Formatting requirements and implementation

Baseline checked: 14 Oct 2026. Sources (versions and fingerprints in sources.json (opens in a new tab)): Dissertation and Thesis Manual 2026 (PDF and Word version; same text), the September 2025 Thesis/Dissertation Formatting Checklist (FC), master's and doctoral checklists, LaTeX Formatting Tips & Tricks (LT, Sep 2025), and the Fall 2026 preparation workshop. The OGE submission page (opens in a new tab) is the primary entry point.

On this page

This is a requirements map for an unofficial, community-made class; it is not a claim of OGE approval. Page numbers are printed manual pages (printed p. 1 = PDF p. 10). RPI's official LaTeX template (available from RPI ITS's Thesis Preparation page (opens in a new tab)) is the baseline: this independent class follows its formatting except where a difference below is justified by the manual or fixes a clear bug in RPI's template. No RPI files are included in this project; maintainers compare against a local copy in _local/legacy/.

Implementation names a macro, key, package, or section comment in rpi-thesis.cls unless another file is given; search the class for it.

Verification: check = assertion in scripts/check.py; visual = rendered page compared with the manual's sample and the output of RPI's official template; student = cannot be automated.

Requirements map

How to read this page: FC is the Formatting Checklist and LT is LaTeX Formatting Tips & Tricks (both listed above); section and page numbers without a prefix are the manual's printed pages. "cls §N" in the Where column is the numbered section of rpi-thesis.cls (each starts with a banner comment such as % 4. Page layout and spacing). The tables follow the class's structure.

Each rule is written once, here. The code that starts each Rule cell, such as page-size, is the rule's stable id: guide pages cite a rule as {{cite:page-size}} (its Manual cell, linked to this page) or quote it as {{rule:page-size}} (the rest of its Rule cell), and scripts/build_site.py fills these in, stopping on an unknown id. Change a rule or citation here and every page that uses it follows; rename an id only together with the pages that use it (python3 scripts/rules.py lists them).

Page layout and spacing

Rule	Manual	Where	Checked by
`page-size` US letter, 1 in margins on every page	§2.2 p. 16; FC	cls §4: `geometry` options	check (paper size); visual
`heading-top` Level-1 headings start at the top margin, not lower	§2.2; LT ("known glitch")	cls §5: `\titleformat{\chapter}`	check (heading baseline 84 pt on every opening page)
`double-spacing` Body double spaced (≤ 4 lines/in)	§2.1 p. 16; FC	cls §4: `\doublespacing` at `\begin{document}`	check (line pitch on a body page, `line-pitch`); visual
`single-spacing` Single spaced: captions, footnotes, block quotes, chapter attributions; references single with a blank line between	§2.1 p. 16	cls §4, §7: `\AtBeginEnvironment` (`\singlespacing`); cls §12: `\chapterattribution`, `\thesisreferences`; cls §4: `\bibitemsep` set once biblatex has loaded, or once a package that loads it (such as `biblatex-chicago`) has finished, so a student's later line still wins	regressions `contents-stress` (measured row pitch in a `longtable` and a rotated table); visual; regressions `bib-output` (measured gap between entries = one line, numeric, APA, MLA, Chicago author-date; a later `\bibitemsep` line still wins)

Fonts

Rule	Manual	Where	Checked by
`font` Same font for text and page numbers; text ≥ 10 pt (12 pt Times-like)	§2.1 p. 16; FC	cls §2: `newtxtext` (pdfLaTeX), `\setmainfont` (LuaLaTeX, XeLaTeX); cls §8: `\ps@rpibody`	check (every font Times-like, or a typewriter font for code, and embedded; three engines); visual
`black-text` All text black, including URLs and links	§2.1 p. 16; §1.3 p. 4; FC	cls §13: `hyperref` option `hidelinks`	check (no link has a visible border); visual
`url-font` URLs in the text font	FC ("same font throughout")	cls §4: `\urlstyle{same}`	visual

