The Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) designation applies to a very limited number of theses/dissertations. Students are encouraged to consult their research advisors if they are unsure whether their work is CUI. Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Thesis/Dissertation Process CUI theses and dissertations must follow a revised submission process according to the guidelines below. DEFENSE The defense for a CUI thesis/dissertation will be closed. The department/program will submit the Report of Oral Examination/Defense to the Graduate School. KUALI SIGNATURE FORM After a successful defense, the department/program will submit the Kuali Thesis/Dissertation Signature Form. In place of the CUI thesis/dissertation, the department/program will upload a placeholder document to the form explaining that all signatories must review the document in compliance with the Technology Control Plan. COPYEDITING The student will create a ProQuest account using a non-UAH email address and input all information in the ProQuest account that is not CUI. The student will also upload a placeholder pdf to ProQuest instead of the CUI manuscript (a blank page with the title Placeholder Manuscript will suffice). The student will create an electronic document with any information needed to complete the ProQuest submission page but currently classified as CUI (e.g., certain key words or subject areas). This document will need to be stored securely by the department/program until the thesis/dissertation has been cleared for public release; then the department/program will share it with the Graduate School. The student will sign a release allowing the University to submit their work to ProQuest for publication after it has been cleared for public release. The department/program will upload this release to Xtender within the student’s Banner account. The UAH copyeditor and Graduate Dean will comply with CUI regulations in order to review the manuscript. The Committee Chair will facilitate the establishment of a secure RCE folder in which the student will complete the copyediting process. The student must meet the deadlines of the semester in which they have registered to graduate. The final version of the copyedited thesis/dissertation must be a PDF. The student will not submit their work to the funding agency for redaction as there will be no attempt to publish the thesis/dissertation until it has been cleared for public release. EMBARGO After the copyediting process is complete and the Graduate Dean has approved the thesis/dissertation, the student’s department/program will securely store the thesis/dissertation for a 3-year embargo period. The department/program will keep a list of all students whose work is under a CUI embargo, including the semester the embargo began and when it is scheduled to end. The department/program will share this list with the Graduate School whenever changes are made. Each time an embargo expires, the department/program will contact the funding agency to determine if the thesis/dissertation can be decontrolled and cleared for public release. If it cannot, it will be placed under another 3-year embargo and the department/program will update their list and notify the Graduate School. PUBLICATION When a thesis/dissertation is decontrolled, the department/program will ensure any required review is completed with the funding agency. Once the manuscript is cleared for public release, the department will notify the Graduate School and send them the thesis/dissertation in PDF form with all CUI markings removed, along with the student’s ProQuest account information. The Graduate School will submit the manuscript to ProQuest for publication on the student’s behalf. At this time, the student’s manuscript will also be made available in the UAH Salmon Library collection.