About JCES

JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND

SCHOLARSHIP

The University of AlabamaJCES

Dr. Samory T. Pruitt, publisher

Vice President for Community Affairs Executive Director, Center for Community-Based PartnershipsThe University of Alabama

Dr. Cassandra Simon, editor

Associate Professor, School of Social Work The University of Alabama

Dr. Heather Pleasants, book review editor

Director, Community EducationCenter for Community-Based PartnershipsThe University of Alabama

Dr. Edward Mullins, production editor

Professor Emeritus of Journalism CCBP Director, Community Research and CommunicationThe University of Alabama

Jessica Averitt Taylor, assistant to the editor

Doctoral Student in Social WorkThe University of Alabama

Antonio Rogers, layout editor, 2008-2010

Master’s Student in AdvertisingThe University of Alabama

Andrea Mabry, web producer

Master’s Student in American StudiesThe University of Alabama

Marion Walding, layout editor, 2010 -

Master’s Student in American StudiesThe University of Alabama

Faculty Involvement Student Involvement

“How exciting to see the inaugural copy…I rushed home and savored the pages…The format is a nice break from the usual—rather refreshing to read.” Nancy K. Franz, Extension Specialist, Program Development , Virginia Tech University

“It is impressive! Job well done.” Dr. F. David Mathews, President, Kettering Foundation, Dayton, Ohio

FIRST FOUR ISSUES

JCES

New Issue Reflects Progress in Engaged Scholarship

“(This issue) … is reflective of so much of what is going on in engaged scholarship … . It is filled with examples of innovative and forward-thinking approaches to addressing complex issues through connecting communities, students, and faculty. … (It addresses) issues like STDs and AIDs in the college community and the implementation of a wellness policy for a rural school system. … ” — Editor Simon

“Our current issue is no different (i.e., always something new to share). Yet this time the excitement comes from the advancements in the field of engaged scholarship since the inception of JCES.” — Editor Cassie Simon

FOURTH ISSUE

JCES

For abstracts of all articles to date:

http://jces.ua.edu/abstracts/abstracts.html#4.3

For subscriptions, send an e-mail to:

[email protected],

To submit a manuscript, see:

http://jces.ua.edu/submit/submit.html

For a list of the editors and staff, go to:

http://jces.ua.edu/about/staff.html

To learn who is on the editorial board, go to:

http://jces.ua.edu/about/editorialBoard.html

ABOUT THE JOURNAL

Published by the Office of Community Affairs at The University of Alabama, JCES is a peer-reviewed international journal through which faculty, staff, students, and community partners disseminate scholarly works. JCES integrates teaching, research, and community engagement in all disciplines, addressing critical problems identified through a collaborative process.

Designed to fill a demand for research that integrates teaching, research, and service, JCES also has a goal of appealing to all citizens, not just academics. Journal editors and editorial board members seek manuscripts and supporting materials such as photos, graphics, and videography that can be readily comprehended and valued by community partners whose situations and collaboration may have prompted the research in the first place.

GOALS:

To disseminate engaged scholarship across a wide spectrum of disciplines, integrating teaching, research, and service

To become the leading journal in the field, publishing the best research in the world of engaged scholarship

To lead the discussion about the role of engaged scholarship in the tenure, promotion, and reward system

To be a journal that makes a difference, not only on campus but among community partners

To attract a representative editorial board in terms of disciplines, regions, race, gender, and methodologies

To use conventional as well as multimedia forms in our presentation of scholarly work

A New Kind of Research Journal

Overcoming traditional scholarship paradigms and “silos”

Establishing equitable and meaningful partnerships

Maintaining rigor while reconceptualizating rigor

Addressing tenure, promotion, and reward concerns

Discovering key subject matter and recruiting distinguished contributors

Making the journal relevant to campuses and communities

Involving students and community partners more deeply in scholarship, resulting in co-authorship

Developing a symbiotic relationship between the journal and related website, and connecting with other journals

Making photography, audio, and video integral, not an add-on

Challenges and IssuesJCES

What JCES is looking for in manuscripts

• Co-authorship by students and community partners is a bonus• Good, narrative writing that defines technical terms and avoids “academese”• Added value from related photographs, video, and charts that “tell the story,” not just document the research

• Topics that matter to the community and to the academy• Student involvement• Variety in research approaches and methodologies• Community involvement that is reflected in the manuscript, not just in the mechanics

Engineers Without Borders students bringing water purity to village in Peru. (JCES Vol. 1, No. 1)

5 Major Types of Contributions

• Standard research/conceptual manuscript• Research from the Field

- Practice/Case-Study Oriented- Best practices, practice wisdom, and applied knowledge - 10 – 15 double spaced pages

• Community Partner Commentary• Student Section (for more on this, see www.jces.ua.edu)• Book Reviews

JCES

• Microsoft Word

• Double-spaced Times New Roman 12-point type

• 25-page maximum for text (excluding tables, charts, photographs, and references)

• Required reference style is the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th edition)

• Authors should submit two copies of their manuscript: a masked copy and an unmasked copy, with identifying information removed from the masked copy

General Manuscript Preparation

JCES

About the Masked Copy

The masked (formerly known as "blind") copy should contain no identifying information (author names, university names, etc.) in order to maintain the integrity of our peer review process. The unmasked copy is for our production crew. Once the review process is complete, they then have all the production information and can proceed with layout and design without delay.

