Answered By: Emily Pearson
Last Updated: Mar 23, 2022     Views: 235

Theses are due prior to the final examination period in the student’s last semester (except when the student may be required to comply with departmental regulations for earlier filing). Changes and/or exceptions in requirements or deadlines must be approved by the Board of Review.

Students are required to submit a digital version of their work to the Library. On the digital submission form students must elect one of the following options: 

  1. Worldwide distribution via the Internet, or

  2. Local distribution only to authorized users of Whitman’s network (current faculty, staff, and students), or

  3. Opt-out and not available to anyone (but still deposited). This is intended for cases where the topic or the treatment of the topic are sensitive or should not be shared

If you elect to have worldwide distribution of your thesis, you can choose to print your thesis to be bound and shelved in the Allen Reading Room. Students who have chosen to have a printed copy after they have chosen worldwide distribution should note the following guidelines:

Submit it unbound to Kathleen Hutchison in the College Librarian’s office, Penrose Library, room 213. This copy will be added to the Library’s circulating collection and be made available for circulation to other libraries through interlibrary loan. The library will print a second copy from your digital submission to be deposited in the Whitman College Archives. Be sure that your final printed thesis conforms to the formatting guidelines, paying particular attention to the Title Page and the need for signed Certificates of Approval.

Printer locations

Theses may be printed on the designated thesis printer at the WCTS-staffed Technology Support Desk in the Library. Following the changes made to printing in Spring 2019, you will only need additional funding if you are printing over 20 pages in color. The request may be made by emailing goprint@whitman.edu with the name of the thesis advisor and the academic department for which the thesis is being written. Color printing is charged at the rate of $0.50 per single-sided page.

How to Print:

Print one-sided, not two-sided “duplexed” on a laser printer

Paper:

Unless prior approval is obtained by the academic department, the thesis must be 8½ × 11 inches in size. Library copies must be printed on a minimum of 20-lb weight paper that has a minimum 25% cotton content. Penrose Library will provide free, archival quality paper for seniors submitting theses. Paper will be available approximately one week before the deadline and stocked in the thesis printer on the main floor of the library. Check with a librarian or the WCTS Help Desk in the library if you will be submitting early.

Ink Color:

Text must be in black ink. The print copy may contain color charts, graphs, etc. only if the graphics are preceded by a blank sheet and they are printed on a color laser printer.

Personal Bound Copies:

Students desiring to have personal copies of theses bound at their expense can order copies for $18 each, including tax and shipping.There is no limit to the number of personal copies you may order. Provide one complete copy of your thesis for every personal bound copy ordered.

To order bound copies, please fill out the online order form.

Payment can be made by charge to your student account or by check (made out to “Penrose Library, Whitman College”). Checks can be turned in to Kathleen Hutchison. Personal copies may be printed on any printer, without special paper requirement.