Thesis Binding

The cost to bind or copy theses is typically not allowable on sponsored projects. Many copies are made as personal copies for advisors, committee members, the graduate student, and their family members and thus are considered unallowable.

Currently the Memorial Library requires an unbound thesis and there is no cost to submit.  Some departments may require graduate students to provide a bound copy for a departmental library. Library costs are considered F&A costs, in turn the copy for the department should be paid by unrestricted funding or departmental funds. Many departments already pay for the required copy.

It is possible that one copy could be charged to a sponsored project. To be considered allowable, the cost must be necessary to perform the project, it must be allocable, the cost must be reasonable, and allowable under the award terms. It needs to be used solely for the one project. If the thesis is going to be used as a research tool over time on other projects then the cost should be charged to unrestricted funding.

If the criteria (as noted above) is met, then an exceptional purchase request should be sent to the assigned CALS Business Services accountant. Written justification should be kept in the award file and with the purchase documentation.

Resources and Helpful Links

• Graduate School  https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/masters-guide/