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For Authors of Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice

Contents

Philosophy of Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice

For more information, please see Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice Aims and Scope page.

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Frequently Asked Questions

For a list of Frequently Asked Questions, please download the Author FAQ. FAQ

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Theory to Practice

JSARP seeks to publish practice articles that are firmly grounded in research and literature and research articles that speak to practice. We seek to review manuscripts and publish articles that are innovative, imaginative, and forward thinking regarding issues that impact the student affairs field.

While the JSARP Editors appreciate traditional scholarship, we also welcome and will publish articles that move audiences beyond the commonly accepted or expected discourses. Especially encouraged are manuscripts that are unconventional in nature, as well as those that blend conventional and unconventional scholarly approaches that challenge the traditional paradigm of research methods, analyses, and presentation of data. We will experiment with scholarship that interrupts the traditional higher education dialogue; publish unique and sometimes unsettling ideas; and discuss topics that challenge the traditional higher education perspectives.

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Areas of Emphasis:

Authors are encouraged to consider the foci outlined below as they prepare and submit manuscripts to JSARP:

  • Innovations in Research and Scholarship Features, Associate Editor, Dr. Amy Bergerson, Assistant Professor, University of Utah: Manuscripts submitted for review in this area may include qualitative and quantitative manuscripts that clearly provide a theory-research-practice connection. The manuscripts should be methodologically sound with a clearly defined practice section in which the author(s) shares how the research relates to college or university functioning (e.g., policy issues, community engagement, management, organization, student engagement) and/or how the findings can be used in the practice of administrators, faculty, and students. The manuscripts should provide a unique perspective on current issues impacting our institutions and students. Literature reviews and essays that connect current issues with practice, propose creative models for student affairs practice, or discuss innovative uses of theory are welcome.
  • International Features, Dr. Sandra Hubler Scherrens, Vice President for Student Affairs, George Mason University: The traditional boundaries of the higher education and student affairs field are rapidly expanding with international trends and developments. Definitions of internationalization and globalization are evolving in complexity and perspective, demanding a continual examination of how students are prepared to work and thrive in ever-changing climates. Manuscripts submitted for review in this area should include cutting-edge research on current international issues impacting higher education and student affairs. A clearly articulated relationship among theory, research, and practice is encouraged. Findings and recommendations should provide new knowledge on ways to internationalize campuses. We invite manuscripts that challenge readers to examine and embrace global competencies and skills needed to become active participants in the worldwide transformation.
  • Innovations in Practice Features, Mr. Ray Quirolgico, Assistant to the Vice President for University Life, University of San Francisco:Manuscripts submitted for review in this area of emphasis should describe high-quality illustrations of effective, creative, and collaborative practices, programs, or policies. These illustrations are to be grounded in theory, research, and/or pedagogy as well as convey relevance beyond the institution(s) of the author(s). Evidence of innovation must go beyond simple measures of satisfaction and, instead, illuminate effectiveness and usefulness. Connections to and implications for student learning outcomes, campus missions, strategic plans, and government/governing board mandates or initiatives are especially helpful. We invite manuscripts offering bold vision that challenge readers to think critically and reflectively about student affairs practice.
  • Media Features and Reviews, Dr. Daniel Ryan, Director of Off Campus Student Relations, University of Buffalo:An evolution of the book review format, manuscripts are invited by the Associate Editor and solicited directly from authors that comment on the wide variety of media currently available to student affairs educators. Authors are encouraged to comment on the implications for practice of Internet resources, blogs, newsletters, books, films/videos, presentation materials, and other available media resources.
  • Special Features, Dr. Lee Williams, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Wheaton College:The work of student affairs is often profoundly affected by events and ideas that emerge out of the Zeitgeist: popular culture, politics, business, national and international crises, and current scholarship in other fields. This area of emphasis seeks manuscripts from authors who are able to take those events and ideas and use them as lenses through which we view students and student affairs. We are seeking thoughtful manuscripts and essays that reflect on those events and ideas that both unite and divide us and encourage us to look up from our more immediate tasks and engage with the world around us. Examples include national political and economic challenges; trends in business, media, and the arts; campus-based crises; and other topics that examine the interplay of student affairs with the world beyond our campuses.

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Audience:

The NASPA membership represents a broad constituency of entry-level, intermediate-level, and senior-level professionals who are practitioners, scholars, policy makers, faculty, and executive leaders, among others. These educators have responsibility for a wide variety of institutional responsibilities. JSARP seeks to publish articles that speak to student affairs educators across this broad range of levels and experiences. While the Editors recognize that published articles must be relevant and useful to practitioners, JSARP also serves faculty, researchers, scholars, and academic leaders. Not all articles will speak to all constituencies all the time. But the Editors are committed to publishing an array of articles that, at some point, will speak to all educators who work in student affairs and higher education.

