Publications Policies and Procedures
- There are two publication series in VAES – the VAES Bulletin Series and the VAES Information Series. Details of each are given below:
BULLETIN SERIES – This Series provides researchers with an alternative for publishing data from Station research projects. The format allows publication of longer manuscripts than are usually accepted by refereed journals. Unit and VAES peer reviews are required for manuscripts submitted for publication in this series. To meet the criteria for a VAES Bulletin, manuscripts should have:
- A state or regional focus, plus
- Substantive results collected over a period of years, or
- Results of experiments conducted in a single year that net significant scientific breakthroughs, or
- Announcements of new plant variety releases including performance data compared with those of standard varieties, pedigree, etc.
INFORMATION SERIES – This Series provides scientific information in a less formal structure and allows publication of scientific literature reviews, historical progress reports, proceedings of important symposia, and presentation of scientific data in a less formal structure. Unit and VAES peer reviews are required for manuscripts submitted for publication in this series.
- Both series are posted electronically on the VAES website - http://www.vaes.vt.edu/research/research.html. If paper versions are desired, the author and/or unit will bear the printing costs.
- The prime responsibility for the scientific soundness of a research manuscript rests with the author(s) and the unit from which it originated.
- INTENT-TO-PUBLISH FORM – This form must be completed and submitted during the earliest stages of manuscript preparation for all manuscripts proposed for publication in either the Bulletin Series or the Information Series. It serves to alert VAES that a manuscript is forthcoming and allow VAES, the author(s), and Communications staff to plan the publication timetable.
- COMPOSITION – The author(s) will prepare the manuscript according to the guidelines at http://www.cals.vt.edu/communications/publicationsprocess.html; beginning with "Preparing the Manuscript."
- PEER REVIEW – The senior author will forward a copy of the manuscript to the Department/Unit Head for review. Following Unit review, the author will submit a .pdf file or two copies of the manuscript and the VAES Manuscript Review Form to the VAES Director's office (cindylynn@vt.edu). Two peer reviewers, anonymous to the author(s), will be selected from Virginia Tech or from outside the University if special expertise is not present locally. The Unit leader will be consulted when outside reviewers are deemed necessary. Reviewers will complete the VAES Manuscript Review Form and return it, along with the edited manuscript, to the VAES Director who will forward them to the author. Acceptance or rejection of the manuscript will be decided after consideration of the reviewers' comments.
- COMPLETION – If accepted for publication, the author will revise the manuscript according to the reviewers' suggestions and submit it on disk or CD to the VAES Director. In the event that all recommendations are not included, then sufficient written rebuttals must be supplied by the author. The VAES Director will forward the disk/CD to the Office of Communications and Marketing for editing, design, layout, web posting, and printing (if applicable).
- When appropriate, manuscripts for publication in either VAES publication series should carry a disclaimer indicating that the use of brand names does not constitute an endorsement by VAES.
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