Q. Do CMU Libraries collect Plan B Papers in addition to dissertations and theses?
Last Updated: Oct 29, 2026 Views: 201
No. CMU Libraries do not collect Plan B Papers.
Some graduate degree recipients complete two Plan B Papers in place of a thesis. Plan B Papers are not a thesis and are considered coursework. Because of this, they cannot be shared, as mandated by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). As a result, CMU Libraries do not collect or keep Plan B Papers.
Academic departments can arrange to keep Plan B Papers, provided they have the permission from the student who wrote the Plan B Paper. If they have permission from prior students, departments may choose to keep a small collection of Plan B Papers that students can view as examples / exemplars.
