Establishing secure connection…Loading editor…Preparing document…

Honors Thesis Research Form

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND LIFE SCIENCES
HONORS THESIS RESEARCH FORM

Once this application is completed, the student should bring it to their departmental Honors Coordinator so they can assist in registering the student for the Honors Thesis Research class in their department. This course number will end in 4915 (e.g., ANS 4915). Departmental Honors Coordinators: please send an e-copy of this form to Matt Brannan [brannanm@ufl.edu] in 2002 McCarty Hall D.

Student Information (to be completed by the student applicant):

Date:

Term:

Number of credits:

Name (last, first, middle initial):

UFID Number:

Local Street Address:

City, State, Zip Code:

Phone Number:

Major:

Current Class/College:

Expected Graduation Date:

Gatorlink E-mail Address:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH PROJECT AND EXPECTATIONS FOR COMPLETION:

I have prepared the research description above in consultation with my research adviser. I have read the responsibilities of the student included on this application, and agree to undertake these responsibilities.

Student’s Signature:

Faculty Adviser Information (to be completed by Faculty Adviser):

Name:

College and Department:

E-Mail Address:

Campus P.O. Box:

Graduate Student/Post-Doctoral Mentor (if applicable):

Name:

College and Department:

E-Mail Address:

Campus P.O. Box:

Will the student’s research involve with an infectious agent or clinical samples?

Will the student’s research involve methods or procedures requiring specific safety training?

If yes to either question, describe specific training that the student will receive prior to performing these activities or training the student has already received.

What are the expectations for the student’s attendance in this project (e.g., estimated hours/week in your laboratory, in seminars, group meetings, etc.)?

I approve of the research description submitted by the student applicant. I have read the responsibilities of the research adviser (see next page) and agree to undertake these responsibilities.

Faculty Adviser’s Signature:

I have read the responsibilities of the research adviser (see next page) and agree to undertake these responsibilities.

Mentor’s Signature (if applicable):

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STUDENT

  1. Work actively doing research and participating in other related activities for at least 3 hours each week for every credit hour enrolled in the course.
  2. Keep clear accurate records of your work.
  3. Understand how to conduct research in a responsible and ethical manner. Follow the UF Honor Code at all times.
  4. Follow all safety protocols and ask questions about safety protocols before performing any procedure about which you are unsure.
  5. Ask for assistance when you need it.
  6. Keep your faculty research adviser and/or mentor informed of your results.
  7. If required, learn to work on a team while also pursuing independent research on your project.
  8. Write and submit a research report following the guidelines and expectations of your faculty adviser and/or mentor.
  9. Strive to go beyond the minimum expectations of preparing a literature review and project plan, performing the research, and writing a final report. Seek out opportunities for oral presentations at a conference, writing and submitting a journal paper of your work, etc.
  10. Turn in a copy of your report on or before the last day of class to your departmental honors coordinator. Your grade will not be entered unless a written report is on file.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FACULTY ADVISER AND STUDENT MENTOR

  1. Provide support and supervision of the student (either directly or by referring her/him to someone else, e.g., graduate student or postdoctoral associate).
  2. Meet regularly with the student to review her/his progress and to provide guidance in moving forward in her/his project.
  3. Arrange for all safety training that is appropriate for the student to ensure her/his safety in your laboratory.
  4. Help the student understand the broader context in which her/his research project fits and understand the basis for methods and procedures used.
  5. Provide frequent feedback on the student’s performance, accompanied by recommendations for improving performance if needed.
  6. Provide feedback and establish deadlines on the student’s
    • project plan
    • final report
    • other requirements as noted on the Undergraduate Research Form
  7. Encourage the student to go beyond the minimum expectations of preparing a literature review and project plan, performing the research, and writing a final report.
  8. Assign the student’s final grade and contact your departmental honors coordinator and the person who enters the grade for this course not later than the last day of final exams to submit the final grade.
Enter text✕
Prepare your document for signing right on this page
  • 01 Edit the text and complete the fields
  • 02 Click Sign Now and on the next screen add recipients and signature fields in SignNow
  • 03 Start your free trial to sign and send your doc
Sign Now

What the Honors Thesis Research Form Is and When It Applies

The Honors Thesis Research Form is an institutional document that records a student's thesis title, research plan, advisor assignment, and required approvals before data collection or writing begins. It typically tracks IRB or ethics clearance, project timeline, committee members, and submission milestones, and creates an official record used for departmental review and final degree clearance. Institutions use the form to confirm academic oversight, verify compliance with research policies, and schedule defenses or deposit into the institutional repository.

Why Completing the Form Matters for Students and Departments

Completing the Honors Thesis Research Form documents authorization to proceed, helps secure IRB and advisor approval where required, and creates a timestamped record for graduation eligibility and archival. Accurate completion reduces administrative delays and supports compliance with institutional and federal research rules.

Why Completing the Form Matters for Students and Departments

Who Typically Completes and Reviews This Form

Departments, students, and research offices share responsibility: students complete the form, advisors review it, and administrators file or route approvals.

  • Honors students preparing a thesis proposal and requesting official approval to begin research.
  • Faculty advisors confirming supervision, methodology, and alignment with program standards.
  • Department administrators or registrars tracking approvals, deadlines, and final submission records.

The form remains part of the student's academic record and is consulted at defense scheduling, final submission, and degree clearance.

Step-by-Step: Complete and Submit the Honors Thesis Research Form

Follow these steps in order to prepare a complete submission and avoid processing delays.

