; however, the secondary institution credit should be placed in the Department line and the Place of Publication line (as illustrated the above).

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Abstract The purpose of the abstract is to give a concise presentation

so that the reader will be able to determine whether it is advisable to read the complete manuscript.

The maximum suggested length of the abstract should be 350 words for dissertations, 150 words for theses.  You may exceed the word limit in the electronic document itself, but keep in mind that the printed copy for ProQuest (formerly UMI) will need to shortened.

The abstract must have centered at the top of the first page the word ABSTRACT, the exact full title of the thesis or dissertation as it appears on the title page, followed on the next line by the full name of the candidate as it appears on the title page (see the illustration below).

The following parts are found in an abstract, although not identified with subheadings:

o Statement of Problem

o Procedures or Methods

o Results

o Conclusions

For a pdf version of the abstract page, see  sample abstract page.

Vita

        Center your name (as it appears on the title page). Include autobiographical information based on your academic and professional experience in paragraph or resume form.

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Electronic Format Requirements

Introduction ETD File Types LaTex

Acceptable File Types Format Exceptions Multimedia

Color vs. B/W Graphic Quality Technical Assistance

        As of August 15, 1998, WVU requires the electronic submission of all theses and dissertations (ETDs).

        This section focuses on formats generally applicable to electronic documents.  The Print Format requirements in this guide are listed for use with printed and bound documents, which apply only to individuals granted an ETD exemption, (granted only in rare instances) or to bound copies which may be required by many departments and/or committee members as well as for personal use.

Electronic File Types RequiredFront Matter

The preliminaries (title page, abstract, table of contents, list of tables, etc.) must be presented in the portable document file (pdf) format.  The front matter material may be reproduced in more creative fashion within the body using an alternate format if desired.

Body Matter Material in the body must be accessible from a commonly used public

domain platform or format (i.e. can be viewed in a Web browser).o For most students, we recommend using the Adobe Acrobat (pdf)

format for a variety of reasons.  The Acrobat Reader software, used to view and print these files, is freely available, works with Web browsers, and has become a de-facto standard over the years.

o HTML or other formats are permitted, however, pagination structure, formatting and archiving become more problematic.  We suggest that pdf equivalent file(s) be produced to accompany the

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HTML or other file(s) in order to help resolve this problem.o Electronic formats used should provide the capability of uniform

page numbering assignment as well as consistent screen and print output, regardless of platform.

o This is important in order to help classify and describe the document, which will aid in cataloging and dealing with printed copies.  Because of this, we recommend the portable document file (PDF) format.  This format can provide consistent reproduction in a variety of formats, print or electronic, HTML can not.

Back Matter and Appendices Format Material in the back matter such as appendices or other supplementary

material may contain more specialized, platform dependent files, if you think they will be useful to fellow researchers (i.e. data sets or output files).  Often, this can be represented in ASCII format.  Where at all possible, try to use public domain platforms out of consideration for ease-of-use and preservation.      

Acceptable File Formats for WVU ETDsThesis (front matter / preliminaries)

PDF

Thesis (body) PDF (preferred) HTML

Text (supplementary files) ASCII (.txt) SGML

-- Note: We recommend Unicode for non-Roman characters.Images

PDF (.pdf)

-- use Type I PostScript fonts JPEG (.jpg) CompuServe GIF (.gif) TIFF following version 6.0 or later, including CCITT G4 (.tif) CGM Computer Graphics Metafile (.cgm) PhotoCD

-- Note: We recommend a minimum of 600 dpi resolution for images of pages with text. Adobe Photoshop (.ppd) Post Script (.eps)

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PowerPoint (.ppt)

Video MPEG (i.e., MPEG-1, MPEG-2) (.mpg) QuickTime - Apple (.mov) Audio Video Interleaved - Microsoft (.avi) Streaming video applications

Audio MPEG-2 MP3 CD-DA CD-ROM/XA (A or B or C) AIF (.aif) SND (.snd) Streaming audio applications WAV (.wav) MIDI (.midi)

o Can be used with Finale software to reproduce score

Authoring Authorware Director (MMM, PICS)

Special Spreadsheet - Excel (.xcl) AutoCAD (.dxf) ArcView (GIS)

Referring "handles" as URNs (URLs don't last very long) ISBN, ISSN

Multimedia Objects         Multimedia object types include tables, complex equations, graphs, diagrams, digital pictures, digital video, digital audio, virtual reality, and even computer software that you have developed.         For your convenience and to inspire you, we have compiled a survey of notable WVU multimedia ETDs.  Please contact the WVU Office of Information Technology for specialized assistance with multimedia projects. Simple objects         Most simple objects like tables, graphs, and diagrams can be embedded in your ETD using your word processor.

Put the object at the point of reference or ``float'' it to the top or bottom of the page or to the top of the next page.

Center the object between the left and right margins of the page.

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Directly below the object for figures and above for tables, center the type and number according to its position in the chapter (e.g., in Chapter 5 we may have Table 5.1, Table 5.2, and Figures 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3).

Give the object a concise, descriptive title.

For example:

Figure 1.4. Example Multimedia Object (GIF, 1k)Complex objects         More complex multimedia objects, however, require special treatment. They either do not fit naturally on a page or the file size is too large to fit reasonably within a document. For complex objects, do the following:

Place the type and number of the object along with its concise, descriptive title, centered on a line by itself. In parentheses, include the media encoding (e.g., JPEG) and file size (e.g., 1.5 Megabytes).

See instructions below on how to connect object titles using the PDF link feature.