Page numbers

Rule	Manual	Where	Checked by
`front-roman` Front matter lowercase Roman; title is i, unnumbered; next page ii	§1.1 p. 1; FC	cls §8, §12: `\maketitle` (`\pagenumbering{roman}`)	check
`body-arabic` Body Arabic from 1 on the first page of Chapter 1	§2.2 p. 16	cls §12: `\thesismainmatter`	check
`page-number-position` Page numbers 0.75 in from the edge; bottom center on front matter and on the first page of each chapter, references, appendix; top right elsewhere	§2.2 pp. 16-17; FC	cls §4: `geometry` options; cls §8: `\ps@rpibody`, `\pagestyle{plain}`	check (position on every page)

Title page and copyright

Rule	Manual	Where	Checked by
`title-page` Title page: title caps bold; name bold; degree caps italic; "Approved by:"; names single spaced with ", Chair"; department italic; RPI, Troy, New York; [Month Year]; seal	§1.1 pp. 1-2; FC	cls §11: `\maketitle`, seal box `\rpi_seal:` and `\rpi_seal_placeholder:`; `metadata.tex`; seal downloaded by the student (`assets/README.md`)	check (degree, date, placeholder exactly when the seal is absent; rejections for a missing title, author, or department, and for an unknown setting); regressions `seal-underscore` (a missing `seal-file` path with `_` shows the placeholder); visual
`degree-wording` Degree wording: Master of Science / Doctor of Philosophy / Doctor of Engineering	§1.1 p. 1	cls §10: `\thesissetup` key `degree`	check (three degree cases)
`graduation-date` Graduation month only May, August, December; four-digit year; chair present	§1.1 p. 1	cls §10: `\thesissetup` key `graduation-month`; `\rpi_validate:`	check (rejections, including a wrongly capitalized month, degree, or `[Chair]`, each echoed in the message)
`department-name` Full department name	§1.1 p. 1	`metadata.tex` comment	student
`copyright-page` Copyright page optional; page ii; "© year / By / Name / All rights reserved"	§1.2 p. 3; FC	cls §12: `\thesisfrontmatter` (key `copyright-page`)	check (page ii, text)

Contents and lists

Rule	Manual	Where	Checked by
`front-matter-order` Front-matter order: title, copyright, contents, tables, figures, (nomenclature), preface/acknowledgment, abstract	Table 1.1 p. 15; FC	cls §12: `\thesisfrontmatter`; `main.tex`	check (order)
`contents-entries` Contents lists all front matter except title, copyright, itself; all chapters, sections, references, appendices; plain weight; numbers right aligned; text clear of number column	§1.3 p. 4; FC	cls §6 "Contents and lists"; `\frontchapter`	check (entries; the first entry is the page after the contents); regressions `contents-stress` (numbers to 12.10.10.10 at least 3.5 pt from their text, measured; contents over two pages)
`contents-match` Contents entries identical to body headings	§1.3 p. 4	cls §6: `\cftchapaftersnum` ("1." and "A.")	check
`lists` Lists of tables/figures when present; full caption; entries separated by a space; appendix objects included	§§1.4-1.5 pp. 7-10; FC	cls §6 "Contents and lists"; cls §12: `\thesisfrontmatter` (`\listoftables`, `\listoffigures`); `build.py` short-caption hint	check (full captions); visual
`nomenclature` Nomenclature/list of equations optional, after lists, in contents, formatted like the lists	§1.6 p. 13; FC	`main.tex` comment; cls §12: `\frontchapter`; recipe in `docs/going-further.md` (`longtable`, single spaced by the class, 10 pt between entries like the lists)	visual (recipe, three engines); student
`abstract` Abstract required; no length limit; no figures, references, attributions	§1.8 p. 14	`frontmatter/abstract.tex`	student

Headings

Rule	Manual	Where	Checked by
`headings` Level-1 titles formatted alike in body and contents; levels 2-4 one case; every level distinct; none smaller than text	§2.3 pp. 17-18; FC	cls §5 "Headings"; level 4 italic `\titleformat{\subsubsection}`	visual; student (case)

