Dear all,

There is an ongoing discussion at the Graduate Council level regarding  
Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) and an embargo policy for  
ETDs. Embargo policy means that it would be possible to allow the  
dissertation to be unavailable in electronic form for users outside  
Mason for a period of time (one year, many years, or even  
indefinitely). Some units argue that an embargo is needed to protect  
copyrights on art creations (a composition or a choreography) or  
publishing rights (some journals in some disciplines consider that  
only publication precludes further publication in archival journals).

The counter argument is that it is important, for academic integrity  
and quality control reasons, to allow ETDs to be accessible to all.

At any rate, this is a controversial issue. I encourage you to attend  
the forum described bellow.

Danny

**********************************************************************************************
Dr. Daniel A. Menasce
Senior Associate Dean and Professor of Computer Science
Volgenau School of Engineering,
Long and Kimmy Nguyen Engineering Building, Room 2510, MS 5C8
George Mason University
4400 University Dr.,
Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
www.cs.gmu.edu/faculty/menasce.html

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Hermione Pickett <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: January 18, 2012 9:16:09 AM EST
> To: Ellen Rodgers <[log in to unmask]>, David K Wiggins <[log in to unmask] 
> >, Victoria Salmon <[log in to unmask]>, [log in to unmask], Matthew  
> Zingraff <[log in to unmask]>, Michelle Marks <[log in to unmask]>, Carl  
> Botan <[log in to unmask]>, Sandra Cheldelin <[log in to unmask]>, Thys  
> van Schaik <[log in to unmask]>, Timothy Born <[log in to unmask]>, [log in to unmask] 
> , "'Daniel A. Menasce'" <[log in to unmask]>, "Gerald A. Hanweck" <[log in to unmask] 
> >, Susan Turriziani <[log in to unmask]>, Lisa Nolder  
> <[log in to unmask]>, jbowen4 <[log in to unmask]>, Assad Khan <[log in to unmask] 
> >, Amanda Baer <[log in to unmask]>, Julia Alsufy <[log in to unmask]>,  
> Laura Harrison <[log in to unmask]>, Kristin Bonifer  
> <[log in to unmask]>, [log in to unmask], Elizabeth Eck <[log in to unmask]>, [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Fwd: ETD Forum Flyer
>
> Good Morning Council Members,
>
> Please see the message from Amy Gillies below and the attached  
> document regarding the ETD Forum.
>
> Graduate Council Members,
>
> Attached is a flyer regarding the upcoming ETD Forum being held
> Thursday, January 26 at 6:00 pm. I would like to request your help in
> distributing this to your departments and, if applicable and relevant,
> any graduate student list servs you may have.
>
> Please let me know if you have any questions.
>
> Thank you,
> Amy
> -- 
> Amy Gillies
> Graduate Programs Coordinator
> Office of the Provost
> Phone: 703.993.8773
> Fax: 703.993.8871
>
>