Please read these instructions carefully and follow them closely to ensure that the review and publication of your paper is as efficient and quick as possible. The editors reserve the right to return manuscripts that are not prepared and submitted in accordance with these instructions.

Submitting a manuscript

All material to be considered for publication should be submitted in electronic form via our online journal system.

The online journal system should send an automated acknowledgement of the receipt of papers. Please contact the managing editor, if you do not receive this notification. The journal aims to obtain reviews within eight weeks. Estimated time from initial submission to publication is five to six months. However, the publication time may take longer due to the impacts of COVID-19.

Authors cannot make revisions after the editor has approved and accepted the manuscript in its final form.

Manuscript length and structure

Manuscripts must be 7,000 words or less, inclusive of references, tables, figures, etc. and formatted in Microsoft Word (.doc). Manuscripts should be free of grammatical errors and should adhere to the requirements of APA style.

Abstract

The abstract should be understandable to readers before they have read the paper, clearly state the manuscript’s significance to the reader and field of study, and should not contain reference citations. We invite authors to submit a second version of their abstract into an additional language. Authors have full responsibility for the accuracy of any non-English abstract.

The journal uses a semi-structured abstract, which must be no more than 200 words and address each of these topics as appropriate to the paper’s topic, aims, and methods:

• The challenge: Clearly identify the focal issue of the article. Describe its nature, origins and importance. Why does this issue matter, and to whom does it matter?
• Potential consequences: Who is affected by this issue and how will addressing it improve the situation?
• Description/analysis/methods: What are the main strategies, ideas, and innovations related to the issue? Describe the methods used to measure impact/outcomes so that the reader can understand and potentially replicate your work.
• Rationale/reflection/replication: What is noteworthy about the findings? What differentiates your work from what others have done and are doing? What lessons did you learn? What worked well? What did not work well? What is important for readers to know in order to replicate or extend upon your efforts?

Online search engine optimization

Many readers find articles online by using search engines such as Google and Google Scholar. Therefore, including key words and phrases—particularly in the title, abstract, and keywords—that people are likely to use to search should make your article more discoverable.

Cover letter and manuscript for review

Please submit a cover letter and an anonymized version of the main document with a title page and abstract but no author details or acknowledgements. This version will be sent to the reviewers. Include all tables, figures, charts and the reference list in the anonymized main document.

Title page with complete information

As a separate document, in addition to the anonymized version, submit a title page with complete information. This title page must contain the title of paper and the names, positions, affiliations and email addresses for all authors. Only one author must be designated as the corresponding author. The title page should also include any acknowledgements and funding sources involved in supporting the work. Finally, indicate the total word count for the main document on the title page.

Any deletions or additions to the author list after a paper is accepted must be submitted to the editor in writing and be signed by all original and new authors.

To help ensure that the authors’ names are tagged correctly for accurate indexing online, please note the following about author names: (i) all names have the correct spelling; (ii)are written in this order: first (given) name, then family name; and (ii) any initials are correct.

Authorship teams and credit

We encourage and welcome the submission of manuscripts prepared by diverse authorship teams, including contributors with various backgrounds, scholarly perspectives, racial/ethnic identities, genders, experiences, and roles (e.g. graduate students, partners, experienced scholars,) etc.

Authorship credit and order should reflect the individual’s actual and relative contributions to the study and manuscript. An author is anyone involved with the initial research design, data collection and analysis OR drafting or revising the manuscript, AND who gives final approval of the version to be published AND agrees to be accountable for all aspects of the work. The following do not necessarily qualify an individual for authorship: providing funding or resources, mentorship, or contributing research sources and materials but not helping to write, review and review the publication itself. Learn more about authorship and contributorship from COPE.

The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring the authorship team reaches consensus regarding all aspects of the submission including authorship order and the accuracy of author affiliations. The corresponding author is also responsible for liaising with co-authors regarding any editorial processes, and to act on behalf of all co-authors in any communication about the article through submission, peer review, production, and post-publication. By submitting and publishing your work in the journal using the Online Journal System, the corresponding author accepts the publishing agreement terms on behalf of all listed authors. On the date of publication, copyright will be assigned automatically to the corresponding author, the copyright year will be set automatically based on the publication date, and the license will be set automatically to CC Attribution 4.0.