Captions, tables and figures

Rule	Manual	Where	Checked by
`captions` Tables/figures centered; table captions above, figure captions below; bold; one alignment; colon delimiter; chapter numbering with periods; no color	§§2.4-2.5 pp. 18-22; FC	cls §7: `\captionsetup`; sample floats	visual
`landscape` Landscape table: caption "above" (left); page number placement	§2.4 p. 19, Fig. 2.4	cls §7: `rotating` `sidewaystable`; top-right number stays in place	regressions `contents-stress` (rotated table single spaced, page number top right); visual; see confirmation list
`lettered-parts` Lettered figure parts: only the letter in the figure, explanation in the caption, one letter style throughout	§2.5 pp. 22-23	subfigure recipe in `docs/going-further.md` (`subcaption`, empty sub-captions print "(a)"); only the main caption enters the list of figures	visual (recipe, three engines); student (letter style)
`reproduced` Reproduced tables/figures: full citation and permission or license wording in caption	§2.6 pp. 24-25	`chapters/02-research.tex` example	student

Equations

Rule	Manual	Where	Checked by
`equations` Equations centered, numbered right in parentheses, multi-line number centered, every display numbered	§2.7 pp. 26-27; FC	amsmath defaults; sample `split`; cls §4: space around displays scaled once by the line spacing (`setspace`)	check (space above and below a display, `display-skip`); visual; student
`unnumbered-displays` Displays inside a lemma, algorithm, theorem, or proof may be unnumbered	§2.7 p. 27	theorem and algorithm recipes in `docs/going-further.md` (`amsthm`, `algorithm`, `algpseudocode`; lines commented out in `preamble.tex`); `package/amsthm/before` hook lets `amsthm` load after `newtxmath` (pdfLaTeX)	visual (recipe, three engines)

Chapter attributions

Rule	Manual	Where	Checked by
`attribution` Chapter attribution at the bottom of the chapter's first page, no mark, single spaced, citation style; wording per Table 2.1	§2.8 pp. 27-29; FC	cls §12: `\chapterattribution`; wording in `chapters/02-research.tex` comment	check (unmarked, first page)
`attribution-reuse` Reused work needs a chapter attribution even when the student is the sole author; the Declaration of Co-Contribution lists co-authored articles; a sole-authored published paper is exempt, and a sole-authored paper submitted or under review but not yet published is unresolved (see Needs OGE confirmation)	§2.8.1 p. 28	`docs/writing.md` ("Chapters based on published papers"), `docs/submission.md`; `chapters/02-research.tex` comment	student

Chapter attribution wording (manual Table 2.1, p. 29), followed by the full citation in the chosen style:

Status	Wording
Published in a journal, presented at a conference, or a preprint	Portions of this chapter (or This chapter) have (has) previously appeared as:
Accepted, not yet published	Portions of this chapter (or This chapter) are (is) to appear as:
Submitted or under review	Portions of this chapter (or This chapter) are (is) under review as: — or — have (has) been submitted as: (with the journal or conference name)

Citations and references

Rule	Manual	Where	Checked by
`citation-style` Citation style suited to the field, checked against the official guide	§3.2 pp. 32-34	style isolated in `preamble.tex`	student
`in-text-citations` In-text citations follow the chosen style; sequential numbers for styles such as IEEE, non-sequential numbers for SIAM (alphabetical list), author-year for APA	§3.3 p. 34	style isolated in `preamble.tex`; `docs/citations.md` ("Numbered styles: check delayed figures and tables")	student
`access-dates` Access date for every URL (not DOIs), in the style's format	§3.4 p. 34; FC	`references.bib` example; `build.py` hint	build hint; tested: numeric, IEEE, APA, MLA, Chicago author-date, chem-acs print it (numeric, APA, MLA, Chicago: regressions `bib-output`)
`sequential-numbering` Sequential numbered styles: reference 1 is the first citation in Chapter 1; a caption's citation numbered where its table or figure appears in the body, not in the front matter	FC (does not apply to non-sequential styles such as SIAM, §3.3 p. 34)	See note below	student (delayed floats)

Note on the sequential-numbering row: the sample uses sorting=none, so numbers follow source order, and a float placed on a later page can carry a lower number than nearby text (tested). The class-only recipe in docs/bring-your-draft.md uses the same sorting=none (regressions class-alone-order). List-of-figures citations do not affect numbering (tested). docs/citations.md explains the fixes (move the float's source or cite earlier).

