Edited sentence: (1993) "Silent Success: Master's Education in the United States", Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press., Haworth, J.A few of these characteristics include - immersion, doing centered learning, individualization, and tangible product.An institutional repository changes the incentives.At best, the paper is an opportunity to provide useful knowledge to the world and show off a students strengths (it can be used as evidence in a job interview).At worst, the process changes incentives because neither the student nor the professor wants to be embarrassed by the product.Conrad, C.Conrad, J.For papers that are posted to an institutional repository, downloads can be a measure of the value.Haworth and S.How valuable are the knowledge and skills a student learns.In most classes when a student does a research paper, the process is very private.In the best of all possible worlds, the student gets detailed feedback from the professor.In the worst case scenario, the teacher skims the paper and returns it with a grade and no comment.In their book, "Silent Success: Master's Education in the United States" C.In these cases, no one knows if the professor did or did not read the paper.It is a private behind closed door affair.Miller (1993) discuss the characteristics of high quality Master's programs.Most professors are ethical professionals and work hard at their job.Student capstone papers posted to an Institutional Repository lead to greater transparency.The academic community is asking;  how can one judge what a student learns.The papers themselves could be examined to answer the question – what did the student learn.The student submits it to the professor and receives a grade.The world can see the capabilities of the students of the institution.There is an incentive for the best to be better and the worst to rise to a higher standard.There is an incentive to give a high grade.There is no incentive for the student to question a high grade.These are questions provosts around the country are struggling with.This is a good thing.Unfortunately, the incentives and processes depend on very high ethics for the best outcome.When Capstone papers  (Master's Theses, Applied Research Projects, Honor's Theses) are placed in an institutional repository, the whole world has access to them.When master's capstone papers are posted to an institutional repository, all of these qualities are reinforced.and Miller, S