Be sure to submit each multimedia object file you have linked when you submit your PDF file.

        Note that many complex multimedia object types have a simple object version (often called "thumbnail") that is a reduction of the picture or one frame of video. If possible, we recommend that you include this reduction in the main document along with a PDF link to the complex object. For help preparing multimedia objects, please see what the Office of Information Technology has to offer.

Information on Using LaTex A guide to Latex Use   (Virginia Tech) The not so short introduction to LaTeX2e (pdf - Oetiker, Partl, Hyna and Schlegl) Using LaTex to Create PDF Documents (University of Akron) LaTex and PDF (College of the Redwoods) LaTeX -to-pdf How-To ( Ringlord Technologies Publications) Correctly Converting Latex to PDF (Georgia Tech) Using TrueType fonts with TeX and pdfTeX (Damir Rakityansky) Getting Good PDF from LaTex (General Atomics, Inc.)

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LaTex Information Page (Yale University - IPAG)

Quality of Graphics: Poor quality image scans are unacceptable:  If in doubt, prior approval

should be obtained from the University Libraries.  Assistance with scanning technique is available from the Office of Information Technology.

Digital reproductions of images (computer scan) should be sufficiently legible when zoomed in on the screen and or produce legible laser print copies at 600 dpi.  The committee and student may decide the necessary level of detail, so long as the above indications are met.

Poor quality screen fonts are unacceptable, usually produced by  improper document conversion.  Consult the Office of Information Technology to resolve.

Color vs. Black and White Images and illustrative text in a thesis or dissertation may be in black and

white or color. Keep in mind that maximum clarity for microfilming and duplicating is attained when there is good black and white or color palette contrast.

Color photographs should be used when they are essential for understanding the methods or results of the research.

If color photographs are used, appropriate labels must be provided to assist the readers of reproduced copies.

Format Exceptions The University Libraries does accept proposals for theses or dissertations

that are artistic works, musical compositions, etc., which require elements that may exceed the established limits for electronic formats and multimedia applications herein indicated.  However, any proposed non-conforming thesis or dissertation must be approved by your college/school or department and then by the WVU ETD Task Force as well as the University Libraries before final production.

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General Format Issues

 

Fonts Questions

Footnotes Reproduction

Headers Spacing and Margins

Illustrations & Charts Supplementary Materials

Page Numbering Tables & Figures

Reproduction Electronic copies presented must be clean, clear, and uniform, with high

contrast for quality screen and print resolution.

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You must use a computer and applicable software to produce theses and dissertations where applicable.

Keep in mind that because of duplicating and microfilming needs, the print must be letter quality with dark characters that are consistently clear and dense.

Fonts The preferred font size is 10 to 12 ( characters per horizontal inch). The preferred font style is Time New Roman (traditional) or Arial (modern). If necessary, different typefaces (font sizes or styles) may be used within

headings, tables, figures, and appendices. Non-standard typefaces, such as script, are generally not acceptable except for commonly accepted symbols.

Spacing and Margins

All straight text should be single, one-and-one half, or double spaced.  Keep in mind that single spacing is preferable for electronic documents.  A good compromise would be 1-1/2 spacing.

The preferred number of lines is 6 (single-spaced) or 3 (double-spaced) text lines per vertical inch.

Separate paragraphs by a line of horizontal space. Indent block quotes on the left and right.

Single-space long tables, long quotations, footnotes, multi-line captions, computer programming, and bibliographical entries.

All pages should have a minimum margin of 1 inch on all sides of the page.  This applies to the average text, illustration or table arrangement, where a professional and consistent format should be retained.  Exceptions could be, for example, artistic renderings requiring full margin bleed.

A left margin of 1.5 inches (binding offset) is also acceptable, if you and your committee desire.

Electronic formats should normally be able to be reproduced on standard paper sizes such as 8 1/2" x 11".

The placement of the footnotes at the bottom of the page or at the end of the manuscript is optional but must be consistent throughout. A form acceptable for publications in the discipline is recommended.

All footnotes must conform to the margin requirements. All tables and figures should conform to the margin requirements.

Photographic reduction may be necessary. Not more than 3 to 5% reduction is suggested to prevent indistinct print quality.

A subheading at the bottom of the page must have at least two full lines of type below it. Otherwise, the subheading should begin on the next page.

The last word on any page should not be hyphenated. The line should be short of the margin and the whole word typed on the following page.

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Page Numbering Each and every page in a thesis or dissertation, including all blank pages,

should normally be assigned a number with no duplications in the numbering systems.

The preliminaries must be numbered with lower case Roman numerals (iii, iv, v, etc.). The numbers should appear in the upper right-hand corner or as indicated by your style manual, no closer than 0.75 inches from the edge of the page.

The title page counts as page i, but suppress the display (the number should not appear on the page).

The abstract page counts as page ii, but suppress the display ( the number should not appear on the page).

The remainder of the text (body) should be numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals, starting with Chapter One or the Introduction. Numbering should begin with page "1" centered at the top or bottom of the page, or as indicated by your style manual, no closer than 0.75 inches from the edge of the page.

Avoid the use of letter suffixes as 10a, 10b, etc. Electronic multimedia presentations may not always be reproducible with

conventional pagination and should be used with some caution. However, formats other than pdf are acceptable for the body, appendices, or other supplementary material.

Headers Some disciplines require the use of running headers in the document. 

This practice is acceptable, but its use should be avoided in the preliminary pages.  The following figure illustrates acceptable use of a running header.

