Publication Ethics

JUCE: Journal of University Community Engagement is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing practices. All parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher, are required to adhere to ethical principles and professional responsibilities throughout all stages of manuscript submission, peer review, publication, and post publication.

Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must submit original manuscripts that have not been previously published and are not under consideration by other journals. All data, arguments, and sources must be presented accurately and cited appropriately. Any form of plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, or misrepresentation of research findings is strictly prohibited.

Research involving community engagement, human participants, or social interaction must be conducted in accordance with applicable ethical standards and regulations. Authors are required to obtain informed consent when necessary and to respect the dignity, rights, and welfare of participants. All contributors who meet authorship criteria must be properly acknowledged. Sources of funding, institutional support, and any potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed at the time of submission.

Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for evaluating submitted manuscripts based on academic quality, originality, relevance to the journal’s scope, and clarity of presentation. Editorial decisions are made independently and without discrimination based on personal characteristics, institutional affiliation, or ideological background.

Editors must maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and manage the peer review process in accordance with established editorial policies. In cases of suspected ethical misconduct, editors are responsible for initiating appropriate investigations and taking corrective actions when necessary.

Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to conduct evaluations objectively, fairly, and within the agreed timeframe. Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential and may not be shared or used for personal or professional advantage.

Reviewers should provide constructive, evidence based, and scholarly feedback to support editorial decision making and assist authors in improving the quality of their manuscripts. Any potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed, and reviewers should decline review assignments when objectivity cannot be ensured.

Peer Review Integrity

The journal applies a double blind peer review process to ensure impartial and independent evaluation of submitted manuscripts. Editorial decisions are based on reviewers’ recommendations, compliance with ethical standards, and alignment with the journal’s academic focus, as outlined in the Peer Review Process and Author Guidelines.

Plagiarism and Originality Screening

All submitted manuscripts are screened for originality using appropriate plagiarism detection tools. Manuscripts containing unacceptable levels of similarity or evidence of unethical borrowing will be rejected or returned for clarification in accordance with editorial policy.

Authorship and Contribution Changes

Requests for changes in authorship, including the addition, removal, or reordering of authors, must be submitted formally to the editorial office and supported by written consent from all listed authors. Such changes are only permitted prior to publication and are subject to editorial approval.

Data Integrity and Research Transparency

Authors are encouraged to ensure transparency in data collection, analysis, and reporting. Supporting data should be retained and made available upon reasonable request for verification purposes, while respecting ethical, legal, and community based research considerations.

Complaints and Appeals

The journal provides a clear mechanism for handling complaints and appeals related to editorial decisions, peer review conduct, or ethical concerns. All complaints and appeals will be reviewed objectively by the editorial team, and decisions will be communicated in a timely and transparent manner.

Copyright and Licensing

Authors retain copyright of their published work and grant the journal the right of first publication. All published articles are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 4.0 International License. This license permits sharing, adaptation, and reuse for scholarly and educational purposes, provided proper attribution is given and derivative works are distributed under the same license.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

The use of artificial intelligence tools in manuscript preparation is permitted only as a supporting aid and must not replace the authors’ intellectual contribution. Authors remain fully responsible for the originality, accuracy, and integrity of the content. Any substantive use of artificial intelligence tools must be disclosed during submission.

Publisher’s Responsibilities

The publisher supports ethical publishing practices and ensures that editorial decisions remain independent from commercial or institutional influence. The publisher is responsible for ensuring long term digital preservation, accessibility, and integrity of published content.

The journal does not impose any submission, processing, or publication fees, reflecting a commitment to equitable open access publishing and the dissemination of scholarly knowledge for the public benefit.

Corrections, Retractions, and Ethical Misconduct

Allegations of ethical misconduct, including plagiarism, duplicate submission, data manipulation, or violations of research ethics, will be investigated thoroughly. When necessary, appropriate actions may include manuscript rejection, publication of corrections, expressions of concern, or article retraction in accordance with accepted ethical publishing standards.

Ethical Oversight and Standards Compliance

Publication ethics policies and procedures are guided by internationally recognized standards of scholarly publishing and academic integrity, including principles promoted by the Committee on Publication Ethics. Ethical considerations related to community based research and social engagement are reviewed as part of the editorial and peer review process to ensure academic responsibility and societal accountability.