The Texas Digital Library and its electronic thesis and dissertation system Vireo received a mention today in The Daily Illini, the student newspaper for the University of Illinois.
Illinois has used Vireo as its ETD submission and management system under a license from TDL since 2009. The story focuses on Vireo’s ease of use for students submitting their theses and dissertations:
First started in 2009, the system, allows graduate students to electronically submit their dissertations on the Graduate College’s website. With the adaptation of this new software, students no longer have to print out entire dissertations and submit them physically or through post, said Rebecca Bryant, assistant dean at the Graduate College.
Aquino, who is pursuing his doctorate in electrical and computer engineering, has a thesis deadline around October or November, and is excited about the proposed benefits of the new system.
“It’s easier for us,” Aquino said. “I don’t have to print out my entire thesis.”
Bryant said a majority of students have shown support for the system. Although ETD will not become mandatory until December of this year, about 95 percent of last year’s graduate students (roughly 800 total) have already utilized it, Bryant said.
The Illinois library and graduate school staff received an early version of the Vireo software more than a year ago and have been a valuable partner in contributing code fixes and enhancements back to the TDL organization.