Footnotes

Tradition suggests  that you use footnotes (as opposed to end notes).

o Place any footnotes on the same page as the items that refer to them. Footnotes in main body text should be numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals, starting with 1.

ETDs:  With an electronic documents and possibility of hyperlinks, this issue becomes less relevant since navigation around the document is facilitated.

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Supplementary Materials

See How to Create ETD Files for a discussion on hypertext, multimedia and other applications.

Supplementary files, those secondary to the main document, may be used for a variety of requirements, such as high resolution or specialized image files, data files, or other presentation materials.  File formats should be accessible with public domain or commonly used platforms.

 Tables and FiguresThe word "Table" designates tabulated numerical data used in the body of the thesis or dissertation and in the appendices. Tables consist of an arrangement of facts, figures, and values in an orderly sequence usually in rows or columns. The word "Figure" designates all other nonverbal material used in the body of the dissertation and in the appendices, such as charts, graphs, maps, photographs, plates, drawings, diagrams, etc.

 Illustrations and Charts

All illustrations and charts must be drawn in dark, opaque fashion and be of sufficient size to be readable. Remember that microfilming and duplicating are black and white photographic processes and colors will appear in varying shades of gray. Thus, cross-hatching and labels are often essential.

If a title or description of an illustration or graph is too long to be placed on the same page, it should be placed on the previous page.

Photocopies, computer scans and reduced text must be readable when reproduced.

Wide tables or figures may be placed broadside, (landscape orientation). The table should be placed so that the top of the table is nearest the binding side (left margin). The placement of the table or figure, vertical or horizontal, does not alter the position of the page numbering requirements set forth in this guide, and should remain consistent with pagination structure adjacent in the document.

o Electronic formats:  the preference is to rotate all wide illustrations, tables or figures so that they appear in landscape orientation for ease of screen viewing.

o Oversize pages complicate duplicating procedures and should be avoided. Often a different layout or the use of photographic reduction will resolve the problem.

o If oversized maps or charts are used, they should capable of reproduction on standard paper size, or otherwise scalable.

See the Electronic Formats page for multimedia tables and illustrations.

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The University Libraries will provide information about the acceptability of illustrative material if given the opportunity to examine it before submission of the document.

Revised

Print Formats

Abbreviated Title Paper Spacing & Margins

Binding Patent Submission Process

Illustrations and Charts Photographs Supplementary

Materials

Non-Conforming Reproduction Unacceptable

Pagination Signature Page UMI

        As of August 15, 1998, WVU requires the electronic submission of all theses and dissertations (ETDs).

        This section focuses on formats generally applicable to paper (printed) documents.  The paper format requirements in this section are listed for use with printed and bound documents, and applies only to individuals granted an ETD exemption, (granted only in rare instances) or to bound copies which may be required by many departments and/or committee members and desirable for personal

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use.  For electronic format information, go to Electronic Formats page.

Paper White, acid free, 20 pound paper (most paper manufactured

today has acid free content). White bond paper with 25% or higher rag content is

recommended. 8 ½ inches x 11 inches in size. Erasable bond, recycled, or perforated paper are

unacceptable.

Reproduction Copies of theses and dissertations must be printed on only

one side of the paper, except when the facing-page format is used (see Illustrations and Charts section for pagination details).

Either two original copies or the original and first copy must be presented to the University Libraries.

Paper and electronic copies presented must be clean, clear, and uniform, with high contrast print resolution.

You should use a computer and applicable software to produce theses and dissertations where possible.

Keep in mind that because of duplicating and microfilming needs, the print must be letter quality with dark black characters that are consistently clear and dense.

The preferred typeface includes 10 to 12 characters per horizontal inch.

The preferred number of lines is 6 (single-spaced) or 3 (double-spaced) text lines per vertical inch.

If necessary, different typefaces may be used within tables, figures, and appendices. Non-standard typefaces, such as script, are generally not acceptable except for commonly accepted symbols.

Unacceptable: Dot matrix print, unless prior approval is obtained from the

University Libraries. Overstrikes, interlineations, cross outs, defective lines from

paste-ups, dots and shading in the background, smudges and smears, careless erasures, and white-out.

Use of photo-mounting corners, staples, or transparent tape, or other non-archival material.

Spacing and Margins

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All straight text is to be double spaced, but single-space long tables, long quotations, footnotes, multi-line captions, computer programming, and bibliographical entries.

All pages must have a minimum margin of 1 inch on all sides of the page.

A left margin of 1.5 inches (binding offset) is also acceptable, if you and your committee desire.

The placement of the footnotes at the bottom of the page or at the end of the manuscript is optional but must be consistent throughout. A form acceptable for publications in the discipline is recommended.

All footnotes must conform to the margin requirements. All tables and figures should conform to the margin

requirements. Photographic reduction may be necessary. Not more than 3 to 5% reduction is suggested to prevent indistinct print quality.

A subheading at the bottom of the page must have at least two full lines of type below it. Otherwise, the subheading should begin on the next page.

The last word on any page should not be hyphenated. The line should be short of the margin and the whole word typed on the following page.

Page Numbering Format Each and every page in a thesis or dissertation, including all

blank pages, must be assigned a number with no duplications in the numbering system.

The preliminaries (table of contents, list of tables, etc.) must be numbered with lower case Roman numerals (iii, iv, v, etc.). The numbers should appear in the upper right-hand corner or as indicated by your style manual, 0.75 inches from the edge of the page.

The title page counts as page i, but the number should not appear.

