FPO Checklist

Revised March 2020

Timeline to FPO

More than two months before:

• Review the Mudd Library Dissertation Format Requirements;
• Submit final chapters to your adviser(s) for review 
• Confirm your principal readers and nonreaders (examiners) and that your committee meets Graduate School and departmental requirements;
• Confirm FPO date and location (see note below)*

At least six weeks before:

• Distribute final draft of your dissertation (and readers report) to readers and copy ngotsis@cs.princeton.edu on the email;
• Incorporate suggested edits into dissertation.

More than three weeks before:

• Submit a final copy of thesis to the department;
• Complete advanced degree application through TigerHub.

For an application to be considered complete, the following materials must be included:

Materials submitted by the student

• A copy of the title page, correctly formatted (sample title page);
• A copy of the abstract, 350 words or less;
• Ph.D. Dissertation Embargo Request and Approval form (if applicable).
• Checkout for Students Departing the University Form

Materials submitted by the department

• Request to hold final public oral;
• Prior Presentation and Publication form reviewed and approved by adviser(s);
• Reader reports completed by principal readers of the dissertation;
• A CV of any external examiner or reader. Committee membership from someone outside the University must be approved by the Graduate School prior to completion of the advanced degree application.

Three days before:

• Confirm that your FPO announcement has been posted 

Day of FPO:

• Defend!
• Confirm that the FPO examination report has the signature of FPO chair or DGS.

The following items are due in Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library* normally immediately after the successful completion of the FPO examination, but in no case later than two weeks after the defense:

• Final Public Oral Exam Report signed by chair of FPO Committee or DGS (1 original plus 1 copy);
• One bound copy of the dissertation;
• Print-out of confirmation e-mail from submission of dissertation to ProQuest/UMD ETD;
• Payment of publishing and copyright fees, if applicable (the Graduate School requires traditional or open access publication and does not allow publication restrictions);
• If an embargo was requested, a copy of the Graduate School's embargo approval.

*Note: During the Mudd Library closure(link is external), dissertation submissions will be accepted at the Special Collections Suite on C floor in Firestone Library between March 1, 2020 and February 1, 2021. Students will need to visit the Access Office(link is external) in the main lobby and present a photo ID to gain access to the Special Collections Suite. Questions can be directed to mudd@princeton.edu(link sends e-mail), or call (609)258-6345.

The three documents below must be submitted in hard copy to the Graduate School, Academic Affairs, 111 Clio Hall, normally immediately after the successful completion of final public oral exam, but in no case later than two weePasteks after the successful defense:

• Final Public Oral Exam Report in hard copy, signed by Chair of FPO Committee or DGS and Mudd librarian;
• Survey of Earned Doctorates(link is external) (hard copy of the "Certificate of Completion" page of the SED);
• Exit Survey(link is external) (hard copy of "Confirmation of Completion" page must be submitted);
• Go to TigerHub and complete your end of enrollment via "Student Status Change" option

All documents must be received by the degree deadline.

Reminders:

1. See Nicki Gotsis as soon as you have a target FPO date in mind. 
2. Date on title page is month/year of graduation, not FPO date.
3. Remember to acknowledge your funding in your thesis. See adviser for official grant numbers.
4. Read the formatting and binding guidelines carefully. See this page for formal requirements.