ETD (Theses & Dissertations) Guide

Requirements Before Conducting Any Research (Phase 0)

Marshall University is committed to ensuring the ethics and integrity of our research. To this end, all students writing a thesis or dissertation must complete two requirements before embarking on their project:

1. Complete the online ETD training before starting your research.
   • The completed verification form at the end of this training must be on file before your finished ETD can undergo Review (Policy Check). 
   • View more in-depth details below. 
2. Obtain a letter from the Office of Research Integrity before starting your research.
   • In most departments, your committee must approve your research prospectus before you can go further with this step. 
   • Next, simply email a copy of your abstract to the Office of Research Integrity at murc-ori@marshall.edu. 
   • Their response is your IRB letter, and will be the first appendix in your manuscript.
     • The IRB letter must include the exact spelling/wording of your name, and the exact spelling/wording of the title of your thesis or dissertation as it appears on your final manuscript.
   • If you do not obtain an IRB Letter, you may need to redo any research and writing completed before obtaining this letter.
   • View more in-depth details below. 

1) ETD Training in Blackboard

Each student who plans to complete a thesis or dissertation is required to complete a brief Online ETD Training and submit an electronic verification form.

About the Training

The training is intended for students preparing to write a thesis or dissertation. Content includes:

• Mandatory steps to be taken before beginning research.
• The role of the IRB office and the need for early IRB review.
• Information on copyright relevant to ETD writers.
• The ETD writing, submission, and review (policy check) process.
• Where to get help.

This information applies to all students. Consult your advisor or committee chair for program- or discipline-specific information.

How to Enroll In the ETD Training

The training is located in an Organization in MU Online (Blackboard). To enroll, follow these steps:

1. Go directly to the Blackboard Organization by clicking on "Thesis & Dissertation Student Training - Ultra."
2. Click on "OK" to self-enroll in the Organization.
3. After this, the Online ETD Training should show up for you on your "Organizations" tab in Blackboard. 
   • Having trouble with this step? Submit a Blackboard Help ticket from MyMU > My Support > Blackboard Support.

How to Access the ETD Training

1. Open Blackboard by:
   • Going to https://www.marshall.edu and clicking on Blackboard in the top menu. 
   • Going to MyMU (https://mymu.marshall.edu/) and clicking the Blackboard icon in the top menu.
2. Click on your "Organizations" tab in the left-hand menu.
3. Click on "Thesis & Dissertation Student Training - Ultra" to access the content.
   • Having trouble with this step? Submit a Blackboard Help ticket from MyMU > My Support > Blackboard Support.

2) Office of Research Integrity - IRB Approval Letter

All Marshall University theses/dissertations that involve human subject research are subject to the Code of Federal Regulations 45CFR46. The conduct of human subject research for a thesis/dissertation without approval from the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) results in a violation of those federal regulations. Marshall University has agreed to abide by all regulations regarding human subject research. This includes all research done on behalf of the university, including theses and dissertations.

Therefore, all ETD students must contact the ORI before starting any research project.

Steps to obtain your IRB Letter (Appendix A in your manuscript):

1. In most departments, your committee must approve your research prospectus before you can move to the next step. 
2. Email your ETD abstract to the Office of Research Integrity at murc-ori@marshall.edu. 
   • NOTE: Every thesis/dissertation must include a letter indicating approval of the project, regardless of the type of research being conducted.
   • It's a good idea to name your committee chair, and copy them on the email for transparency.  
3. The Office of Research Integrity will determine whether your research will require additional review to meet federal regulations and to protect the rights of human participants, the welfare of animals, and the safety of the investigators and the university community. 
   • If your thesis or dissertation does require a compliance review, you will be directed to the appropriate Institutional Review Board coordinator for assistance. 
   • If your thesis or dissertation does not require a compliance review, you will receive a letter indicating that this is the case.
4. Include their response letter in your manuscript as Appendix A.
   • NOTE: A thesis or dissertation without this letter will not be reviewed, accepted, or published.

To - Do prior to Phase 1: Deliverables

1) Electronic Verification Form

At the end of the online ETD training, you will be asked to submit an electronic verification form.

• You will not need to print it out or include it in your manuscript. It remains fully digital for administrative purposes.

This form includes two parts:

• Committee List 

  • You must name your ETD chair (thesis or dissertation advisor) and ETD committee members (thesis or dissertation committee). If these change later, don't worry - you will not need to resubmit the form.

• Conflict of Interest

• The form will also ask you to disclose any potential conflict of interest between you and any member(s) of your committee. Not every conflict of interest disqualifies someone from being on a committee. The purpose of the disclosure is to give the department chair and dean the opportunity to review the potential conflict and determine any ways that the conflict could be mitigated. Context is important.
• The most common conflicts of interest for ETDs include family, employment, or financial relationships between you and a member of your ETD committee. These include:
  • Being close family with a member of your committee.
  • Working for the same external company, or having an employee/employer relationship.
  • Having any other significant financial ties.
  • Having current or past personal relationships.
• If you are unsure whether something needs to be reported, simply reach out to your program director or department chair for guidance.

2) IRB Letter 

Download and save the Office of Research Integrity's IRB Approval letter, and attach it to your manuscript as Appendix A. 

• If you use the ETD Template, the placeholder is already there for you.