[GradFacultyStaff] UPDATE: Important 518/718 Student information

Vicky Turner Vicky.Turner at etamu.edu
Wed Sep 10 12:14:36 CDT 2025 

Dear Graduate Faculty,

The Graduate School/TDS recently sent the following information to students enrolled in a 518 or 718 course.  Please share this email with students who may not be enrolled in a 518 or 718 course, but would benefit from this information.

For information about the dissertation or thesis process, both proposal and final, and for related forms and resources, please visit the TDS/Dissertation<https://inside.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/Thesis%20and%20Dissertation%20Services/dissertations.aspx> web page (www.etamu.edu/dissertation<http://www.etamu.edu/dissertation>) or the TDS/Thesis<https://inside.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/Thesis%20and%20Dissertation%20Services/theses.aspx> web page (www.etamu.edu/thesis<http://www.etamu.edu/thesis>).

Please make note of the summary of important deadlines below. NOTE: Deadlines that say "Last day for Graduate School to receive" require that the document make it to the Graduate School queue by the deadline. This means that the form must be submitted by the student and have routed through all required approvals in order to be received by the Grad School. Please allow adequate time for approval when submitting this document.

Dissertation

Dissertation Proposal

  *   Review items 1-3 on the TDS/Dissertation<https://inside.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/Thesis%20and%20Dissertation%20Services/dissertations.aspx> web page (www.etamu.edu/dissertation<http://www.etamu.edu/dissertation>) for important information related to the dissertation proposal process and for links to related forms.
  *   The Schedule Form for Proposal Defense is due the 20th of the month prior to the proposal defense date. Please use the link to the digital form, Schedule Form for Proposal Defense, under item 2 on the TDS/Dissertation<https://inside.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/Thesis%20and%20Dissertation%20Services/dissertations.aspx> web page, and upload a current copy of your proposal document when you submit the completed form.
  *   To receive Fall 2025 approval of your proposal document, complete proposal submission packets must be received by TDS no later than the end of the day, Wednesday, November 26, 2025. Please use the link to the digital form, Dissertation Proposal Submission Form, under item 3 on the TDS/Dissertation<https://inside.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/Thesis%20and%20Dissertation%20Services/dissertations.aspx> web page for submissions.
  *   Documents required to be included with the proposal submission form are as follows:
     *   Dissertation proposal document (in Word format)
     *   IRB/IBC/IACUC approval letter, as applicable (your advisor will provide you a copy, if needed)
     *   Current iThenticate report (note that the cumulative percentage of similarity cannot be more than 12%). Your advisor will provide you with a copy for submission.
     *   CITI training reports (RCR, plus additional as required by the Office of Sponsored Programs)


Data collection may begin once you have completed the required research compliance training and, as applicable, receipt of research committee approval of your study. Graduate School/TDS approval of your proposal document is not required to begin data collection. Please note your research committee approval letter (e.g., IRB approval letter) is not the same as Graduate School approval.

Final Dissertation

  *   You must have proposal approval a minimum of 1 semester prior to submitting your final dissertation.
  *   Review items 4-6 on the TDS/Dissertation<https://inside.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/Thesis%20and%20Dissertation%20Services/dissertations.aspx> web page (www.etamu.edu/dissertation<http://www.etamu.edu/dissertation>) for important information about the final dissertation process and for links to related forms.
  *   If you intend to graduate Fall 2025, you must defend your final dissertation no later than Friday, October 24, 2025. The deadline to submit the Final Defense Schedule Form for a October defense is September 20, 2025. If you miss this deadline, you will have to wait for the spring or summer semester to graduate.
  *   Complete final dissertation submissions must be received by TDS no later than the end of the day, Friday, November 7, 2025. Please use the link to the digital form, Final Dissertation Submission Form, under item 5 on the TDS/Dissertation<https://inside.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/Thesis%20and%20Dissertation%20Services/dissertations.aspx> web page for submissions.
  *   Documents required to be included with the submission form are as follows:
     *   Final dissertation document (in Word format)
     *   Current iThenticate report (note that the cumulative percentage of similarity cannot be more than 12%). Your advisor will provide you with a copy for submission.
     *   Dissertation Information Sheet (sent to you in an informational email from Dayla Burgin after you have scheduled your final defense)
     *   Survey of Earned Doctorates Certificate (for PhD students only; sent to you in an informational email from Dayla Burgin after you have scheduled your final defense)


Please continue to be aware that, for doctoral students, grades of U now impact academic standing, including U's earned in 718.

Rough Draft Writing Retreat: Please see the attached flyer regarding this fall semester's Rough Draft Writing Retreat schedule.  The Rough Draft Writing Retreat is an opportunity for doctoral students who have passed their comprehensive exams and are working on their dissertation to engage in three intensive writing sessions.

Thesis

Thesis Proposal

  *   Review items 1-3 on the TDS/Thesis<https://inside.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/Thesis%20and%20Dissertation%20Services/theses.aspx> web page (www.etamu.edu/thesis<http://www.etamu.edu/thesis>) for important information related to the thesis proposal process and for links to related forms.
  *   To receive Fall 2025 approval of your proposal document, complete proposal submission packets must be received by TDS no later than the end of the day, Wednesday, November 26, 2025. Please use the digital form, Thesis Proposal Submission Form, under item 3 on the TDS/Thesis web page for submissions.
  *   Documents required to be included with the proposal submission form are as follows:
     *   Thesis proposal document (in Word format or PDF if using LaTex)
     *   IRB/IBC/IACUC approval letter, as applicable (your advisor will provide you a copy if needed)
     *   Current iThenticate report (note that the cumulative percentage of similarity cannot be more than 12%). Your advisor will provide you a copy for submission.
     *   CITI training reports (RCR, plus additional as required by Research Compliance)


Data collection may begin once you have completed the required research compliance training and, as applicable, receipt of research committee approval of your study. Graduate School/TDS approval of your proposal document is not required to begin data collection. Please note your research committee approval letter (e.g., IRB approval letter) is not the same as Graduate School approval.