The abstract page counts as page ii, but the number should not appear.

The remainder of the text (body) must be numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals, starting with Chapter One or the Introduction. Numbering must begin with page "1" centered at the top or bottom of the page, or as indicated by your style manual, within the 1 inch margin (0.75 inches from the edge of the page).

Avoid the use of letter suffixes as 10a, 10b, etc. For multi-volume theses or dissertations, the maximum

advisable size for a binding unit is 2.5 inches in thickness (approximately 550 pages). Beyond this size, you must

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separate the manuscript into volumes. o Multiple volumes should be identified as Volume I, II,

or Volume 1, 2, etc. o Page numbering may either follow consecutively or

begin again with Arabic 1. o Multiple volumes should each contain a title page. o All preliminary pages should remain in the first

volume.

Non-Conforming Theses and Dissertations The University Libraries does accept theses or dissertations

that are musical compositions, artistic works, etc., which require printed pages that exceed the previously designated size limits or electronic formats of with multimedia, etc. applications. However, any proposed non-conforming thesis or dissertation must be approved by your college/school or department and then by the WVU ETD Task Force and the University Libraries before final production.

Illustrations and Charts All illustrations and charts must be drawn in dark, opaque ink

and be of sufficient size to be readable. Remember that microfilming and duplicating are black and white photographic processes and colors will appear in varying shades of gray. Thus, cross-hatching and labels are essential.

If a title or description of an illustration or graph is too long to be placed on the same page, it should be placed on the previous page.

Photocopies, computer scans and reduced text must be readable when reproduced.

Wide tables or figures may be placed broadside, (landscape orientation). The table should be placed so that the top of the table is nearest the binding side (left margin). The placement of the table or figure, vertical or horizontal, does not alter the position of the page numbering requirements set forth in this guide.

Some disciplines prefer the title or description to face the illustration or graph, which is called the facing- page format. If this is done, be sure to number the blank side of the page, but do not number the description side of the page.

o Oversize pages complicate duplicating procedures and should be avoided. Often a different layout or the use of photographic reduction will resolve the problem.

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o If oversized maps or charts are used, they should be folded as few times as possible, but in such a way as to give 0.25 inches minimum clearance on the front right-hand edge of book.

o Maps or charts inserted in a pocket of the inside back cover must be folded to a size not larger than 6.5 inches x 10.5 inches.

o A binding pocket should be included before the manuscript is presented to the binder.

Photographs Photographs in a thesis or dissertation may be in black and

white or color. Keep in mind that maximum clarity for microfilming and duplicating is attained when there is good black and white contrast.

Color photographs should be used when they are essential for understanding the methods or results of the research.

If color photographs are used, appropriate labels must be provided to assist the readers of reproduced copies.

Digital reproductions (computer scan) or other color photo-duplication methods often produce more desirable results than mounted photographs.

Photographs smaller than 8 ½ inches x 11 inches must be firmly affixed to pages with Kodak (or equivalent) Dry Mounting Tissue, rubber cement, or professional spray mounting, to ensure permanent adhesion. Photographs which are 8 ½ inches x 11 inches in dimension may be inserted and numbered like a regular page.

o Dissertations:  If color must be used, it is suggested that you submit one copy in color (for library patron use), and one copy in black and white (for microfilming and archives).

Supplementary Materials Software (i.e., floppy disk, CD-ROM, etc.) or other unbound

materials (i.e., maps, realia, etc.) must be clearly labeled with author and title information.

The material should be placed in an envelope or other appropriate pocket, no larger than 6.5 inches x 9.5 inches, one per copy.

Masters Theses Only: The pocket should be firmly affixed to the inside back cover of the bound copies.

The University Libraries will provide information about the acceptability of illustrative material if given the opportunity to examine it before submission of the manuscript.

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Patent Pending        If a U.S. patent is pending on a thesis or dissertation manuscript, the submission must be accompanied by a Patent Pending Letter. The University Libraries will secure the documents from public access; paper submissions will remain in the Wise Library vault until further written notice (a release authorization) is received from the author.

Submission Process        If an ETD exemption has been granted,  you must present your thesis (bound) or dissertation (unbound), required forms, and payment (dissertations only) to the University Libraries.  Exemptions are granted only in rare instances.

ProQuest (formerly UMI) Publishing Services        Whereas West Virginia University requires doctoral students to participate in the UMI Abstract and Microfilming Services, WVU does not require Masters students to do so. In other words, the Masters thesis abstract, microfilming, and copyright application to UMI is independent of the library submission process, whereas the doctoral dissertation application is not.

Students should follow the ETD Exempt submission indications found in the Submission Checklist page.

Dissertations Only:  The cost of publishing the abstract and microfilming and binding the dissertation is $55.00 (subject to change). This is payable by cash, certified check, or money order to West Virginia University Libraries. This fee must be presented to the University Libraries at the time of delivery of the two copies of the dissertation.

Theses Only:  If you wish to take advantage of the UMI abstract service, see the explanation in the section above, and see Publishing Your Masters Thesis; however, the Masters student is responsible for his or her own submission, independent of the library submission process.

Signature Page

        Both copies of a thesis or dissertation presented to the University Libraries must have original signatures of committee members on the approval page.  Reproductions are not acceptable.  It may appear at the end of the manuscript or in the preliminary pages, following the abstract, at the discretion of your committee.

The signature page should include the title, the student's name, the manuscript type (thesis or dissertation), the degree being conferred (Ph.D., M.A., M.S., etc.), the degree-granting institution, and the words "APROVAL OF

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EXAMINING COMMITTEE". Below this, the names of the student's committee members must be typed below his or her signature with the chairperson listed last and so identified.