Appendices and permissions

Rule	Manual	Where	Checked by
`appendices` References before appendices; appendices lettered with titles; in contents	App. A p. 38	`main.tex` (`\thesisreferences`, cls §12); cls §9 "Appendices: lettered like chapters" (`\appendicesname`)	check
`permissions-appendix` Permissions appendix lists file information, not the files	§A.1 pp. 38-39	skeleton in `appendices/additional-material.tex`	student

Measurements

The numbers a PDF check compares with, in PDF points (72 pt = 1 in), each with its own id. Each belongs to the rule named in Rule, which gives its citation.

Measure	pt	Rule
`paper-width` Paper width (8.5 in)	612	`page-size`
`paper-height` Paper height (11 in)	792	`page-size`
`margin` Side margins (1 in)	72	`page-size`
`page-number-edge` Page-number baseline from the page edge (0.75 in)	54	`page-number-position`
`heading-baseline` Level-1 heading first baseline below the top edge (the class's setting)	84	`heading-top`
`heading-tolerance` Level-1 heading baseline accepted either way of `heading-baseline` on a PDF this class made (this project's choice)	1.5	`heading-top`
`heading-limit` Lowest level-1 heading baseline the browser checker accepts on a PDF from another program or class (1.33 in; this project's choice)	96	`heading-top`
`paper-tolerance` Paper width and height accepted either way of the size above (this project's choice)	0.5	`page-size`
`margin-tolerance` How far text may reach into a side margin before the browser checker flags it (this project's choice)	1.5	`page-size`
`margin-band` Text this close to the top or bottom edge counts as a page number or running header (this project's choice)	70	`page-number-position`
`page-number-tolerance` Page-number distance accepted either way of 0.75 in (0.05 in; this project's choice)	3.6	`page-number-position`
`page-number-center` Page-number center accepted either way of the page center (half a digit; this project's choice)	6	`page-number-position`
`contents-column` A contents line ending in a number is an entry, without dot leaders, if it ends this close to the right end of the page-number column (this project's choice)	6	`contents-match`
`heading-size-tolerance` A line at the top of a page counts as a level-1 heading only if its type is at least the body text size less this much (headings are never smaller than text; this project's choice)	0.5	`headings`
`line-pitch` Baseline to baseline in double-spaced body text (the class's setting: 14.5 pt × 1.655, setspace's double spacing at 12 pt)	23.91	`double-spacing`
`display-skip` Space above and below a displayed equation beyond the line pitch (the class's setting: 12 pt × 1.655, scaled once by the line spacing as RPI's template does)	19.79	`equations`
`pitch-tolerance` `line-pitch` and `display-skip` accepted either way of the value above on a PDF this class made (this project's choice)	0.5	`double-spacing`

The browser checker reports a small measured difference on a point listed under Needs OGE confirmation as Differs from the manual's wording instead of Look at this. The manual stays the reference; these bounds say how far a difference may go before it is Look at this again.

Measure	pt	Rule
`page-number-near` Shortest page-number distance from the edge reported as differing rather than to look at (0.3 in; tolerance for PDF measurement, OGE confirmation pending)	21.6	`page-number-position`
`page-number-far` Longest page-number distance from the edge reported as differing rather than to look at (1.2 in; tolerance for PDF measurement, OGE confirmation pending)	86.4	`page-number-position`
`margin-overrun` Farthest text may reach into a side margin and be reported as differing rather than to look at (0.125 in; tolerance for PDF measurement, OGE confirmation pending)	9	`page-size`
`heading-far` Lowest level-1 heading baseline, on a PDF from another program or class, reported as differing rather than to look at (1.5 in; tolerance for PDF measurement, OGE confirmation pending)	108	`heading-top`

Differences from RPI's official LaTeX template

"RPI's template" in this table means RPI's official LaTeX template (available from RPI ITS; files dated 2018); it is not part of this project.