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Types of Manuscripts:

JSARP is interested in publishing innovative, interesting, and relevant articles that span the full range of possible forms. Please consider the following suggested manuscript types* to convey your topic. Any and all of the following manuscript types can be utilized in any area of emphasis. This delineation of manuscript types is not meant to limit but rather assist you to craft a manuscript that is successfully reviewed and published.

  • Theoretical Manuscripts
    "are papers in which the author draws on existing research literature to advance theory" (American Psychological Association, 2001, p. 8) in student affairs and higher education. Similar in structure and form to review manuscripts (see below), theoretical manuscripts are different in that they rarely present data or findings. Theoretical manuscripts may be a review and critiques of existing theories or research findings; extension of existing literature; theoretical critique of practice; or innovative and forward-thinking expositions of current or future state(s) of student affairs and higher education.
  • Review Manuscripts
    "are critical evaluations of material that has already been published" (APA, 2001, p. 7). These manuscripts can be meta-analysis of qualitative or quantitative research, policy analysis, or compilations of existing theories or models in student affairs practice. Review manuscripts often include a) issue being considered, b) summary of previous research and literature, c) identification of relationships, "contradictions, gaps and inconsistencies" (p. 7), and d) implications for practice, policy, and next steps. Review manuscripts that speak to practice in the student affairs and higher education field at large are particularly welcome.
  • Reports of Empirical Research
    are "reports of original research" (APA, 2001, p. 7). The standard form for empirical reports is introduction, method, results, and discussion but authors may adapt that form to fit the parameters of their research method. Reports of Empirical Research manuscripts submitted to JSARP must stress the link between research and practice. Several ways authors can achieve this is by addressing the underlying issues or problem related to practice that inspired the research; reveal the methodology (i.e., name and describe the specific methodology used) and discuss its relevance to the student affairs and higher education field; and/or offer a full discussion of results, implications, and conclusions that relates to practice in student affairs and higher education.
  • Methodological Manuscripts
    discuss new, modified, or applied methodologies in the context of student affairs and higher education. These manuscripts can discuss methodological procedures that are practice-oriented (e.g., assessment, evaluation) or theory-oriented (e.g., research). Data are discussed in these manuscripts only as a way to illustrate the use of the methodology in theory and/or practice.
  • Case Studies
    are a type of manuscript used to present qualitative research findings, discuss an issue or problem in practice (e.g., policy analysis) and solutions to the same, reveal the use of or potential for a research approach, apply theory to practice, or analyze and/or apply an innovative practice. Case studies, whether they are analyzing data or illustrating practice, are grounded in theory.
  • Media Reviews
    summarize and analyze the full range of resources (e.g., blogs, websites, video, books, reports) available to student affairs educators. Media Review manuscripts, informative and critical, allow student affairs educators to learn of media useful to their work. Media reviews, invited and solicited by the Editor, should not exceed 1,200 words, and are to be discussed with the Associate Editor for Media Reviews in advance of submission. NASPA members are invited to suggest cutting edge and novel media to be reviewed in JSARP.

*See the APA Manual for further discussion of these manuscript types.

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The Editorial Review Process and Criteria:

Exclusive journal review: Manuscripts under review by JSARP should not be under consideration by other journals.

Blind review: Any identification of the authorship MUST be removed prior to submitting the manuscript. To assure blind review, ALL identifiers must be removed: names on the cover page, identification embedded in the electronic document properties, references to institutional affiliations, and citations that identify some or all of the authors. The cover page must include only the title of the manuscript. Manuscripts with obvious and/or subtle identifiers will be returned to you for redaction prior to beginning the review process.

Review criteria: Manuscripts will be reviewed by at least three JSARP Editorial Board members. The criteria all relate to the student affairs and higher education field and include:

  1. Exceptional, creative, and relevant application to the wide range of thinking, practices, and perspectives in student affairs and higher education;
  2. Thorough and sound discussion of the practice, theory, issue, policy, and/or topic;
  3. Inclusion of far reaching, relevant, and insightful implications and breakthroughs which go beyond the relevance of the institution(s) under study;
  4. Regarding research manuscripts,
    1. accurate and appropriate description of the methodology,
    2. method aligned with and suitable for the focus of the study,
    3. findings clearly and skillfully communicated,
    4. implications for practice and/or theory clearly communicated, and
    5. quality measures obviously indicated and discussed;
  5. Evidence of high quality, readable, and rigorous writing (e.g., coherent, cohesive, cogent);
  6. Presence of practice implications in theoretical or research-based manuscripts and theoretical implications in practice-based manuscripts;
  7. Rigorous treatment of the ways the theory, research, and/or practice under discussion can make a difference in the field;
  8. Presence of a timely, significant, and appropriate topic;
  9. Evidence of a profound and meaningful level of analysis (theoretical or practical)addressing the concerns, interests, and needs of student affairs educators;
  10. Apparent contribution to current knowledge, literature, scholarship, theory, and practice; and
  11. Research, theory, or practice findings connected to larger areas of concern (e.g., policy, decision making, leadership, student development).