A sample signature page is provided.

Abbreviated Title        Dissertations Only: In cases where the title is excessively long, you must provide the University Libraries with an abbreviated title of not more than 55 spaces (i.e., a maximum of 55 printed characters and spaces between words) which will be printed on the spine of the bound copies (see the sample Abbreviated Title).

Binding         ETD Exempt Thesis Submissions and Complimentary Copies of Theses or Dissertations:

Theses that have been approved for ETD Exemption are submitted to the University Libraries in bound form. The following regulations for the bookbinder apply, regardless of which bindery you choose.

Black Pryolin Impregnated Buckram or binding board not less that 0.068 inches thick.

Flat stitching with wire on manuscripts less than 0.75 inches and flat sewing on manuscripts more than 0.75 inches.

The word "Thesis" or "Dissertation", the Title of the Work, and the Author's Name embossed in gold letters along the length of the spine running from top to bottom.

Recommended Book Binderso Morgantown Printing and Binding offers

a hard-cover binding acceptable to the University Libraries.  You may contact them at:  915 Greenbag Road, P.O. Box 850, Morgantown WV 26508 • (304) 292-3368

o Pronto Print offers soft-cover binding useful for personal copies.  You may contact them at :  2995 University Ave. Morgantown WV 26505 • (304) 599-6066 or [email protected]

o Heckman Bindery (N. Manchester, Indiana) offers personal binding services by mail order.  The University Libraries have used their services for contract

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binding in past years.  They offer a variety of durable, customized and professional bindery services.  Binding covers are available in standard pyrolin impregnated buckram as well as fine leather, in a variety of colors.

o ICI Binding (Akron, Ohio) offers personal binding services by mail order.  The University Libraries currently use their services for contract binding.  They offer a variety of durable, customized and professional bindery services.  Binding covers are available in standard pyrolin impregnated buckram covers in a variety of colors.

o WVU Printing Services provides quality printing and reproduction services to the University community in a timely and cost effective manner, at maximum convenience for the customer.  Special binding options such as cover-lettering may require additional time to complete. You may contact them at (304) 269-6366 or [email protected]

Recommended Thesis and Dissertation Styles

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byDivision

Before you begin writing your thesis or dissertation you should become familiar with the recommended writing style for your division. The following are division recommendations, however you should check with your advisor for any changes.

Animal & Veterinary Sciences:This division suggests using the American Society of Animal Science

style, similar to Chicago Style. This particular style can be accessed on www.asas.org/jas/2002SandF.pdf

Division of Resource Management:Recommends using APA Style, using the 5th Edition Style Manual as

a guide, which is available at University Book Stores.

Division of Plant and Soil Sciences:This division has no particular style, however each department within

the division likely has its own preferences. You should ask your advisor for suggestions.

Division of Forestry:This division has no specific recommended style. Theses and

dissertations should comply with University Library System rules and regulations.

Division of Family & Consumer Sciences:For Child Development and Family Studies majors the division

recommends using APA Style. For students majoring in Human Nutrition, AMA Style is requested.

Printing and Binding Services

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Most graduates choose to have their work printed and professionally bound. Traditional regulations for binding theses and dissertations include binding in Black Pryolin Impregnated Buckram. The word "Thesis" or "Dissertation", the Title of the Work, and Author's name should be embossed along the length of the spine, running top to bottom. West Virginia University recommends: Morgantown Printing & Binding (hardcover)915 Greenbag roadP.O. Box 850Morgantown, WV 26508(304) 292-3368

Pronto Print (soft-cover, personal use)2995 University Ave.Morgantown, WV 26505(304) 599-6066

Heckman Bindery (personal binding by mail order)N. Manchester, Indiana

Price estimates:

Morgantown Printing & Binding (as of Fall 2003)

BindingUnder 200 pages: $20.00 for first copy, $18.00 for each additional copy. This includes hard cover binding and gold embossing.Allow 3-4 days. They can accept either a hard copy or disk copy.Hard copies are usually cheaper to copy from than a disk.

Copying$.07 per black and white page$.95 for 1-25 colored pages

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Electronic Submission Process

 

Overview ETD Signature Form

Document Conversion Survey of Earned Doctorates

ETD Submission Steps UMI Agreement Form

OVERVIEW

        The following is an outline which details the process of submitting your thesis or dissertation. For your convenience, separate submission checklists for thesis and dissertation electronic and paper (ETD Exempt) formats, have been provided.

Students should explore the potential multimedia aspects of the final thesis or dissertation early in the planning stages.

Copies of the printed draft of the thesis or dissertation should be presented to all committee members at least one month before the final examination.

The student should contact his or her graduate coordinator (college/school and department levels), regarding final requirements and deadlines to be completed for graduation (see the WVU Graduate Contacts list). The student should also consult the latest edition of the WVU Graduate Catalog for any details not addressed in this guide.

In the semester of expected graduation, the student must obtain a packet of submission forms from the Submission Forms page, and shuttle sheets from his or her college graduate prior to submitting the thesis or dissertation.

After the oral examination is passed and the thesis or dissertation is accepted by the department, the student must submit the final copy of the thesis or dissertation.

DOCUMENT CONVERSION

The student produces the final electronic copy for online submission.

o After you complete the word-processed ETD, you should create one or more PDF or other approved

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electronic files.  Find a computer with your word processor and Adobe Acrobat 3.0, 4.0 or 5.0 installed.  The Adobe Acrobat software includes drivers to print word processor documents to a Portable Document Format (PDF) file.

