2008 Woodie Awards
Provost reassures grad students on theses
Brian Stewart - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 3/24/08 Section: Metro
UI graduate students' theses should now be safe from online publication and availability on search engines such as Google.
"Let me say as simply and clearly as I can, there is no such plan nor will there be," UI interim Provost Lola Lopes said in a statement. "I regret sincerely that we did not convey this message when students and faculty first voiced their concerns."
The controversy stems from the wording of a recently added open-access policy that seemingly turned over first-publication rights of graduate students' creative works to the UI Libraries.
Graduate students are required to submit the signed form when first submitting their theses to the Graduate College.
A new form will be available for students upon returning to campus, though officials didn't return calls seeking comment on the alterations.
Nonfiction graduate student Nick Kowalczyk and other graduate students had originally planned to reword the policy to more clearly ensure they retain publication rights.
Kowalczyk said he hopes the new form will offer some form of exemption to the policy, so students have the option to turn over online publication rights.
He added he's been in contact with Lopes and is pleased with her comments.
"She proved she's really listened to what the M.F.A. students and the faculty have had to say," he said. "A lot of people who have been in town and have met with her are pretty much resting easy."
Lopes has been meeting with representatives from the Graduate College, UI Libraries, and writing programs to discuss options regarding the public availability of theses.
While student fears over too-early publication of their works are waning, the deadline for theses submission is rapidly approaching.
"Now, we're just focusing on finishing the things," Kowalczyk said.
E-mail DI reporter Brian Stewart at:
brian-stewart@uiowa.edu
"Let me say as simply and clearly as I can, there is no such plan nor will there be," UI interim Provost Lola Lopes said in a statement. "I regret sincerely that we did not convey this message when students and faculty first voiced their concerns."
The controversy stems from the wording of a recently added open-access policy that seemingly turned over first-publication rights of graduate students' creative works to the UI Libraries.
Graduate students are required to submit the signed form when first submitting their theses to the Graduate College.
A new form will be available for students upon returning to campus, though officials didn't return calls seeking comment on the alterations.
Nonfiction graduate student Nick Kowalczyk and other graduate students had originally planned to reword the policy to more clearly ensure they retain publication rights.
Kowalczyk said he hopes the new form will offer some form of exemption to the policy, so students have the option to turn over online publication rights.
He added he's been in contact with Lopes and is pleased with her comments.
"She proved she's really listened to what the M.F.A. students and the faculty have had to say," he said. "A lot of people who have been in town and have met with her are pretty much resting easy."
Lopes has been meeting with representatives from the Graduate College, UI Libraries, and writing programs to discuss options regarding the public availability of theses.
While student fears over too-early publication of their works are waning, the deadline for theses submission is rapidly approaching.
"Now, we're just focusing on finishing the things," Kowalczyk said.
E-mail DI reporter Brian Stewart at:
brian-stewart@uiowa.edu
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