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The UMSL Project

In August 2002, Student began submitting final copies of the theses and dissertations to the Graduate School instead of taking them to the Library. During the Spring Semester, 2003, the Graduate School began searching for ways to improve the submission process. The staff found that a significant number of students lived more than sixty miles from the campus when they completed the dissertation. There were also a number of students who worked full time. There was also a lot of paperwork generated.

In April 2003, Dean Felix attended the Council of Graduate Schools annual Dean’s conference. She got information from Proquest for their electronic submission software and pilot project. The Graduate School staff further inquired about the pilot project. The goal that students would not physically bring anything into the Graduate School after the Oral Defense was set.

From April 2003 to December 2003, The Graduate School staff made changes some to some processes (ie charging the microfilming fee) that would make the electronic submission process viable. During this time period, The Graduate School consulted with the Library and Information Technology Services. An IT staff person was assigned to the project and server space was guaranteed. The Library lent its support.

In December 2003, The proposal for electronic theses and dissertations was presented to Graduate Council, and the Graduate Council responded positively to the proposal.

From January to August 2004, members of IT, The Graduate School, and Library worked to build a submission site, and instructions for use. After learning more about ETD’s, the goals of the project were changed to:

• Providing students with a low cost, simplified submission process.
• Improving access to the thesis and dissertation collection.
• Giving student researchers opportunities to enhance written scholarship with supporting multimedia documentation.
• Preparing UMSL for possible participation in consortia.

The Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Initiative was launched in Fall 2004.