ORCID

Metropolitan Universities journal endorses ORCID and requires that the corresponding author provide an ORCID iD when submitting a manuscript. We encourage co-authors to register and link their ORCID to the submission as well. We publish the corresponding author’s ORCID iD as well as any ORCIDs provided by co authors if the manuscript is accepted. Learn more about ORCID.

References

Authors should consider incorporating and referencing works from an inclusive range of researchers and scholars including but not limited to women, individuals and institutions from the Global South and non-English works where digital translation tools enable their use.

Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) should be included for each reference. DOIs can be found at www.crossref.org. This is a free service that allows a user to submit a formatted reference list and receive DOIs for the cited articles.

Authors are responsible for checking the accuracy of all references.

Use of inclusive language

The use of inclusive language is a priority for Metropolitan Universities journal, and the editorial team will make suggestions, if needed, to ensure that final manuscripts are free of bias and follow both APA and the journal’s standards for inclusive language. Metropolitan Universities journal updates its standards for inclusive language as needed based on best practices and national updates, including changes to APA standards.

Before submitting, authors must review their manuscript and use updated inclusive language based on the preferred nomenclature listed below:

• Use gender-neutral pronouns and avoid gendered language unless it is necessary within the research context, e.g., use “chair” instead of “chairman” and “they” rather than “he or she.”
• Be clear about whether your research refers to a racial group or to an ethnic group. Racial and ethnic groups are designated by proper nouns and are capitalized, e.g., “Black,” “White,” “Native American,” “Indigenous,” etc.
• Multi-word names do not use hyphens, even if the names are modifiers, e.g., “Asian American” not “Asian-American.”
• Use non-gendered versions of ethnic identifiers, unless the gendered version is needed due to the research context or reflects a cultural preference, e.g., use “Latinx” as a gender-neutral or non-binary term instead of “Latino.”
• When a manuscript references non-White racial or ethnic groups as a whole, it is preferred to eliminate the word “minorities” and instead use “people of color” or “underrepresented groups.”

Acknowledgements, and funding and conflicts of interest

Acknowledgements and details of non-financial support must be included on the title page with complete information. Personal acknowledgements should precede those of institutions or agencies. Acknowledgement of funding bodies and declarations regarding conflicts of interest should be given in separate sections on the title page.

Proofs

After a manuscript is accepted and copy-edited for publication, the corresponding author will receive page proofs via email from the managing editor. The authorship team should check these immediately, and email the managing editor with any corrections and answers to questions within one week. It is the authors’ responsibility to check proofs thoroughly.

PRAXIS Submission Guidelines

Introduction

The PRAXIS option is designed for authors who wish to contribute scholarly articles that provide critical analyses, syntheses, and applications of existing research and theories, as well as practice-based research and theory-building approaches to the practice-theory gap, without the necessity of presenting original empirical data. This option is ideal for practitioners, theorists, educational philosophers, scholar-practitioners, and educators who aim to bridge the gap between research and practice. Praxis submissions will still have clear lines of inquiry, a methodological approach to the inquiry, and clear implications for practice and scholarship.

Article Types

Submissions can include, but are not limited to:

• Literature Reviews: Comprehensive overviews of existing research on a particular topic.
• Theoretical Articles: Proposals or critiques of theories, models, or frameworks.
• Epistemological Explorations: Lines of inquiry that provide alternative discussions to theories, models, or frameworks.
• Methodological Papers: Discussions of research methods or approaches.
• Applied Research Reviews: Analysis of how existing research can be applied in practical settings.
• Case Studies: Detailed examinations of specific instances using existing research and theories to explain or analyze the case (course, program, institutional context).

Manuscript Preparation

General Formatting

Authors are expected to prepare manuscripts consistent with our Information for Authors. 

• Length: Manuscripts should typically be between 5,000 and 7,000 words, including references, tables, and figures.
• File Format: Submissions should be in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) format.
• Font: Use Times New Roman, 12-point font.
• Spacing: Double-spaced throughout, including references and footnotes.
• Margins: 1-inch margins on all sides.
• Page Numbers: Number all pages consecutively.

Structure

Title Page

• Title of the manuscript
• Full names of all authors
• Institutional affiliations
• Contact information for the corresponding author
• Abstract
• 150-250 words summarizing the main points of the article.
• Keywords: Include 4-6 keywords for indexing purposes.

Main Text

• Introduction: Briefly introduce the topic, its significance, and the purpose of the article.
• Literature Review/Theoretical Background: Detailed analysis or synthesis of existing research or theories.
• Discussion/Analysis: In-depth discussion and critical analysis of the reviewed literature or theoretical perspectives.
• Implications for Practice: Explanation of how the findings or arguments can be applied in practical settings.
• Conclusion: Summarize key points and suggest directions for future research or practice.

