Doctoral Students
What You Need to Submit Online to LGS
- Two important documents with signatures:
- A signed Distribution Agreement and Approval Page -- for your committee to affirm that they approve your thesis or dissertation.
- A signed Doctoral Completion Signature Form -- for your program to affirm that you have completed all program degree requirements.
- These signature forms are DocuSign Power Forms. What is that? Read this and find out.
- You will need a completed approval page before you start the completion form.
- An Electronic Theses and Dissertations Repository Submission Agreement (ETD FORM) -- to confirm how your thesis or dissertation will be embargoed in the ETD system;
- The Laney Graduate School ETD form can be found under NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS at the bottom of the page.
- Certificates that show you have completed the PhD Graduate Education Exit Survey and the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) Completion certificates
- The link takes you to the exit survey. When you complete the exit survey, there will be a link to the SED survey. Certificates are available at the end of each survey.
- A Certificate Completion Signature Form (if applicable) -- for a certificate director to affirm that you have completed all requirements for a certificate (if you are completing one).
- This is also a DocuSign Power Form.
Signed Forms should be submitted online, using the LGS Student Action Form. Log on to the form, enter a little information about yourself, and then choose the relevant completion action to submit your items.
Your thesis or dissertation should be submitted through the ETD Repository.
Deadlines
All completion items are expected to be submitted by 11:59 p.m. of the Degree Completion Deadline. If you need an extension to submit your dissertation and forms after the posted deadline, see instructions below.
Guidelines, Checklist and Templates
Read this document, "Submitting Your Thesis or Dissertation." It has a helpful submission checklist and details about each item to be submitted. You will also find templates for items such as the dissertation cover page, the approval sheet, and more.
Electronic Theses and Dissertation Repository
Before you submit your forms and related materials, you need to submit electronically to the Electronic Theses and Dissertations Repository, or ETD. Read more on our Electronic Theses and Dissertations Repository page.
Your ETD record should be submitted online before you turn in your forms and paperwork.
Required Surveys
The Laney Graduate School requires doctoral students to complete two online surveys: the PhD Graduation Education Exit Survey and the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED). Both surveys are confidential and are essential for producing aggregate data that helps Emory and the national higher education community understand how graduate students progress through their programs and view their educational experiences.
- Complete the surveys before you upload your forms to LGS.
- Be sure to upload the required certificates to demonstrate that you have completed the surveys. Each certificate is available at the end of the survey.
Electronic signatures
We accept electronic signatures for all forms associated with degree completion. (Note: the Distribution Agreement and Approval Page are set up to collect all signatures using DocuSign. You will need to collect signatures for the Completion Form and the ETD Form (if applicable).)
Options for electronic signatures:
- Use tools such as Adobe Sign or DocuSign to create an electronic signature. (preferred)
- Signers may insert a digital image of their signature.
- Signers may print and sign a form, then scan and email it to the student.
If you submit an electronic signature and we are uncertain about how to interpret it, we will not simply reject the document but will contact the appropriate faculty member(s) to confirm.
If a faculty member is unable to provide any kind of scanned or electronic signature, they should email Renee Webb at renee.webb@emory.edu with a statement that includes the student’s name and degree program, date of defense, and a short sentence saying that this is their electronic signature approving the dissertation (or approving another form).
Submission Deadline Extension In certain circumstances students may need an extension to submit a dissertation or thesis and associated forms after the posted deadline. These request are reviewed by the Laney Graduate School, and must be for an approved reason: If you seek an extension for another reason, you can explain and the Dean may approve. To request an extension, use the Submission Extension Deadline Signature Form (your advisor, DGS or Director must sign), and submit it using the Student Action Online Form (you will find an option for this action).