Please Note:

• Embargo (delayed release) options determine when a dissertation, thesis, or capstone project will be made publicly available online. Graduates should review these options with a trusted advisor prior to deposit. The initial embargo selection (0-2 years) may be changed at any time after submission, with the option to renew as the embargo nears expiration.

• If you are submitting digital components beyond a PDF (e.g., a website), please review the guidelines for documenting digital projects and view instructions for depositing digital work.

• Authors retain copyright for all work submitted to CUNY Academic Works and ProQuest. Graduates may elect to assign a Creative Commons license to their work.

• If any research received federal grant funding you must include the grant ID number in your acknowledgments.

• Library deposit is the final degree requirement and must be completed after any required defense or final examination. Any and all revisions must be completed and formally approved prior to depositing.

1. Apply for graduation in CUNYFirst. See deadlines. View screenshots and detailed instructions for this action in CUNYfirst. Login to CUNYfirst and select the Student Center tile from the main menu. Then, select the Graduation tile and select "Apply for Graduation from the menu on the left.” Click on the “Apply for Graduation” link located next to your current Graduate Center degree program. You will be prompted to select a graduation term. Students filing for the February degree date should select the preceding Fall term; students filing for the May/June degree should select the current Spring term; students filing for the September degree should select the Summer term. This will notify various offices at the Graduate Center, including the Library, that you plan to deposit a dissertation, thesis, or capstone project for the next degree date. Students can “View Graduation Status” to see when each program has been applied, approved (all degree requirements met), or awarded (degree has been conferred).
    
2. Complete exit surveys. Doctoral graduates: Please complete the NSF Survey of Earned Doctorates (approximately 20 minutes). Master’s graduates: Complete the CUNY Cap and Gown Survey. Participation in these exit surveys is not mandatory but highly valuable for The Graduate Center's ongoing improvement efforts. The data collected helps assess our academic programs and understand post-graduation plans. This data is also used by policymakers to make decisions on funding and developing graduate programs. All responses are confidential.
    
3. Prepare your manuscript according to the library's format guidelines. Consult the library's format guidelines when preparing your manuscript for submission. Authors are responsible for the accuracy of deposited work. Final version must be free of typographical errors and correct in every detail of style and format.
    
4. Obtain program's approval. Your manuscript or digital project must be approved by your program's Executive Officer (doctoral) or Director (master's) prior to uploading. Any revisions required by your committee or advisor must be completed and approved before submitting materials to the library. Doctoral students do not obtain a separate approval for the library deposit; submit the defense forms as instructed by your program office to fulfill this step. The library will receive confirmation when defense forms are filed. Master's students should be in contact with their program office before submitting anything to the library; the program Director will email confirmation to the library that the student is approved to deposit. The deposit is not considered complete until the program's approval has been verified by the library.
    
5. Upload files. Submit the advisor-approved version of the dissertation, thesis, or capstone project to CUNY Academic Works as a PDF or MS Word document. Doctoral dissertations must also be submitted to ProQuest (see the step-by-step instructions). You will need to create an author account; the library will communicate using the email address you use to create your author account. The Dissertation Office reviews uploaded documents for compliance with the library's format guidelines and either approves the deposit or requests format corrections. Corrections must be completed in order for the submission to be accepted by the library.

Congratulations! Your deposit is complete and has been accepted by the library. Notification that the library deposit has been completed will be sent via email to the graduating student and the Registrar’s office will be notified. After the close of the deposit period (shortly after each deadline), you'll receive an email from the Registrar's Office including diploma information, graduation, alumni privileges, etc.

Does your dissertation/thesis include a significant digital component that the library should archive?

If so, please read the Digital Projects page well in advance of your deposit and consult the library's Digital Project Documentation Guidelines. The library can provide guidance in determining what to submit to the library; please contact the Dissertation Office to set up a consultation.

Library deposit is a degree requirement for all doctoral programs. Some master's programs at the Graduate Center do not require a library deposit in order to complete the degree. See detailed list below; direct questions to your degree program or the Office of the Registrar.