Official Editing & Proofreading of Dissertations
The Center for Writing and Academic Success provides students an internal editor to ensure that all dissertations meet APA and Saybrook standards for format and style. All students are required to formally request an editor from the Center once they have successfully defended their dissertation and obtained approval for submission. To begin the process, all edits by the committee and dissertation chair must be implemented. The style guides, ALL9000 course enrollment, cost, submission, and timeline are described below.
Style Guides
The two style guides used in the finalization process are (1) the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2019) 7th Edition, available for purchase from outside vendors and (2) the Saybrook Handbook of Format and Style (2020), 6th Edition.
ALL9000 Course Enrollment
Students not actively enrolled in other courses will be automatically enrolled in ALL9000 to complete the dissertation finalization process. Students will be re-enrolled in the course until the finalization process is complete. Questions about course enrollment can be sent to [email protected].
Cost
The cost for dissertation finalization is covered by student fees and tuition. In cases where the student is required to enroll in ALL9000, relevant fees for course enrollment will apply.
Submission
For instructions on submitting your defended dissertation and beginning the finalization process, contact the Center for Writing and Academic Success: [email protected].
Once you have completed the process with the dissertation editor, the Director of the Center will sign off on the document pending submission of approval forms with document to the registrar. Approval forms and documents will only be accepted by the Registrar directly from the assigned editor, NOT the student or a member of their committee.
TimeLine
Students should allow sufficient time for the completion of the finalization process in order to meet the graduation deadline. Editors are ordinarily expected to provide their first draft of edits in no more than two weeks' time (preferably less), unless a special arrangement has been made with the student. For students in rare and extreme circumstances, a special exemption can be made for allowing an outside editor at student's cost and arrangement, provided that the editor is on the approved list of editors for reviewing and finalizing Saybrook dissertations. For a list of approved outside editors, contact CWAS Director Peter Fontaine at [email protected].