Final Thesis

  *   You must have proposal approval a minimum of 1 semester prior to submitting your final thesis.
  *   Review items 4-6 on the TDS/Thesis<https://inside.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/Thesis%20and%20Dissertation%20Services/theses.aspx> web page (www.etamu.edu/thesis<http://www.etamu.edu/thesis>) for important information about the final thesis process and for links to related forms.
  *   If you intend to graduate Fall 2025, you must submit t to TDS the digital form Notification Form for the Final Thesis Defense no less than 7 days prior to the date of your final thesis defense. Please use the link to the digital form under item 4 on the TDS/Thesis<https://inside.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/Thesis%20and%20Dissertation%20Services/theses.aspx> web page. Please note that if this form is not submitted, the final thesis submission form will not populate correctly.
  *   Complete final thesis submissions must be received by TDS no later than the end of the day, Friday, November 7, 2025. Please use the link to the digital form, Final Thesis Submission Form, under item 5 on the TDS/Thesis<https://inside.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/Thesis%20and%20Dissertation%20Services/theses.aspx> web page for submissions.
  *   Documents required to be included with the submission form are as follows:
     *   Final thesis document (in Word format or PDF if using LaTex)
     *   Current iThenticate report (note that the cumulative percentage of similarity cannot be more than 12%). Your advisor will provide you a copy for submission.

You must complete at least 6 hours of 518 to fulfill the thesis requirements of your degree.


TDS Resources: Below are links to the resources and important information you will need during the thesis/proposal process:

*       Dissertation Process short link: www.etamu.edu/dissertation<http://www.etamu.edu/dissertation>

*       Thesis Process short link:  www.etamu.edu/thesis<http://www.etamu.edu/thesis>

*       Graduate School Templates and Guides, found at TDS/Resources for Writing<http://www.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/Thesis%20and%20Dissertation%20Services/ResourcesforWriting.aspx>.  Here you will find,

o   the standard thesis/dissertation template, LaTex template, and Biology template

o   the Thesis and Dissertation Formatting Guide<https://inside.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/documents/thesis--dissertation-services/Thesis%20and%20Dissertation%20Formatting%20Guide.pdf>

o   the Thesis and Dissertation Submission Guide<https://inside.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/documents/thesis--dissertation-services/Thesis%20and%20Dissertation%20Submission%20Guide.pdf>

o   the Biology Thesis template and the Biology Thesis Guidelines<https://inside.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/documents/thesis--dissertation-services/Biology%20thesis%20guidelines.pdf>

*       Commonly Used Style Guides, found at TDS/Resources for Writing<https://inside.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/Thesis%20and%20Dissertation%20Services/ResourcesforWriting.aspx>

*       Zoom and YouTube Presentations<https://inside.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/Thesis%20and%20Dissertation%20Services/zoom-presentations.aspx>

*       TDS Submission deadlines<http://www.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/Thesis%20and%20Dissertation%20Services/deadlines-for-submission.aspx>

*       Graduate Forms and Guidelines page<http://www.tamuc.edu/academics/graduateSchool/graduateForms.aspx>

*       Research Compliance<http://www.tamuc.edu/research/compliance/default.aspx>

  *   Zoom Etiquette<https://blog.zoom.us/video-meeting-etiquette-tips/>

If you have any questions or concerns, or if you encounter issues at any point during the dissertation or thesis process, please feel free to contact TDS, Karin Thomas, at TDS at etamu.edu<mailto:TDS at etamu.edu>.

Sincerely,

Karin Thomas

Thesis & Dissertation Specialist

Graduate School

P: 903.886.5968



Mail: P.O. Box 3011, Commerce, TX 75429

Ship: 2600 S Neal Street, Commerce, TX 75428



[TAMUC logo]<https://www.tamuc.edu/>


Note: Deadlines that say "Last day TDS will accept" require that the document make it to the Graduate School/TDS queue by the deadline. This means that the form must be submitted by the student and have routed through all required approvals in order to be received by TDS. Please allow adequate time for approval when submitting this document.

Fall 2025
Friday, October 24, 2025 - The last day to defend a final dissertation for Fall 2025 graduation
Friday, November 7, 2025 - The last day TDS will accept final dissertation/thesis submissions for Fall 2025 graduation
Wednesday, November 26, 2025 - The last day TDS will accept proposal (both dissertation and thesis) submissions for Fall 2025 approval

Spring 2026
Friday, March 27, 2026 - The last day to defend a final dissertation for Spring 2026 graduation
Friday, April 3, 2026 - The last day TDS will accept final dissertation/thesis submissions for Spring 2026 graduation
Friday, April 24, 2026 - The last day TDS will accept proposal (both dissertation and thesis) submissions for Spring 2026 approval

* Schedule forms for dissertation defenses (proposal and final) are due in the Graduate School the 20th of the month prior to the defense date (if the 20th of the month falls on a weekend or university holiday, the deadline is the working day prior to the 20th).
** The Notification Form for the Final Thesis Defense is due with TDS at least 7 days prior to the scheduled defense date.


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