ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines phases through which an institution is likely to pass when adopting electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) in addition to, or in place of, traditional (paper) forms of submission, storage, provision of access to, and distribution of theses and dissertations. Four phases are identified in this process: exploration, experimentation, transition, and institutionalization. Other chapters in this volume address technical aspects of ETDs. Thus, recommendations are not made in this chapter regarding details of ETD submissions, file formats, and the like. Rather this chapter addresses the process of investigation and adoption of ETDs at a university and presents an itinerary of issues that are likely to arise along the way. We hope that this discussion will be useful to those beginning an exploration into ETDs as a possible medium for theses and dissertations.