References

• Follow the APA (7th edition) style for all citations and references.
• Ensure all references cited in the text are listed in the reference section and vice versa.
• Appendices (if applicable)

Include any supplementary material that is essential for understanding the main text.

Submission Process

• Submission System: Manuscripts should be submitted through the journal’s online submission portal.
• Cover Letter: Include a cover letter outlining the manuscript’s contribution to the field and its relevance to the Praxis Option.
• Peer Review: All submissions will undergo a double-blind peer review process. Ensure the manuscript does not contain any identifying information.

Ethical Considerations

• Originality: The manuscript should be an original work that has not been previously published or under consideration elsewhere.
• Permissions: Authors are responsible for obtaining permission for any copyrighted material used in the manuscript.
• Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the research or interpretation of findings.

Review and Revision

• Initial Review: The editorial team will conduct an initial review to ensure the manuscript fits the journal’s scope and guidelines.
• Peer Review: Manuscripts passing the initial review will be sent to at least two reviewers for double-blind peer review.
• Revisions: Authors may be asked to revise their manuscripts based on reviewer feedback. Revised manuscripts should be resubmitted within the specified time frame.

• Final Submission
• Copyediting: Ensure the final version is thoroughly proofread for errors.
• Formatting: Confirm adherence to all formatting guidelines before final submission.

Further Explanation of Article Types

Literature Reviews

Definition: Literature reviews provide a comprehensive overview of existing research on a specific topic. These articles synthesize findings from multiple studies to identify trends, gaps, and overarching conclusions.

Purpose:

• To summarize the current state of knowledge on a topic.
• To identify areas where further research is needed.
• To highlight inconsistencies or debates within the literature.

Structure:

• Introduction: Define the topic and the scope of the review.
• Body: Organized by themes, trends, or chronological order, summarizing and synthesizing key findings from the literature.
• Conclusion: Summarize key insights and suggest directions for future research.

Example: A literature review submission focused on the literature of community development frameworks that include higher education institutions as key stakeholders, demonstrating the gap in literature and suggesting the anchor institution framework approaches community development differently.

Theoretical Articles

Definition: Theoretical articles discuss and propose new theories or models, or critique and expand existing ones. These papers do not present original empirical data but focus on advancing theoretical understanding.

Purpose:

• To propose new conceptual frameworks or models.
• To refine, critique, or expand existing theories.
• To discuss the implications of theoretical advancements for practice or further research.

Structure:

• Introduction: Introduce the theoretical framework or problem.
• Literature Review: Provide background on existing theories or models.
• Theory Development: Present the new theory or modifications to existing theories.
• Discussion: Analyze the implications of the theory for research and practice.
• Conclusion: Summarize key contributions and suggest future research directions.

Example: A theoretical article submission provides a theory-building approach to how community engagement programs impact a student’s social and economic mobility.

Epistemological/Ontological Explorations

Definition: Epistemological exploration articles will challenge traditional epistemological approaches and introduce other ways of knowing and doing, which may include cultural, ethnic, and/or indigenous ways of knowing and doing. They discuss and propose new lines of inquiry and explore alternative theories, frameworks, models, as well critique and expand existing ones. These papers focus on advancing new practices based on an enhanced epistemological/ontological understanding.

Purpose:

• To propose new conceptual frameworks or models of practice based on new ways of knowing/doing.
• To introduce new ways of knowing/doing rooted in cultural, ethnic, and/or indigenous frameworks or conceptual models
• To refine, critique, or expand existing theories, models, or frameworks
• To discuss the implications of theoretical advancements for practice or further research.

Structure:

• Introduction: Introduce the epistemological approach, presenting lines of inquiry.
• Literature Review: Provide background on existing theories or models of practice.
• Theory Development: Present the new approaches or modifications to existing theories.
• Discussion: Analyze the implications of the epistemological approach for research and practice.
• Conclusion: Discuss implications for practice and suggest future research directions.

Example: An epistemological/ontological exploration submission interrogates how the Italian conception of service and community engagement informs service-learning courses at an institution of higher education in Rome, Italy, compared to conceptions of engagement in the USA, establishing a cultural heuristic for approaching community engagement in through different cultures in international settings.

