Archiving Digital Projects

Here at George Mason University, we have required formatting guidelines for the PDF document submitted to ProQuest and to the University Libraries. These requirements are outlined at http://library.gmu.edu/udts.

For projects where the core substance of the dissertation cannot be housed in a PDF, it is possible to submit the dissertation as multiple files. In accordance with the Mason guidelines, students are required to submit a properly formatted PDF with (at least) the following elements:

• Signature Sheet (REQUIRED)

• Title Page (REQUIRED)

• Copyright Page (optional)

• Dedication Page (optional)

• Acknowledgements Page (optional)

• Table of Contents Page (lists elements included in PDF) (REQUIRED)

• List of Tables (if tables presented in Body)

• List of Figures (if figures presented in Body)

• List of Abbreviations and/or Symbols (if used)

• Abstract (REQUIRED)

The “Body” of the PDF can contain additional text elements for the project, such as any framing or introductory text, an abstract or description of the core digital elements, or a process statement. In addition, the bibliography can be included in the “Body” of the PDF document. This document should also contain links to the URIs for the archived and live digital elements of the site.

However, the main digital content of a dissertation project can be submitted separately from the “official” PDF, following the guidelines above. In this way, the integrity of the digital work is preserved while meeting the official dissertation requirements for the university.

There are a couple options on how the digital project files can be submitted.

The first option is to archive the digital components of dissertation projects in the Mason Archival Repository Service (http://mars.gmu.edu) separately from the dissertation PDF. This would involve scheduling a meeting with Mason Publishing (http://publishing.gmu.edu) to upload the files as their own record or records.

The second option is to submit all of the files at one time by delivering the files to the UDTS Coordinator with the formatted PDF and uploading them through ProQuest Administrator.

The advantage of uploading separately is that the archive files for the digital components will then have their own stable URI and DOI, which can be used as the links in the dissertation PDF to connect the various archived elements of the dissertation.