Restricted Use of Thesis Request
On rare occasions, and to protect potential copyrights or patents, thesis accessibility can be restricted on a short-term basis.
The University Library will restrict the use of a thesis if the author and the chair of the thesis committee request such
action and the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate Division approves. The purpose of the restriction is to
protect the author's right to publish or otherwise exploit the new knowledge before making it available to others.
To designate restricted use of a thesis, the author and the thesis committee chair should send a memorandum requesting
restricted use to the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate Division. If approved, the request is sent to
the archival librarian, who in turn will withhold from use all copies of the restricted thesis when they are received in
the University Library.
The author's memorandum to the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate Division
requesting restricted use of a thesis should state:
- the reason for the request,
- the period of restriction (up to one year); and
- the author's address and telephone number. This information will be used by the University Library's archival librarian in requesting permission for a reader to consult, borrow, or copy the thesis during the period of restriction.
Authors may request a renewal of the restriction period for a second year by sending a memorandum to the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate Division specifying the reason for the renewal.