Methodological Papers

Definition: Methodological papers focus on research methods or approaches. They discuss the strengths, weaknesses, and applications of specific methodologies without presenting original research findings.

Purpose:

• To provide a detailed examination of specific research methods.
• To discuss the practical applications and limitations of methodologies.
• To propose improvements or innovations in research methods.

Structure:

• Introduction: Introduce the method and its relevance.
• Body: Detailed discussion of the method, including its development, application, and limitations.
• Discussion: Analyze how the method can be applied in various contexts and suggest potential improvements.
• Conclusion: Summarize key points and propose future methodological research.

Example: A methodological paper submission inquires into the methodology of a mixed methods study of community engagement, juxtaposing community-based participatory research approaches that more directly achieve results, leading to an innovative hybrid approach.

Applied Research Reviews

Definition: Applied research reviews analyze how existing research can be applied to practical settings. These articles bridge the gap between theory and practice by discussing the practical implications of research findings.

Purpose:

• To translate research findings into practical applications.
• To discuss the relevance of research for practitioners in the field.
• To provide recommendations for applying research to solve real-world problems.

Structure:

• Introduction: Define the practical problem and its significance.
• Literature Review: Summarize relevant research findings.
• Application: Discuss how the research can be applied in practical settings.
• Implications for Practice: Provide specific recommendations for practitioners.
• Conclusion: Summarize key applications and suggest areas for further research and practice.

Example: An applied research submission builds on the assessment and program evaluation data from multiple years of a community partnership program, indicating a problem of practice and exploring an intervention that positively impacts the practice, leading to recommendations for further research and implications for practice.

Case Studies

Definition: Case studies provide detailed examinations of specific instances, organizations, or events, using existing research and theories to explain or analyze the case. These articles offer in-depth insights into real-world applications of theoretical concepts through the lens of case (program, course, project, higher education structure, etc.).

Purpose:

• To illustrate the application of theories or concepts in real-world settings.
• To provide detailed analysis and insights into specific cases.
• To highlight best practices, challenges, and lessons learned.

Structure:

• Introduction: Introduce the case and its relevance.
• Case Description: Provide a detailed account of the case.
• Analysis: Apply relevant theories and research to analyze the case.
• Discussion: Discuss the implications of the case for theory and practice.
• Conclusion: Summarize key findings and suggest directions for future research and practice.

Example: A case study submission interrogates an academic program that connects students to community internships and partner networks to improve their social and economic mobility, demonstrating assessment and evaluation data indicating positive results, leading to a theory of practice transferable in other institutions of higher education.

Advance access

Articles are published online soon after they have been accepted for publication, in advance of their appearance in a journal issue. Advance access publication constitutes official publication, and the article can be cited by a unique DOI (Digital Object Identifier) that will remain the same once the full issue is published.

Articles published in advance of their inclusion in a journal issue have been copyedited and typeset and any corrections included. The pagination and table of contents will be based on the order each article is published.

Elevating your work

Steps CUMU takes to elevate authors’ work:

• Twitter: CUMU shares articles and full journal issues. We also retweet and favorite posts when authors share articles on their personal or institutional accounts to increase visibility.
• LinkedIn: CUMU shares articles and open calls for manuscripts. We encourage you to utilize the share function, so you can share the post in order for your work to reach your own professional networks.
• ORCID: when submitting a manuscript, authors should provide a link to their ORCID ID.
• Email marketing: CUMU’s subscriber base is over 4,000. Calls for manuscripts and journal publication announcements are shared both in CUMU’s monthly newsletter, Because Place Matters, and are also shared via dedicated emails at the time of issue publication.
• Post-publication: The editor notifies leadership at each institution (presidents, chancellors, provosts, deans, etc.) of the authors about their work being published.

Steps you can take to elevate your work:

• Optimize your manuscript for search engines by including key words or phrases that are likely to make your work more discoverable.
• Add the citation of your publication to your institutional biography, CV, and online platforms such as ResearchGate.
• Share CUMU’s LinkedIn post on your personal account, or share your article directly. In order to increase reach, it can be helpful to tag your institution and CUMU.
• Tweet links to your article and tag @MetropolitanU to the tweet so we receive a notification.
• If you do not already utilize ORCID, register here.
• Forward CUMU’s emails to colleagues with personal messages linking to your article and why others may find your work useful and valuable.
• Recommend list serves and/or newsletters that Metropolitan Universities journal can connect with to share journal issues and articles.