Item	RPI's official template	This class	Justification
Line spacing	1.4 stretch	Double	Manual §2.1 p. 16 and FC: "double-spaced"
Font and size options	Computer Modern; 10/11/12 pt options	Times-like, 12 pt only	§2.1 p. 16 lists Times New Roman 12 pt
Level-1 heading position	Baseline ~1.5 in from top	At the top margin	LT lists the wider top margin as a known glitch
Page-number distance	0.58 in (bottom), 0.65 in (top)	0.75 in	§2.2 p. 17; FC
Title-page phrase	"Partial Fullfillment"	"Partial Fulfillment"	Spelling error; §1.1 p. 2
Submission date on title page	"Submitted [month year]" line	None	Manual p. 40 (Fig. A.2): no longer required
Committee size	At most 7 lines	Unlimited	Bug: §1.1 p. 1 requires all members
Department line	Prints "Department of" + field	Prints the full name entered	Same output; §1.1 p. 1 asks for the full name
Copyright text	"© Copyright year / by / Name / All Rights Reserved"	"© year / By / Name / All rights reserved"	§1.2 p. 3 and FC: match the manual's example
Chapter label	Samples use `[chap]`: "CHAPTER 1" above the title	"1. TITLE" (that template's class default)	Contents entry then matches the body exactly (§1.3 p. 4); manual Fig. 2.1 p. 18
Appendix heading	"APPENDIX A" above the title	"A. TITLE"	Appendices formatted like chapters (App. A p. 38); matches contents entry
APPENDICES contents line	No page number	With page number	§1.3 p. 4: sections listed with page numbers; Fig. 1.4 p. 6
Level-4 heading	Bold, same as level 3	Italic	§2.3 p. 17: each level distinguished
Contents/list number columns	1.4 em / 2.3 em / 3.2 em	1.6 / 2.8 / 4 / 5.3 em	Bug: 12.10 touches and 12.10.10 overlaps the entry text (§1.3 p. 4); measured by regressions `contents-stress`
Contents page-number column	1.55 em	3 em	Bug: roman numbers such as xviii overflow
Block quotes, longtable, rotated floats	Not single spaced	Single spaced	§2.1 p. 16
References spacing	Small item gap	One blank line	§2.1 p. 16
Chapter attributions	Not provided	`\chapterattribution`	§2.8 pp. 27-29
Separate abstract title page	Provided (`abstitle-*.tex`)	Not provided	Not in the 2026 manual's front-matter list (Table 1.1 p. 15)
Bibliography	Manual `thebibliography`	BibLaTeX/Biber	Same placement and spacing; style chosen per §3.2
`amsthm` with the math font	Loads without conflict (Computer Modern)	Clears `newtxmath`'s `\openbox` just before `amsthm` loads (pdfLaTeX); no effect unless `amsthm` is loaded	Compatibility only, no formatting rule: keeps the Times-like font (§2.1 p. 16) working with the theorem recipe; amsthm then supplies the proof box, as on LuaLaTeX and XeLaTeX
AMS math commands	Available when `amssymb` is loaded; no math font package in the class	`newtxmath` supplies the commands on pdfLaTeX; loads `amssymb` before `unicode-math` on LuaLaTeX and XeLaTeX	Compatibility fix within the font choice above (§2.1 p. 16): preserves conventional commands such as `\square` and `\nleqslant` when switching engines; compared with the current ITS class download on 15 Oct 2026; 210 command names and representative math checked on all three engines; TeX Gyre Termes Math lacks 24 of these symbols (such as `\bigstar`, `\Game`, `\subseteqq`), so the class takes exactly those code points from STIX Two Math, also Times-style, on LuaLaTeX and XeLaTeX; the regression case fails on any missing glyph

Project decisions

Seal: the maintainer has decided that the toolkit uses the current seal supplied on RPI ITS's Thesis Preparation page (opens in a new tab), which students download themselves. This is a project decision, not OGE approval and not permission to redistribute the seal: it is never in the repository, the starter ZIP, the website artwork, or this project's license. The class reserves the seal's space and prints a framed placeholder box until the student saves assets/rpi-seal.jpg (or .png; see assets/README.md). Source note: the 2026 manual's sample title page (§1.1 p. 2) shows an older design.

