Peer Reviewer Overview
The Journal of College Orientation, Transition, and Retention seeks individuals willing to serve as Peer Reviewers. The Peer Reviewer position provides an opportunity for individuals new to the journal review process to develop skills and experience, and gives experienced reviewers an opportunity to engage more deeply with the field of orientation, transition, and retention and our parent organization, NODA.
Role Summary
The peer review process is essential to scholarly publishing. It involves individuals reading and critically evaluating research articles (manuscripts) to ensure they are high-quality, relevant, and scientifically sound before publication. This process ensures the quality and reliability of the Journal’s content.
Peer Reviewers provide evaluations of submitted articles (manuscripts) based on their professional experience, academic background, and/or interest in the topic. The Peer Reviewers are important members of the Editorial Board, which also includes Associate Editors, Senior Associate Editors of various sections, Managing Editor/NODA Staff Representative and the Editor-in-Chief.
Key Responsibilities
- Review 2-3 manuscripts per academic semester
- Use JCOTR’s reviewer rubric and comment guidelines. Clear instructions and structure are provided through this rubric to guide your evaluation and feedback
- Return reviews within 3–4 weeks
Ideal Qualifications
- Candidates for the position of Peer Reviewer must have served in a professional capacity in the fields of orientation, transition, or retention for at least five years -OR- contributed scholarly work to the fields of orientation, transition, or retention
- Ability to read and critically assess academic writing, or a willingness to learn the manuscript review process
- Commitment to the review timeline and contributing to the peer review process
Benefits of Service
Joining the JCOTR Editorial Review Board offers significant professional development, including:
- Developing critical thinking and scholarly writing assessment skills.
- Gaining experience with the scholarly publishing process (valuable for aspiring authors).
- Networking with the JCOTR Editorial Review Board and NODA colleagues.
- Staying current on the latest research in orientation, transition, and retention.
Responsibilities and Estimated Time Commitment
- 2–3 hours per month to review submissions
- Quarterly attendance at JCOTR Editorial Review Board virtual meetings
- Email correspondence and timely follow-up on editorial management questions
- Meet timelines as required for review of manuscripts (Peer Reviewers get 30 days to review)