Congratulations, you’re graduating soon!

The Kennedy Library is thrilled to support Cal Poly student success by making students’ senior projects available in our online scholarship archive DigitalCommons@CalPoly. By participating in DigitalCommons@CalPoly, you will have a digital record of your senior project with a permanent URL and access to your project’s download statistics, which you can use on your resume or portfolio, or on graduate school applications.

Steps to submit your senior project

Each department has slight variations on the senior project submissions process outlined below, so check with your department first.

Step 1: Download and fill out the Senior project requirement form

• You and your advisor must sign the form in the appropriate areas.
• Only one form per project is required, no matter the number of authors.
• Print one copy of the completed form for the Kennedy Library. Your department may also require additional copies of the form — consult with your advisor.

Step 2: Get a Cashier’s Receipt

• Pay the $12 senior project fee online or in person:
  • To pay in person (cash or check only), go to the Cashier’s window in the Administration Building.
  • To pay online (debit or credit card):
    1. Log in to your Cal Poly portal
    2. Click on “Money Matters” tab
    3. Select “Make Payment Now”
    4. Select “Click Here to Make an Online Payment” at the top of the page
    5. In the right hand menu you should see an option to pay either senior project or master’s thesis fee.
• The senior project fee should only be paid once, no matter the number of authors.
• Attach the original receipt to the Senior Project Requirement Form and keep a copy of the receipt for your records.

Step 3: Deliver the completed Senior Project Requirement Form and Cashier’s Receipt to your Department Office

Step 4: Upload your advisor-approved senior project to DigitalCommons@CalPoly

To upload your project, go to DigitalCommons@CalPoly, click on your department, and select “Submit Senior Project” in the sidebar. For detailed upload instructions, check out the Senior project information packet.

What happens next?

• Your Department Office forwards your completed and signed Senior Project Requirement Form and Cashier’s Receipt to the library.
• Once the library receives the Senior Project Requirement Form, Cashier’s Receipt, and the uploaded senior project, the library makes your senior project viewable on DigitalCommons@CalPoly.

Questions?

Contact Michele Wyngard, Digital Repository Coordinator, at (805) 756-2315, or stop by Room 409 in Special Collections & Archives in the Kennedy Library.

The Kennedy Library is thrilled to support Cal Poly student success by making students’ senior projects available in our online scholarship archive DigitalCommons@CalPoly. By participating in DigitalCommons@CalPoly, our students have a digital record of their senior project which they can access anywhere, a permanent URL for their project, and access to their project’s download statistics.

By encouraging your students to deposit their senior projects in DigitalCommons@CalPoly, your department is ensuring your students contribute scholarship to their field, and your department has ready examples of your students’ intellectual output.

Here’s our suggested workflow for the senior project submission process:

• Once a student’s senior project is completed and approved by their advisor, the student turns in a completed Senior project requirement form and a Cashier’s Receipt to their department. The student is responsible for uploading their project to DigitalCommons@CalPoly. Directions for students can be found here.

• The department forwards the Senior Project Requirement Form and the Cashier’s Receipt to:
  • Senior Projects, Kennedy Library, Bldg 35 Rm 409.

• Once the library receives the Senior Project Requirement Form, Cashier’s Receipt, and the uploaded senior project, the library makes the senior project viewable on DigitalCommons@CalPoly.

Each department has slight variations on the senior project submission process. DigitalCommons@CalPoly is happy to work with you to meet your students’ needs.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where do our students upload their senior project?

Students go to DigitalCommons@CalPoly, click on their department, and select “Submit Senior Project” in the sidebar.

For detailed upload instructions, see the Senior project information packet.

If the student or faculty advisor does not want a senior project in DigitalCommons@CalPoly, do they need to do anything?

No, if the student or department does not want a senior project in DigitalCommons@CalPoly, the student does not need to complete the Senior Project Requirement Form or pay the fee.

Who has final authority in whether a senior project is added to DigitalCommons@CalPoly?

The student’s faculty advisor and department have final authority in whether a senior project is added to DigitalCommons@CalPoly.

Questions?

Contact Michele Wyngard, Digital Repository Coordinator, at (805) 756-2315, or stop by Room 409 in Special Collections & Archives in the Kennedy Library.

Senior project information packet [PDF]

This packet provides detailed upload instructions and procedural information to assist in the creation and upload of the senior project to the DigitalCommons@CalPoly

Senior project requirement form [PDF]

This form should be filled out and signed by the student and advisor. Additional signatures may be required by your department.

Title page template [DOC]

A title page template is available for easy formatting of the first page of the senior project.

4 Easy Steps to Submitting Your Senior Project to the Library [PDF]

Summary of submission steps and frequently asked questions.

Before Fall 2009

Gold, T. (1999). Library usage and student GPA: The missing link to academic success. (Unpublished senior project). California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

After Fall 2009

Lossing, C. B. (2010). Childhood obesity: Prevention & intervention. (Senior project, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo). Retrieved from digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/psycdsp/10/

Before Fall 2009 (p. 180 and p. 207):

Garcia, Hector. “To Be and Not to Be: Quantum Politics in the New Millenium.” Senior project, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, 2001. Microform.

After Fall 2009 (p. 187):

Cunningham, Tierney, “An Abridged Visual History of Graphic Design.” Senior project, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, 2009. DigitalCommons@Calpoly. Web. 21 Aug. 2010.

Before Fall 2009

First note form:

3. Hector Garcia, “To Be and Not to Be: Quantum Politics in the New Millenium” (senior project, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, 2001), 12.

Bibliography:

Garcia, Hector. “To Be and Not to Be: Quantum Politics in the New Millenium.” Senior project, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, 2001.

After Fall 2009

First note form:

4. Tierney Cunningham, “An Abridged Visual History of Graphic Design” (senior project, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, 2009), 12, in DigitalCommons@CalPoly, digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/artsp/29 (accessed August 17, 2010).

Bibliography:

Cunningham, Tierney, “An Abridged Visual History of Graphic Design.” Senior project, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, 2009. In DigitalCommons@CalPoly, digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/artsp/29/ (accessed August 17, 2010).