Timeline
Stages
Pre-Candidacy
Student: Seeks information on dissertation requirements from program administrators, deans, and the Dissertation Office. Departments, divisions, and schools may have requirements in addition to requirements set by the University.
Dissertation Office: Provides information about the University's dissertation requirements. Welcomes PhD students and encourages their questions at any stage of their academic program.
Dissertation Research and Writing
Student: Seeks assistance from faculty and staff. Requests permission from copyright holders of previously copyrighted material if dissertation use goes beyond fair use.
Dissertation Office: Assists students who want advice or help getting their work into a final form that meets the University’s dissertation requirements. May refer students to additional service points.
Draft Review and/or Workshop
Student: Requests a draft review before the draft review deadline or asks for feedback on sample pages. Registers for workshops of interest at any stage of their academic program.
Dissertation Office: Reviews dissertation drafts during the first few weeks of each quarter. Responds to dissertation-related questions and offers assistance. Holds workshops/information sessions.
Dissertation Defense
Student: Schedules the defense in time for revisions requested by thesis committee to be made and approved before the dissertation deadline.
Dissertation Office: Posts dissertation deadlines.
Application to Graduate
Student: Files a degree application during the first week of the quarter student plans to graduate. Confirms or updates diploma name. (A new degree application must be filed if the degree is delayed to a later quarter.)
Dissertation Office: Throughout the quarter, sends emails to students who appear in AIS report as graduating that quarter.
Post-Defense
Student: Puts dissertation into final form for submission. Proofreads for compliance with requirements. Prepare separate 300-500 word abstract.
Dissertation Office: Offers formatting assistance and responds to dissertation-related questions.
Departmental Approval
Student: Asks department to review dissertation as soon as all revisions and edits are final and have been approved by thesis committee.
Dissertation Office: Provides program administrators with copies of Departmental Approval Form and University-Wide Requirements booklet.
Survey of Earned Doctorates
Student: Registers for Survey of Earned Doctorates while departmental review is underway.
Dissertation Office: Posts information about university surveys.
Dissertation Submission
Student: Submits dissertation to Knowledge@UChicago, the University's open access repository, before the dissertation deadline. Remains in contact with Dissertation Office to address any issues that may arise before graduation.
Dissertation Office: Audits dissertation submission and requests modifications if needed. Updates departmental and divisional/school contacts regarding status of dissertation submissions. Informs Registrar's Office of dissertations submitted and provides list of authors/titles.
Post-Graduation
Student: Contacts the Dissertation Office if author needs to renew an embargo at the end of its term or to initiate an embargo after graduation.
Dissertation Office: Coordinates post-graduation embargoes with University Administration.