Graduation instructions

After reaching candidacy and passing your ORP, you need to finalize your research and write your dissertation. The semester you intend to graduate you need to:

Have a draft of your dissertation informally approved by your committee (verbal appro val from the committee chair)

• When writing your dissertation, follow the ETD formatting instructions.
  

• The ap plication is done online and must be done before the deadline (See Graduate Handbook). 
  
• If you do not defend that semester the graduation request will be forwarded to the following semester. 

• Contact your committee members to schedule a date and time when they are all available. All members must be present in person or online on the day of the defense. 
  
• Contact Kevin Dixon to book a room. A defense typically lasts between 2 to 3 hours. 
• Sub m it t he  Dissertation Defense Date Declaration Form (DDDF) .
  
• It must be submitted two weeks before the scheduled defense. 
• Email the form to  Fabien.Goulay@mail.wvu.edu .
  

• Kevin Dixon will automatically submit the e vent once you submit your DDDF. Make sure the title of your dissertation is readable on the DDDF. Zoom links should be shared at the same time as the DDDF.
  

• The defense is open to the public (including family and friends).
  
• The defense is expected to last 40 to 50 min. 
  
• After the defense, the chair of your research committee may invite the public to ask questions. 
  
• The committee members will ask additional questions in a closed section. 
  
• After deliberation, the committee chair will fill out the  Dissertation Defense Form Results Form (TDDF). Work with your advisor to make sure the form is available during the defense. 
  

• Revise your dissertatio n based on the feedback from your committee. 
  
• Obtained formal app roval of your dissertation by all committee members.  You must arrange to have the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Committee Signature Form signed by all your committee members. 

• Follow the instructions.
• Feel out the  WVU Libraries ETD Committee Signature Form.
• Sent the ETD confirmation t o  Fabien.Goulay@mail.wvu.edu.