Needs OGE confirmation

"CONTENTS" title: wording from RPI's official template; the manual and FC call the page "Table of Contents". Kept (manual not explicit). Question: are "CONTENTS" and "TABLE OF CONTENTS" both acceptable?
Landscape pages with bottom-center numbering: §2.4 p. 19 says to place the number "in the left margin". With this class's top-right numbering the number stays where Fig. 2.4 shows it; confirm this is acceptable.
Page-number distance: §2.2 p. 17 asks for 0.75 in from the edge; RPI's official template sets 0.58 in (bottom) and 0.65 in (top). Question: is a distance other than 0.75 in acceptable, and within what range? The PDF checker reports such a distance as "Differs from the manual's wording" (page-number-near, page-number-far).
Bottom-center numbers on every page: §2.2 pp. 16-17 asks for top right on body pages. Question: are bottom-center numbers on every page acceptable? The checker still reports this as "Look at this".
Small side-margin overruns: §2.2 p. 16 asks for 1 in margins. Question: is a line or equation that reaches slightly (about 0.1 in) into a side margin acceptable? The checker reports up to margin-overrun as "Differs from the manual's wording".
Level-1 heading slightly below the top margin: question: is a heading that starts somewhat lower than the 1 in top margin acceptable? The checker reports one up to heading-far (PDFs from other programs) as "Differs from the manual's wording".
Copyright wording: RPI's official template prints "© Copyright year / by / Name / All Rights Reserved"; §1.2 p. 3 shows "© year / By / Name / All rights reserved" (this class follows the manual). Question: is the template's wording acceptable?
Line spacing: RPI's official template uses a 1.4 stretch; §2.1 p. 16 says double spaced (this class uses double). Question: is the template's spacing acceptable?
Computer Modern: RPI's official template uses Computer Modern; §2.1 p. 16 names Times New Roman 12 pt (this class uses a Times-like font). Question: is Computer Modern acceptable?
Co-chairs printed as "Name, Co-Chair" (as in RPI's official template); the manual shows only "Chair".
APPENDICES contents line: with one appendix, is the APPENDICES line needed, or only the appendix's own entry? With several, does it carry a page number (this class gives it one)?
Copyright year: the class prints the graduation year.
Monospaced code in appendices (FC: same font throughout). The code listing recipe in docs/going-further.md uses a typewriter font and documents a text-font alternative.
Algorithms and code listings: the manual does not mention their format. The recipes in docs/going-further.md single-space them (§2.1 p. 16 lists only captions, footnotes, block quotes, attributions, and references), number them by chapter like figures, and give them bold captions with a colon, placed above. They appear in neither the list of tables nor the list of figures, and the recipes add no separate list.
Theorem formatting: the manual is silent; the recipe uses amsthm's default style (bold label, italic statement), numbered by chapter.
Nomenclature title and page numbers: the manual names the section "Nomenclature" (§1.6 p. 13) and asks for it to be formatted like the lists; the recipe's entries have no page numbers, and other titles (LIST OF SYMBOLS, LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS) are unconfirmed.
Sole-authored papers not yet published: §2.8.1 p. 28 exempts sole authors from the Declaration of Co-Contribution, then says submitted, in-review, or to-be-submitted articles still go on it "since you are not the sole author". The guide states the exemption only for a published sole-authored paper, calls a sole-authored paper that is submitted or under review but not yet published unresolved, and sends students to OGE's current checklist or to OGE (docs/submission.md, docs/writing.md, chapters/02-research.tex, and the cheat sheet carry the same wording). Confirm with OGE which reading applies.

Students must still check

Capitalization consistency, full department and committee names, caption wording and case, centering and legibility, every equation numbered, attribution wording (also for sole-authored work) and the Declaration of Co-Contribution (co-authored work), permissions, every reference against the official style guide (including access dates and number format, e.g. ACS), and citation order in sequential numbered styles, especially captions of floats that moved to a later page.

How this stays current

Do not replace working requirements from a search result or an automatically scraped excerpt. Read the current primary document, compare with this map, record its version and source, change the class/examples where needed, then compile and inspect representative PDFs. See the review process (opens in a new tab). Keep changing administrative information, contacts, deadlines, plan limits, and download URLs linked to official pages instead of freezing them in code.