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Technical Requirements:

Length: 7,000 words maximum (inclusive of references, cover page, tables, and all materials). Exceptions, cautiously granted, to this requirement must be discussed with the Executive Editor in advance of manuscript submission.

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: 75 or fewer words.

Figures: All figures must be submitted as a PDF document or EPS or uncompressed Tiff (600 dpi) file in black and white or grey tones.

Language: English or with translations to English included. 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 or requiring additional proofreading, formatting, and/or reference checks will be returned to the author(s) for further editing.

Submission: All manuscripts must be submitted through http://journals.naspa.org/jsarp/

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Editorial Review Process:

  1. Upon receipt, the Editorial Assistant and an Associate Editor will briefly review the manuscript to ensure that it meets the above minimum requirements.
  2. A unique number will be assigned to the manuscript to enable the blind review process. Editorial Board members are also assigned a number to assure the integrity of the blind review process.
  3. Manuscript submission and revising, communication, and the review process are conducted online via BePress, a publisher retained by NASPA. When the manuscript is received, an automatically generated acknowledgement email is sent to the first author. It is the first author’s responsibility to forward these communications to other authors.
  4. The manuscript is assigned for review based on areas of professional and research expertise. The first review is expected to be completed in four weeks but may take longer.
  5. Editorial board members complete their reviews online. Upon completion, these reviews are available through BePress for authors to access.
  6. At the completion of the review, each reviewer makes one of the following recommendations: Reject, Major Revisions Required, Accept Pending Minor Revisions, or Accept. The Executive Editor examines the reviews and renders a final decision. The first author is sent an email outlining that decision with links to a decision letter from the Executive Editor and instructions on how to access the reviews.

    Reject: The manuscript is considered inappropriate for publication in JSARP.

    Major Revisions Required: The manuscript has potential for publication, but must be revised before publication can be considered. The author is to address the editorial comments and make appropriate changes within one month. Authors will submit a revised draft for a second round of editorial review. The second review is expected to be completed in 3 weeks but may take longer. The resubmission and second review does not guarantee acceptance. A third revision may be required.

    Accept Pending Minor Revisions: The manuscripts is considered worthy of publication pending the successful completion of minor revisions. Authors are requested to make the revisions and return the revised manuscript within one month. The Editorial Assistant and Executive Editor review the final manuscript submitted to ensure that the suggestions have been appropriately addressed.

    Accept: The manuscript is considered appropriate and timely for JSARP. An email is sent to the author confirming its acceptance.

  7. Accepted manuscripts are forwarded to a Copy Editor who edits the manuscript for fine detail, sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, APA formatting, etc. The Copy Editor will contact the author, when necessary, about changes.
  8. The Executive Editor and Copy Editor work with the publisher to produce the issue. JSARP is available online through http://journals.naspa.org/jsarp/ four times each calendar year.

Exceptions to any of the above instructions should be discussed with the Executive Editor, prior to submission. Questions about the submission and review process can be directed to , Editorial Assistant.

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Copyright and Open Access Permissions

As further described in our submission agreement, in consideration for publication of the article, the authors assign to NASPA Journals Database all copyright in the article, subject to the expansive personal-use exceptions described below.

Attribution and Usage Policies

Reproduction, posting, transmission or other distribution or use of the article or any material therein, in any medium as permitted by a personal-use exemption or by written agreement of NASPA Journals Database, requires credit to NASPA Journals Database as copyright holder (e.g., NASPA Journals Database © 2010).

Personal-use Exceptions

The following uses are always permitted to the author(s) and do not require further permission from NASPA Journals Database provided the author does not alter the format or content of the articles, including the copyright notification:

  • Posting of the article on the author(s) personal website, provided that the website is non-commercial;
  • Posting of the article on the internet as part of a non-commercial open access institutional repository or other non-commercial open access publication site affiliated with the author(s)'s place of employment (e.g., a Phrenology professor at the University of Southern North Dakota can have her article appear in the University of Southern North Dakota's Department of Phrenology online publication series);
  • To assist authors with NIH grants to comply with the National Institutes of Health Public Access Policy, all articles that specify NIH funding during the submission process will be automatically deposited by bepress into PubMedCentral, where they shall be made freely available 12 months after the official date of publication.
  • Posting of the article on a non-commercial course website for a course being taught by the author at the university or college employing the author; and
  • Storage and back-up of the article on the author's computer(s) and digital media (e.g., diskettes, back-up servers, Zip disks, etc.), provided that the article stored on these computers and media is not readily accessible by persons other than the author(s).

People seeking an exception, or who have questions about use, should contact NASPA Journals Database at .

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