  • 01
    Prepare Documents: Gather proposal, IRB approval, and advisor consent before starting.
  • 02
    Complete Form: Fill fields accurately and attach required documents in prescribed formats.
  • 03
    Obtain Approvals: Route to advisor and committee members for signatures and endorsements.
  • 04
    Submit to Office: Send final form to department or registrar by the listed deadline.

Core Elements Every Professional Honors Thesis Research Form Should Include

A well-structured form captures administrative, ethical, and academic details to support review, recordkeeping, and compliance across the thesis lifecycle.

Student Identity

Full legal name, student ID, program and contact details so administrative offices can match records and confirm enrollment status.

Thesis Title

Complete title and concise abstract to identify scope and allow departmental reviewers to assess fit with program learning outcomes.

Research Question

Clear statement of objectives and hypotheses to guide committee feedback and verify methodological alignment.

Methodology

Detailed methods, data sources, and planned analyses, enabling advisors and IRB to evaluate risk and validity.

Timeline

Milestones for proposal, data collection, draft submission, defense, and final deposit so all parties track progress.

Ethics & Approvals

IRB/ethics status, informed consent plan, and any data-sharing agreements required for compliance and archival.

Required Information Blocks on the Form

Student Name: Provide legal name
Student ID: Institutional identifier
Thesis Title: Full title
Advisor Name: Primary supervisor
IRB Status: Approved/Not required
Signatures: All parties and dates

How to Configure an Online Workflow for This Form

Set up document fields, review order, and notification rules to automate routing and capture signatures electronically.

Field Configuration
Notification Email on assignment and completion
Review Order Student → Advisor → Department
Authentication Email link or SMS code
Archive Save signed PDF in registrar system

Where to File and How Routing Typically Works

Most institutions use a three-step routing pattern to gather approvals and preserve an auditable record of signatures and attachments.

  • Department Office: Primary recipient for administrative review
  • Advisor Review: Advisor endorses methodology and schedule
  • IRB or Ethics: Compliance office verifies approvals
  • Registrar: Final storage and degree clearance

Technical Requirements for Digital Completion and eSubmission

Ensure the chosen platform supports secure PDFs, reliable audit trails, and the authentication level your institution requires for approvals.

  • File types: PDF, DOCX accepted
  • Integrations: LMS, registrar systems
  • Authentication: Email, SMS, or MFA

Use platforms that support tamper-evident signed PDFs, audit logs (IP and timestamp), and secure archival to meet institutional and regulatory recordkeeping obligations.

Typical Deadlines to Track When Using the Form

Academic calendars dictate exact due dates; confirm department-specific deadlines well before defense scheduling and final submission windows.

Proposal Submission Deadline:

Usually 6–8 weeks before data collection

IRB Approval Deadline:

Must precede any human-subject work

Draft Submission:

Set by department, often one month before defense

Defense Scheduling:

Book committee availability well in advance

Final Deposit:

Often required by registrar before graduation date

Key Milestones from Proposal to Final Deposit

A sequential timeline clarifies responsibilities and helps avoid last-minute compliance gaps or missed graduation requirements.

01

Proposal Approval

Department and advisor sign-off to confirm research scope and methods.

02

IRB Clearance

Ethics approval obtained when human subjects or sensitive data are involved.

03

Defense Scheduling

Committee availability confirmed; defense date officially recorded.

04

Final Submission

Signed form and thesis deposited with registrar or repository.

Realistic Examples of How the Form Is Used

Two common scenarios show how accurate completion avoids delays and supports compliance.

Student Research Example

A student files a detailed methods section and secures advisor sign-off

  • IRB review is required because surveys collect identifiable data
  • The timely approval allowed data collection and on-time defense scheduling, preventing graduation delays.

Department Processing Example

An administrator routes the form to the registrar and archives the signed PDF

  • A missing advisor signature triggers a return-to-student flag
  • Prompt correction and resubmission preserved the graduation timeline and the institutional record.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing the Form

  • Submitting without IRB approval when human subjects are involved, which halts research and may require corrective actions.
  • Entering inconsistent names or student IDs, causing mismatches in registrar systems and delays in degree clearance.
  • Omitting attachments such as consent forms or data use agreements required by the department or sponsor.
  • Missing or misordering signatures, which can invalidate approvals and require resubmission of the entire form.

Consequences of Incomplete or Incorrect Form Submission

Missed Deadlines: Can delay graduation
IRB Noncompliance: May stop research
Citation Issues: Risk of improper data attribution
Data Loss: Insufficient backups affect reproducibility
Academic Misconduct: Can trigger disciplinary review
Unsigned Form: Invalidates approval

eSignature Pricing and Feature Comparison for Processing the Form

Common eSignature vendors differ by price model and features such as bulk send and envelope limits; place vendor choice against institutional needs for audit trail, HIPAA, and bulk workflows.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Trial available Trial available Trial available Trial available
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan

Frequently Asked Questions About the Honors Thesis Research Form

Answers to common concerns about e-signatures, approvals, retention, and corrections when using the Honors Thesis Research Form.


Need help? Contact support

Explore Templates

Sale of Goods Agreement Graphic Design Services Agreement Complaint for Divorce Joint Venture Agreement Sample Contract for Self-Employed Musicians Lease Agreement
be ready to get more
Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users
Sign Now
Company
Forms
Pricing
Resources
Knowledge base
Other Products
© 2026 airSlate Inc. All rights reserved.