Journal of College and Character

Instructions for Authors

ONLINE SUBMISSION OF MANUSCRIPTS

Types of Submissions

Double-Blind Review

Overview

* Length: 5,500 words maximum (inclusive of references, cover page, tables, and all materials). Exceptions to this requirement must be discussed with the co-editors in advance of manuscript submission.
* Self-identification: Authors must avoid self-identification in the text or in references.
* Content: Manuscripts submitted for double-blind review may employ qualitative, quantitative, conceptual, or philosophical methods that demonstrate the relationship between theory and research, specifically how the research relates to the moral and civic education of students in the higher education setting. Reviewers generally evaluate manuscripts on the basis of these criteria: relevance to the purpose of the journal, which is to help educators in colleges and universities to make decisions or gain insight into ways of more effectively promoting the moral and civic education of college students; quality of scholarship; soundness of argument (not just description); clarity, conciseness, and readability; originality; and usefulness to college and university staff and faculty, higher education scholars and policy makers, and others interested in the moral and civic education of students in the higher education setting.

Process

The co-editors and associate editors review the manuscript to ensure that it meets the above requirements and if so, a co-editor sends the manuscript to two reviewers.  Each reviewer makes one of the following recommendations:

* Reject: The manuscript is judged to be unacceptable for publication in JCC.
* Return to author for major modifications: The manuscript has potential for publication, but must be revised before publication can be considered. The author is expected to address comments and make appropriate changes within one month. Authors will submit a revised draft for a second round of review. The resubmission and second review do not guarantee acceptance.
* Return to author for minor modifications: Manuscripts are often considered worthy of publication pending successful completion of minor revisions. The co-editors review the final manuscript with revisions submitted (within one month) to ensure that authors have addressed the suggestions appropriately.
* Accept: The manuscript is considered appropriate and timely for JCC. Coeditors send a letter to the author confirming acceptance.
The co-editors review conclusions and make a final decision. This final decision is sent to the first author via email.  Co-editors suggest general editing changes to the authors.  Technical editors edit the manuscript for fine detail, sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, etc.  The co-editors work with the publisher to publish the issue.

Reviewed By Editors

Best Practices (Program and/or Practice Descriptions)

Length: 3000

Content: Best Practices manuscripts are reviewed by editors on the basis of how well authors provide a scholarly interpretation and implication of the results/outcomes of institutional efforts for educational practice and support a clear thesis with evidence that the initiatives have made a significant educational impact. They should include the following elements: (a) description of the innovative aspects of the program; (b) identification of the learning objectives; (c) discussion of the process by which the program was developed and implemented; (d) an analysis of the key factors responsible for the program's success; (e) a summary of significant results or outcomes;  and (f) discussion of implications for future practice and replication.

Opinions and Perspectives (Theoretical Manuscripts)

Length: 3000

Content: Essays, which are reviewed by editors, generally present little or no data or findings. They may be examinations of existing theories or research findings; elaborations of relevant literature; theoretical analyses of practice; or original arguments or conceptual analyses relating to ways colleges and universities influence the moral and civic learning and behaviors of college students and/or the development of moral and civic values during the college years.

Manuscript Guidelines
 
Format: American Psychological Association (2010) (6th Edition)
 
Spacing and Fonts: Double-spaced, including references, block quotes, tables, and figures, consistently applied throughout the manuscript. Standard 12 point font throughout.
 
Abstract: 100 or fewer words
 
Language: English writing free of prejudiced, biased, or disrespectful language.
 
Voice: Active voice to the greatest extent possible. Research findings reported in past tense.
 
Professional preparation: Manuscripts exceeding the length limits (unless or requiring additional proofreading, formatting, and/or reference checks) will be returned to the author(s) for further editing.
 
Online Submission: All manuscripts must be submitted online through http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/naspa_jcc 
 
Time Frame: Publication decisions are usually made within three months after the manuscript is submitted. The time of publication of the article is generally within six months after the author is notified that the manuscript is accepted.