 

Access to software and assistance:

o Technical assistance and training materials for file conversion or other special needs is available from the Office of Information Technology.

o Adobe Acrobat is available in the various computer labs across the WVU campus.

o Check with your college, school or department to see if they have a local copy of Adobe Acrobat available.

o You can buy your own copy of Adobe Acrobat at an academic discount price from the WVU Bookstore or from Software Express (choose Faculty Specials).

o Adobe.com offers limited free trial and fee based document conversion services.

o NLM DocMorph offers free document conversion to pdf sponsored by the National Library of Medicine.

o PDFzone offers a plethora of links to freeware and commercial software to convert to the PDF format.

o A share-ware version of the pdf conversion script called "Aladdin Ghost Script" is available at http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/.  However, students should be cautioned that conversion problems may be encountered when using this software, and that there are no editing tools available as indicated in the above Adobe Acrobat product.

o Also consult the How to Create an ETD section.

STEPS OF THE ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION PROCESS1.    Collect all the files you need to submit.

Put all the files for your ETD in the same directory. All files should have a distinct name with an appropriate standard prefix and suffix.  We recommend the following convention:  "Lastname_Firstname_Thesis.pdf" or "Lastname_Firstname_Dissertation.pdf";  you may substitute the word "Thesis" or "Dissertation" for "ETD".

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Name any other file according to the convention for its type (e.g., name other PDF files with the ".pdf" suffix, name GIFs with a ".gif" suffix, name JPEGs with the ".jpg" suffix, etc.).

Link "etd.pdf" (title page, etc.) to all the other files using the hyperlink feature of Adobe Exchange.

2. Submit Online

Using Netscape Version 3.0 or higher or Microsoft Internet Explorer

version 4.0 or higher, go to the online The form will ask you for:

Meta-data from the front matter of your ETD

o title o author o degree o major o keywords

see ETD Keyword Thesauri (pdf) for helpo committee members o defense date o title

paste this in from your text file.o abstract

paste only the body from your text file (exclude header). do not use non-standard symbols (i.e. use plain English

equivalents). special symbols will only appear under the html interface

if ISO character equivalents are used. Your email address Your committee chair's name and email address Your committee members' names and email addresses Special instructions for ETD processing

o Note:  At this point you must make a decision regarding the Web distribution of your ETD.

Make sure the information you provided is correct (including spelling!)

Choose "Submit" to submit the form data; then a new screen will appear, prompting you to attach your file(s).  Use the Browse button to select your file(s), then click the "Submit" button to upload the files to the ETD server.

Helpful submission hints Have you included your VITA?

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Have you checked your PDF file for missing pages, poor font translation, and other anomalies?

Are all internal and external multimedia objects and files present when you submit?

Have you included a Table of Contents and a list of each multimedia object type?

Have you checked that all your pages are numbered correctly?

Keywords

List four to six keywords or short key phrases aid the catalogers who provide bibliographic access to your document through the local online catalog and an international database, OCLC. These words will be indexed in addition to all the words that appear in your title and abstract. After you submit...

You, your committee chair and college/school coordinator will be notified by electronic mail that they have received your ETD.

If (for some reason) your ETD is rejected, you will be given instructions by email reply on how to correct it and resubmit.

3. Submit forms and fee(s)

In addition to the electronic filing of your thesis or dissertation, a completed ETD Submission Packet  (forms and fee(s) must be forwarded in person or by mail to the University Libraries.

Submission details can be found on the Submission Checklist pages.

When your ETD is approved, you will be notified by email from the University Libraries.

The student should also check with the college/school and department to determine whether additional printed and bound copies are required by them.

Submissions should arrive not later than the deadline date indicated by his or her graduate coordinator for the semester in which graduation is anticipated.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT REQUIRED FORMSProQuest (formerly UMI) Agreement Form

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UMI offers abstract, copyright, microfilming, and publishing services.

All Masters and doctoral students who submit an electronic thesis or dissertation are required to participate in the UMI Abstract publishing program (Project Reports are optional).

For more information see the Intellectual Property page. For publication purposes, a printed copy of the abstract must

also be submitted in addition to the abstract included in the thesis or dissertation manuscript (see the sample Abstract and the Abstract section in the Arrangement of Contents page).

o Header:  Must contain the word "Abstract", document title and author's name.

o Page(s) should not be numbered.o Use single spacing.o Word limits:  350 words for dissertations, 150 words

for theses. The additional copy of the abstract will be computer scanned

by UMI, so bear in mind that the appearance of your abstract submission will remain exactly the same when published. The use of figures in your abstract entry is acceptable, but remember that keyword searching is useful only with text.

For publication purposes, a printed copy of the title page which cites the names of the committee chair (advisor) and committee members must also be submitted; this will serve as the header for the microfilm copy (see the sample Title Page).

ETD Signature Form

  Required for all ETD submissions.

Student indicates Web distribution choice. Student and faculty committee members must sign.

Survey of Earned Doctorates Dissertations Only: A completed National Opinion Research Center questionnaire entitled "Survey of Earned Doctorates" should be presented to the University Libraries when the dissertation is submitted.  For more information about the survey, see National Science Foundation Web site.  

