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How to Upload your Thesis in ProQuest ETD Administrator: Publication Options

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the ProQuest ETD submission process from start to finish. It will also provide information on your the different publication options available via ProQuest.

So many choices!

ProQuest ETD Administrator offers you several different publication options when you submit your work. It is important to choose the options that are best for you and the future of your research career. Each individual's needs will be different and it is up to the individual to inform himself or herself of the options available and to choose the options that best suit his or her needs. It is also important that you discuss your options with your thesis advisor and ask for clarification if any aspect of the submission process is unclear. Our librarians can help you learn more about the intricacies of traditional publishing, open access publishing, creative commons licensing, and copyright. However, it is important that you consult with individuals who know your specific discipline and its respective publishing norms. 

Below is a grid of some of the options you will be able to choose with information about each one. 

Options Grid

Publication Options Copyright Reach of Scholarship Future Publication Considerations Cost
Traditional Publishing
author holds copyright, eligible to receive royalty payments 
ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, iParadigms, and Dissertation Express, citation/abstract may appear in some indexes
Most publishers do not consider submission to ETD a publication on par with publication in a peer-reviewed academic journal. However, since ProQuest ETD does assign an ISBN number to submitted theses, it can technically be considered a publication. 
free
Open Access Publishing
author holds copyright, but allows the open and free publication of their work, forfeiting royalty payments in favor of scholarly access (Work can be obtained and distributed by anyone without prior notification of the author.) 
ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, iParadigms, and Dissertation Express, citation/abstract may appear in some indexes, work may be indexed and redistributed in other ways  Your work is now publicly accessible. Publishers may not be willing to publish your work if you have previously published under an open access model. You may receive more citations and references to your work, as well as greater discoverability. This also means that anyone can use your data freely.  $95.00
Registration of Work with U.S. Copyright Office
author holds copyright, is eligible to receive royalty payments, and is better able to enforce infringement of copyright
Registration does not affect reach of article. 
Same as above. The additional license allows the author to pursue litigation more easily in the case of copyright infringement. 
$35.00-$65.00
Allow Search Engines to Discover Work author holds copyright based on terms decided in publication agreement Your work may be discoverable in search engines like Google, Yahoo, and others. If you have not opted for Open Access, the full text of your work will only be available through the databases listed above. Most search engines will list the title, author, and, possibly, the abstract.  Work indexed in search engines may be more discoverable. If your work is embargoed, it will not be discoverable.  free
Embargo Period
author holds copyright and publication in ETD is delayed by preference of copyright holder 
Your thesis is inaccessible during the embargo period. The index and abstract may be available during this time. 
You will be able to publish during the embargo period without dispute since your ETD submission cannot be distributed by ProQuest until the embargo period has ended.  free
Creative Commons
author holds copyright, but authorizes certain creative uses of their work
Accessibility is determined by the options selected above. Iterations of the work may be available elsewhere under a use allowed by the creative commons license.  This is dependent on the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Liscence. free
ORCID
ORCID links your work to a persistent number instead of your name, allowing for optimal association of published works with your identity. This ensures consistent association with one's identity in the event of name changes, abbreviations, or variations.  
Choosing to associate your work with an ORCID ID does not expand the reach of article in databases. It may aid in the discoverability of your work. 
Allows publishers and databases to more effectively and efficiently link your research to your identity. 
free
 

 

Is submission to ETD considered a "prior publication"? Why does this matter?

Most publishers do not consider uploading a thesis to ProQuest ETD a prior publication of your work. However, ProQuest ETD does assign an ISBN number to your thesis, so, technically, it is a published work. Some academic journals will consider this a previous publication. Submitting your work to ProQuest ETD is not the same as submitting your work to an academic journal, undergoing the process of peer review, and publishing in that journal, but it does allow your work to be accessible. If you do not want to make your work immediately accessible, you have the option of embargoing your work for a set or indefinite time period. It is strongly encouraged that you speak with your thesis advisor to determine whether submission to ProQuest ETD will affect future publication opportunities for this work and its related research.

Most academic journals have a policy on prior publication. Most academic journals will only consider works for publication if they have not been previously published and are not being considered for publication. Exceptions may be made for works presented at conferences, theses submitted to institutional repositories, and other non-traditional publishing venues on a case-by-case basis. There is often an exception for materials published in ProQuest ETD, but this is at the discretion of the publisher to which you are submitting your work. 

What is Open Access?

Open Access is very similar to its name. It means your work is openly accessible. When you publish under Open Access, your work is available for download and dissemination free of charge. 

Benefits of open access publication include:

  • increasing the availability of  scholarship, regardless of one's ability to afford access to a database or journal
  • the possibility of having your work more frequently cited since it is freely available
  • contributing to the amount of high-quality open access materials available to current scholars

Cons of open access publication include: 

  • forfeiting your right to receive royalty payments for your work
  • potential loss of control over the reliability of your work and the appropriate citation of your work (Open Access publications can be downloaded and distributed without restriction.) 
  • an inability to publish your work and/or research later due to prior publication stipulations

 

What happens if I register my work with the U.S. Copyright Office?

When you register your work with the U.S. Copyright Office, you acknowledge that you are the sole creator of you work and that others do not have a claim on your work as co-creators or co-authors. In order to register your work under your name with the U.S. Copyright office, you must verify this information during the submission process. 

As the sole creator of your work, you retain copyright until you negotiate otherwise, regardless of whether you register your work or not. Should you choose to register your work with the U.S. Copyright Office, you have strong evidence that you are the author of your work and are able to enforce any claims of copyright infringement. ProQuest ETD offers the option of registering your work for you, in your name for $65.00. You can also register with the U.S. Copyright Office directly for a fee of $35.00.