We have created a handy checklist for students to use before submitting their dissertation to ProQuest. More information on each item in the list can be found throughout this LibGuide. In order to use it, simply go to the link, click File → Make a copy... and begin editing your personal copy.
You will have the option to apply a Creative Commons license to your work. As the copyright holder, you can reserve all rights (users can use your work for individual study and research and can reuse fair use portions of the work). Creative Commons licenses allow you to define broader reuse rights in advance without requiring users to ask for permission.
You may decline the Creative Commons option or choose to apply one of six Creative Commons licenses. The licenses grant different levels of reuse rights and can be viewed in advance on the Creative Commons website in order to make your decision. There is no fee to use these licenses.
For more information about Creative Commons, see Frequently Asked Questions.
An embargo delays the online availability of the full text of an ETD. Embargoes are typically requested when:
Some graduate schools at Boston College have adopted policies that limit acceptable embargo periods. Currently the following schools have embargo policies: GSAS, LSOE, BCSSW, CSON. Check with your school about their embargo policy.
Note: During your submission, you must request an embargo separately for the ProQuest copy and the eScholarship@BC copy. If you would like an embargo on the ProQuest copy, please request delayed release during the ProQuest submission under "PQ publishing options." If you would like an embargo on the eScholarship@BC copy, please request this under "IR publishing options." Both ProQuest and eScholarship@BC will display the full text of your ETD only after the embargo period has expired.
For further questions about eScholoarship@BC and embargoes, see Frequently Asked Questions.
Allowing search engine access simply allows other scholars to discover that your ETD is in the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Full Text database. Members of the public will be able to see the title, your name, and some descriptive information including the abstract (collectively called the "metadata" about your ETD). They will not be able to read the full text of the work if it is under embargo.
Search engine access to the metadata will be available through eScholarship.
When providing your contact information to ProQuest, you will have to add an ORCID identifier.
ORCID (Open Researcher & Contributor ID) is an open, non-profit, community-driven effort to create and maintain a registry of unique researcher identifiers and a transparent method of linking research activities and outputs to these identifiers. ORCIDs distinguish individuals with common names, and are not affected by name changes, cultural differences in name order, inconsistent abbreviations, or the use of different alphabets.
We recommend that you create an ORCID before submitting your ETD by going to the ORCID at BC page. This site allows you to register for an ORCID ID and connect it to your BC ID number. Your ORCID will be persistent throughout your academic career and will allow you to aggregate your work into one visible profile (much like a CV).
When you include an ORCID with your author information on your ProQuest account, that identifier will appear in the record for your ETD, displayed both in ProQuest and eScholarship@BC.
For more information, please refer to the Libraries' ORCID guide.
Registering your copyright is optional. Doing so will allow you to bring suit if your copyright is infringed. ProQuest will register your copyright for a fee ($55), or you can do it yourself by completing the registration process described on the United States Copyright Office website and paying a fee of $35.