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o While the surveys are voluntary, the university stands to lose funding for research if we lack the information these questionnaires provide. Student responses are held in complete confidence and no individuals are identified in university reports of findings.  For additional information regarding the confidentiality of the Survey of Earned Doctorates please consult the SED Brochure.

o Please note, beginning with the 1997-98 edition, the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago has been awarded the federal contract for conducting this survey.  You should use the edition corresponding to the current academic year.  Copies are available online or from the University Libraries.

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-

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Masters Thesis Checklist for ETD Submissions

1. Complete electronic document conversion to acceptable format (i.e. pdf, etc.)

2. Submit your thesis online <http://etd.wvu.edu/submittd2.htm>

3. Download, print and complete your Masters Thesis ETD Submission Packet

Packet Items:

o Completed and signed ETD Submission Signature Form.

o $55.00 cash (exact change please), check, money order payable to West Virginia University Libraries.

o Completed and signed UMI Masters Thesis Agreement Form.

o Printed copy of  title page; see Sample Title Page (pdf).

o Printed copy of abstract page (150 word maximum; see Sample Abstract (pdf) .

o Copyright fee:  $45.00 cash (exact change please), check or money order payable to West Virginia University Libraries (copyright is optional but recommended).

o Fees may be subject to change . 

2. Deliver your ETD Submission Packet in person or by mail to the University Libraries Acquisitions Department (Downtown Campus)

WVU LibrariesAcquisitions DepartmentAttn:  John H. HagenWise Library, Room 2510P.O. Box 6069 / 1549 University AvenueMorgantown, WV  26506-6069Phone:  (304) 293-4040, ext. 4025Email:  [email protected]

 

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Approval

        If the electronic thesis is in acceptable form and the ETD Submission Packet is complete, the University Libraries will approve the submission electronically, indicating that all obligations regarding submission of the thesis to the University Libraries have been fulfilled. An official email notification will be sent to the student and to the appropriate office in the college/school or department granting the degree.  Your ETD will be catalogued and distributed on the World Wide Web according to the distribution option you have chosen.

Doctoral Dissertation Checklist for ETD Submissions

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1. Complete electronic document conversion to acceptable format (i.e. pdf, etc.)

2. Submit your dissertation online  <http://etd.wvu.edu/submittd2.htm> 

3. Download, print and complete your Doctoral Dissertation ETD Submission Packet

Packet Items o Completed and signed ETD Submission Signature

Form. o $65.00 cash (exact change please), check, or money

order payable to West Virginia University Libraries. o Completed and signed UMI Doctoral Dissertation

Agreement Form. o Print copy of  title page; see Sample Title Page (pdf) . o Printed copy of abstract page (350 word maximum;

see Sample Abstract (pdf) . o Copyright fee:  $45.00 cash (exact change please),

check or money order payable to West Virginia University Libraries (copyright is optional but recommended).

o Completed and signed "Survey of Earned Doctorates." 

o Fees may be subject to change .

  4. Deliver your ETD Submission Packet in person or by

mail to the University Libraries Acquisitions Department (Downtown Campus)

o WVU Libraries Acquisitions Department Attn:  John H. HagenWise Library, Room 2510 P.O. Box 6069 / 1549 University Avenue Morgantown, WV  26506-6069

Phone:  (304) 293-4040, ext. 4025 Email:  [email protected]

 

Approval

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        If the electronic dissertation is in acceptable form and the ETD Submission Packet is complete, the University Libraries will approve the submission electronically, indicating that all obligations regarding submission of the dissertation to the University Libraries have been fulfilled. An official email notification will be sent to the student and to the appropriate office in the college/school or department granting the degree.  Your ETD will be catalogued and distributed on the World Wide Web according to the distribution option you have chosen.

Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry & Consumer SciencesCheck List for Masters Candidates

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1. Confer with the major professor of your graduate or thesis committee to see if all requirements can be met by the end of the term or summer semester and develop with them a schedule for meeting remaining requirements.

2. Application for graduation and diploma:

(a) Fill out an Application for Graduation and Diploma Form available from your Advisor or the Associate Dean’s Office and submit it to the Associate Dean’s Office. (b) Pay the $30 Graduation Fee by obtaining an invoice from Admissions and Records and paying the fee at the Bursar’s Office.

3. Registration: WVU is only permitted to graduate persons officially registered as students. Therefore, registration is essential in the term one expects to graduate.

4. Thesis: The Masters thesis, if required, must be in the final stages of completion before the final examination is scheduled. A typewritten draft of the thesis must be presented to each committee member one month prior to his/her scheduled defense.

5. Request for Shuttle Sheet: The last day for the student’s major professor or advisor to submit a request for the final examination is THREE weeks prior to the close of the term or summer term in which the student plans to complete his/her degree. The Shuttle Sheet Request must be filed at least TWO weeks prior to the date of the examination with the Associate Dean’s Office. A final examination shall NOT be conducted until the student’s record has been screened for completion of the degree requirements. The “Shuttle Sheet” along with a list of deficiencies, if applicable, will be sent to the major professor of the student’s committee. All requirements must be met prior to the deadline.

Results of the final examination and acceptance of the thesis (if required) must be reported by the student’s graduate advisor or committee major professor. The Associate Dean’s Office should receive this information no later than one week before the end of the term or summer term in which the degree is expected to be granted.

6. Incomplete Grades:

(a) Grade modification forms must be submitted for any incompletes on the student’s record.

(b) Grades must be submitted to the Associate Dean’s Office for courses in which the student is currently enrolled.

