Approval Page
An approval page is institution-controlled thesis/dissertation front matter. Missouri’s Graduate School specifies its placement, committee listing and no-signature submission rule, illustrating why local requirements override generic templates.
Use an approval page only when the institution requires one, and follow its official order, committee information and signature rules exactly.
Key details
Important caveats
Signature Boundary
Do not assume a scanned signature page is required: Missouri specifically says the submitted approval page should not contain committee signatures.
Further guidance
Content
Include the committee or approval information required by the institution, using its official template or sample where supplied.
Placement
Approval-page position is institution-specific; Missouri places it after the title page or after an optional copyright page.
Practical Application
Use an approval page only when the institution requires it, and copy the institution’s official order, committee fields and signature rules rather than using a generic template.
Reader Check
Does the graduate school require signatures, names only, a specific committee order, or a particular placement? Local instructions override general publishing habits.
Worked Example
If the institution says the submitted approval page must list committee members but contain no scanned signatures, follow that rule even if an older sample elsewhere includes signatures.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
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