Book Review Information

De Gruyter Copyright and Open Access Permissions

1. The following agreement is effective if and when the Article submitted to be published by Walter de Gruyter GmbH/ Walter de Gruyter, Inc. (the "Publisher") is accepted.

2.1 The Author/Editor grants (for U.S. or U.K. government employees: to the extent transferable according to applicable law or regulations) to the Publisher the following rights to the Article, including any supplemental material, and any parts, extracts or elements thereof:

- the right to reproduce and distribute the Article in printed form, including print-on-demand;
- the right to produce prepublications, reprints, and special editions of the Article;
- the right to translate the Article into other languages;
- the right to reproduce the Article using photomechanical or similar means including, but not limited to photocopy, and the right to distribute these reproductions;
- the right to reproduce and distribute the Article electronically or optically on any and all data carriers or storage media - especially in machine readable/digitalized form on data carriers such as hard drive, CD-Rom, DVD, Blu-ray Disc (BD), Mini-Disk, data tape - and the right to reproduce and distribute the Article via these data carriers; the right to store the Article in databases, including online databases, and the right of transmission of the Article in all technical systems and modes; the right to make the Article available to the public or to closed user groups on individual demand, for use on monitors or other readers (including e-books), and in printable form for the user, either via the internet, other online services, or via internal or external networks.

2.2. The rights pursuant to clause 2.1 shall be granted as exclusive rights for the duration of the copyright, each unlimited in geographic scope. Should the Author wish to reproduce and distribute the Article elsewhere after one year following publication, the Author must obtain the written consent of the Publisher. Taking into account the interests on both sides, the Publisher shall not unreasonably withhold its consent. If the Article is submitted by the Editor, the Editor shall inform the Author(s) of this provision.

2.3. The Publisher may transfer the rights granted to it pursuant to clauses 2.1 and 2.2 in whole or in part to third parties, or may grant licenses to third parties to use rights to which it is entitled. Any claims from agreements between the Author and reprographic rights societies, in particular the German VG Wort, to which the Author is entitled shall remain unaffected.

2.4. The Author/Editor furthermore grants the Publisher the exclusive and permanent rights without any restriction as to content and territory for all forms of media of expression now known or that will be developed in the future. The grant of rights shall also extend to the exploitation of rights of use both in the Publisher's own publishing company and through the grant (including a partial grant) of rights to third parties in exchange for remuneration or free of charge.

3. Obligations of the Author/Editor
The Author/Editor warrants that a) Author is the Author of the Article or, if Editor, Editor has properly and irrevocably acquired without restriction any and all rights in and to the Article to the extent as stated in clause 2.1.; b) Author/Editor is entitled without restriction to grant such rights to the Publisher; c) the Article is not libelous and does not infringe on any copyrights, performing rights, trademark rights, personal rights or any other third party rights or is otherwise unlawful; and d) the Article or substantial parts thereof have not been published elsewhere.

4. Retention of Rights
The Author/Editor may deposit an Author-created version of the Article on Author's/Editor's funder's or funder's designated repository at the funder's request or as a result of a legal obligation, provided it is not made publicly available until 12 months after official publication. Author/Editor may not use the Publisher's PDF version, which is posted on www.degruyter.com, for the purpose of that deposit. Additionally, the Author/Editor may deposit the Publisher's PDF version of the Article on Author's/Editor's own website or Author's/Editor's institute's designated repository, provided it is not made publicly available until 12 months after official publication. Furthermore, the Author/Editor may only post the Article provided acknowledgement is given to the original source of publication and a link is inserted to the published Article on Publisher's website. The link must be accompanied by the following text: "The final publication is available at www.degruyter.com". The Author/Editor is requested to use the appropriate DOI for the Article.

5. Backup Copy
The Author/Editor shall be obliged to retain a back-up copy of the manuscript (data file and print out or PDF, as well as copy for illustrations).

6. Reversion of Rights
All rights pursuant to clauses 2 to 4 shall revert to the Author should the Article be rejected during the publication process.

7. Proofreading
Upon receiving the proofs, the Author/Editor agrees to promptly check the proofs carefully, correct any typographical errors, and authorize the publication of the corrected proofs.