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7. Filing Masters Theses Electronically :

Thesis is to be submitted electronically at URL:http://157.182.199.25/etd/submittd2.htm

a. Download, print and complete your Masters thesis ETD Submission Packet, available at URL: http://www.wvu.edu/~thesis/etd-overview.html. All necessary forms can be downloaded from this website.

b. $55 cash, check, or money order payable to West Virginia University Librariesc. Completed and signed UMI Masters Thesis Agreement Formd. Extra copy of Title page: see Sample Title page at above websitee. Extra copy of Abstract (150 work maximum; see Sample Abstract at above website.f. Copyright fee: $45 check or money order payable to UMI (copyright is optional but recommended.g. Deliver your ETD Submission Packet (in person or by mail) to the University Libraries at the Wise Library (Downtown Campus).

8. The following items should have been completed one week prior to the last day of the final term:

a. Signed report of Final Examination (Shuttle Sheet)b. Thesis filed electronically.c. Evidence of meeting all other requirements for the degree except

final grades. You must be sure that all instructors in courses which you are enrolled in your final term know that you are up for graduation. They need to know this to be sure to submit final grades no later than the second day following the final examination in the course.

If you have any questions, contact the Associate Dean’s Office. Information about the graduate programs and requirements is also available on the web at: http://www.wvu.edu/~graduate/policy/index.htm

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Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry & Consumer SciencesCheck List for Doctoral Graduates

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1. Qualifying Exam: Qualifying Exam is to be administered after most formal coursework has been completed. Qualifying Exam reporting forms are to be obtained from the Associate Dean’s Office.

Doctoral candidates are allowed no more than five years after taking Qualifying Exam in which to complete remaining degree requirements.

2. Dissertation: Dissertations must be at the completion stage before the final examination is scheduled. Each committee member should be furnished a copy of the completed draft of a dissertation two months prior to the scheduled examination.

3. Request for Shuttle Sheet: Request must be submitted to the Associate Dean’s Office at least THREE (3) weeks prior to the dissertation defense. The Shuttle Sheet Request must be filed at least TWO weeks prior to the date of the examination with the Associate Dean’s Office. A final examination shall NOT be conducted until the student’s record has been screened for completion of the degree requirements. The “Shuttle Sheet” along with a list of deficiencies, if applicable, will be sent to the major professor of the student’s committee. All requirements must be met prior to the deadline.

4. Application for graduation and diploma:(a) Submit application to the Associate Dean’s Office before the deadline date

of the semester or summer term you plan to graduate. (b) Obtain an invoice for graduation fee at the Office of Admissions and Records. (c) Pay $30 graduation fee.

5. Registration: WVU is only permitted to graduate persons officially registered as students. Therefore, registration is essential in the term one expects to graduate.

6. Incomplete Grades:

(a) Grade modification forms must be submitted for any incompletes on the student’s record.

(b) Grades must be submitted to the Associate Dean’s Office for courses in which the student is currently enrolled.

7. Filing Dissertation Electronically:

Dissertation is to be submitted electronically at URL:http://157.182.199.25/etd/submittd2.htm

a. Download, print and complete your Doctoral Dissertation ETDSubmission Packet, available at URL:

http://www.wvu.edu/~thesis/etd-overview.html.

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All forms can be downloaded from this website. b. $65 cash, check, or money order payable to West Virginia University Librariesc. Completed and sign UMI Doctoral Dissertation Agreement Formd. Extra copy of Title page: see Sample Title Page at above websitee. Extra copy of Abstract (350 work maximum) see Sample Abstract at above

websitef. Copyright fee: $45 check or money order payable to UMI (copyright is

Optional but recommended).g. Completed and signed (Survey of Earned Doctorates print copies are available

from the University Libraries or your college graduate coordinator.h. Deliver your ETD Submission Packet (in person or by mail) to the University Libraries at the Wise Library (Downtown Campus)

Title of Dissertation: Dissertation titles should contain significant words describing, in common language, the subject matter of the dissertation—chiefly, nouns, verbs and strong adjectives.

The following items should have been completed one week prior to the last day of the final term:

d. Signed report of Final Examination (Shuttle Sheet)e. Thesis filed electronically.f. Evidence of meeting all other requirements for the degree except

final grades. You must be sure that all instructors in courses which you are enrolled in your final term know that you are up for graduation. They need to know this to be sure to submit final grades no later than the second day following the final examination in the course.

If you have any questions, contact the Associate Dean’s Office. Information about the graduate programs and requirements is also available on the web at: http://www.wvu.edu/~graduate/policy/index.htm

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Graduate Requirement Guide

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1. Complete Graduate Plan of Study and submit.

2. Choose topic for research project if thesis/ dissertation is required.

3. Select graduate committee members and schedule first meeting.

4. Present research intentions to Institutional Review Board, or complete application for exemption prior to proceeding with research.

5. Complete all course work requirements.

6. Set defense date.

7. Present typewritten draft of thesis/ dissertation to committee members at least one month prior to defense.

8. Complete Shuttle Sheet request and submit two weeks prior to defense date for Masters students, 3 weeks prior to defense for Doctoral students.

9. Apply for graduation, fill out diploma form, and pay $30 graduation fee.

10. During Defense, gather signatures of all committee members for signature pages to be bound in final copies of theses.

11. Submit thesis electronically.

12. Deliver ETD submission packet to John Hagen, 2510 Wise Library. This packet must include: $55.00 ($65.00 for doctoral candidates) cash, check, or money order, completed and signed UMI Masters Thesis Agreement Form, copy of Title Page, copy of Abstract (150 word max.), optional copyright fee of $45.00 cash, check, or money order.

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