Spring 2009 Graduate Calendar


PhD DISSERTATION

A dissertation embodying the results of an original investigation in the field of specialization is required of all candidates for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Before beginning the dissertation, the candidate should submit a prospectus, outlining the problem proposed. Copies of this prospectus should be filed with the doctoral committee not later than four weeks after the student is admitted to candidacy.

The regulations of individual programs should be consulted for details of their dissertation procedures. The general format is prescribed in the Guidelines for Major Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, which may be obtained from the Administrative Officer in the Office of Graduate Studies or from www.uwindsor.ca/grad. Within the dissertation, the student should use formats approved for scholarly publication in the field of specialization and approved by the program coordinator. Final checking of the general format of the dissertation is the responsibility of the Office of Graduate Studies , but the student should consult the doctoral committee for instructions as to the internal form of the dissertation.

Copies of a Ph.D. dissertation are to be provided to all members of the doctoral committee and two copies to the Office of Graduate Studies , including one copy to be transmitted to the external examiner, at least four weeks before the expected date of defense. Before the dissertation is forwarded to the external examiner, it must be approved by the majority of the doctoral committee. No changes may be made to the composition of the doctoral committee between these deadline dates and the defense except under the most extraordinary circumstances and with approval of the Executive Committee of Graduate Studies . The oral presentation should be completed at least three weeks prior to the Convocation for which the candidate has applied to receive the degree. A public notice of defense must be received in the Office of Graduate Studies and posted in the academic unit at least eight days in advance of the oral presentation.

A doctoral committee shall notify the Office of Graduate Studies whether, in its view, notice of defense is to be posted, but the decision to proceed shall be contingent upon the report of the external examiner to the Dean of Graduate Studies .

The candidate will present the dissertation at a public defense. The Chair of a Ph.D. defense will be the Dean of Graduate Studies or designate, such as the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies , Dean of a Faculty or senior member of graduate faculty from outside the program, to be named by the Dean of Graduate Studies at the time the defense is publicly announced. The chair is non-voting. Questions will be permitted from the general audience at the discretion of the chair. The general audience may remain until the defense is completed and the committee begins its deliberations on the outcome. These deliberations are held in camera.

The minimum basis for acceptance of a Ph.D. dissertation shall be positive unanimity less one vote providing the dissenting vote is not by an external examiner who is present at the defense, and the chair of the defense determines that the examination by the external examiner has been fair to the candidate. Unless an examining committee is unanimously negative, a candidate may resubmit the dissertation once, after a minimum period of three months and before a maximum period of twelve months. The second decision shall be final.

Copies of the corrected dissertation must be deposited with the Administrative Officer in the Office of Graduate Studies at least two weeks prior to Convocation.

The title page of the dissertation, or a separate page immediately following the title page, must bear the Universal Copyright Convention symbol ©, the full name of the author, and the year the doctoral degree was granted. Arrangements for binding the dissertation and payment of fees connected with binding and microfilming should be made with the Administrative Officer. The Office of Graduate Studies will transmit a copy of the dissertation to the National Library, accompanied by a "Theses Non-Exclusive License", supplied by the Office and validated by the candidate, which authorizes the National Library to produce single copies, in response to a formal request from an individual, a research institute, or a library.

If approved, the physical dissertation becomes the property of the University. Two copies, the original (after return from the National Library) and one other, will be filed in the Leddy Library, and a third copy in the academic unit.

Occasionally, it is necessary to withhold the dissertation from public circulation, especially where the student's interests (e.g., patent rights) would be jeopardized by publication. In such cases, a thesis may be held from the public domain, i.e., the Leddy Library and the National Library of Canada. Such delay in circulation may be requested for six months without cause being given, and an additional period of six months with good cause. Forms for withholding a thesis are available from the Office of Graduate Studies .