In your masked copy, use brackets to indicate that identifying information has been removed. For instance, rather than refer to The University of Alabama, you would refer to [the university]. Our reviewers understand that these brackets indicate the removal of potentially identifying information.

Review Process (1 of 3 slides)

11 Manuscript Receipt• scan for style standards; request revisions if necessary• assign manuscript number• send acknowledgement email with manuscript number to primary (corresponding) author• select appropriate reviewers

22 First Review• send to reviewers: review request, masked manuscript, review form• reassign manuscript if reviewers unable to complete review• send to reviewers: reminder email one week after requested return date if reviews not yet returned• send to editor: combined reviewer comments/rating form• send to reviewers: masked copies of both reviews and masked manuscript

3 3 Editor Decision • accept (if accepted, proceed to step 8)• recommend author revisions and resubmission• reject (end of process)


44 Revise and Resubmit Request• notify primary (corresponding)author of decision• send to author: letter from editor, document with masked reviewer comments, and manuscript with masked editor/reviewer edits/tracked changes (if applicable)• request resubmission within 4 weeks

5 5 Resubmission and Second Review• scan for standards (especially masked and unmasked copies); if necessary, contact author with request for revisions to meet standards• reassign manuscript to original reviewers for re-review• send to reviewers: masked manuscript, copy of masked revision request letter from editor to primary author, masked document with original reviewer comments, review form, and masked manuscript with editor/reviewer edits/tracked changes • send to reviewers: reminder email one week after requested return date if reviews not yet returned • send to editor: combined reviewer comments/rating form• send to reviewers: masked copies of both reviews and masked manuscript

66 Editor Decision• accept (if accepted, proceed to step 8)• accept with minor revision• reject (end of process)


77 Accept with Minor Revision• send to primary (corresponding) author: notification of decision, requested revisions to be returned within two weeks• once revisions received, read thoroughly to ensure completion of all requests

88 Edit for Publication• final editing by JCES staff• negotiate edited manuscript with author• send official acceptance letter and copyright forms for author signatures

99 Publication

Scholarly Contribution and/or Expertise in Community Engagement

Review Criteria

Shows originality of thought and creativity Expands understanding of the topic or insightfully links

to other topics or disciplines Treats topic in a sound manner and provides adequate

conceptualization Demonstrates a logical and sufficient methodology when

appropriate Presents a logical and sufficient rationale regarding

primary topic of manuscript Reflects knowledge of relevant work/literature in the

topic area Provides adequate documentation and acknowledgment

of sources Presents conclusions and/or recommendations in

keeping with the focus of the article and the research

Relevance to Education and/or Community Engagement

Review Criteria

Demonstrates central involvement of students and/or community involvement

Discusses an important, new, innovative, and/or timely issue that contributes to advancing the field

Audience targeted by the author is evident and the article is truly useful for this audience

Topic of interest or importance to a large enough segment of the journal’s readership

Relevant to education and community engagement Pedagogical value and translation potential in teaching,

scholarly, and civic engagement Contribution to future research, teaching, or community

engaged scholarship

Style and Readability

Review Criteria

Abstract encapsulates: Topic or purpose of study or relevance of the discussion, methods (if appropriate), and general conclusions or major thoughts; all in up to 150 words or less

Presents material concisely without omitting pertinent information

Clearly and logically communicates information about the topic

Contains appropriate examples for illustration of concepts

Uses a minimum of jargon Is readable and written so as to maintain reader’s

interest

Values

Review Criteria

• Positions own point of view clearly vis-à-vis the topic• Presents alternative points of view when appropriate• Demonstrates freedom from prejudice and bias

JCES Review Criteria Rubric

Scholarly contributions 5Outstanding and

creative

4Above average

3Average

2Small contribution

1No scholarly contribution

Practice/community contributions 5Outstanding and

creative

4Above average

3Average

2Small contribution

1No

practice/community contribution

Pedagogical value to the classroom, scholarship, and/or civic engagement

5Very important

4Important

3Modest

2Trivial

1None

Adequacy of method/ approach 5Appropriate

4Adequate

3Minor problems

2Major problems

1Inadequate

Appropriateness of data analysis/Soundness of reasoning

5Appropriately

chosen & properly performed/Well

reasoned

4Adequate

3Minor problems

2Major problems

1Inappropriate

Clarity of writing 5Excellent

4Readable

3Minor problems

2Major problems

1Unclear

Interest to JCES readers 5Of interest to all

JCES readers

4Of interest to

majority of JCES

3Of interest to half or

less than half of JCES readers

2Of interest to very few JCES readers

1Not relevant to JCES

readers

JCES

JCES Continues to Streamline Its Review ProcessJCES

Most authors viewed the new peer-review process as quite an improvement.

Multimedia Aspirations

Photo Gallery

Interactivity

77 universities and organizations represented by JCES submissions

97 manuscripts submitted (November 2010)

By the NumbersJCES

Annual Subscription Rates:

Individuals, USA: $30

Institution, USA: $50

Students: $10

PDF of individual articles: $15

Postage outside USA: Please include an additional $8 for subscriptions outside the USA.

Postage inside USA is by surface mail—no additional charge.

To contact JCES, please email [email protected]