By Andrew P. Lokie, Jr.

Missouri State University

In the last issue of the eJournal of Public Affairs—“Public Engagement and Literary Research” (volume 6, number 2)—we announced the launch of our new website: http://oib.ojq.mybluehost.me. Though we are excited about the outcomes of such an ambitious project, we want to make users aware of potential errors in the system as we continue to upgrade the site. Thus, this editorial note highlights a few circumstances for subscribers, authors, reviewers, and future guest editors to watch for as they navigate the eJOPA system.

For Submissions: Please read and follow the guidelines provided on the “Submissions” page: http://oib.ojq.mybluehost.me/submissions. Be sure to identify whether your article is for a Special Themed issue or for an Open Submission. Also, be sure to include your bio and photo (2” high by 1.5” wide; higher resolution for better quality). I should say that I believe our reviewers and editors have worked hard to assist authors in evolving their work and results.

For Features: Our “Features” section offers a unique opportunity for students, faculty, and community members to submit videos, photo essays, and written essays that describe projects, programs, or personal experiences. This section provides greater insight and practical knowledge to the scholarly work of eJOPA. Features are editorially reviewed rather than peer-reviewed. For more information visit: http://oib.ojq.mybluehost.me/features

For Special Themed topics: We invite Guest Editors to contact us about special topics that they might explore through eJOPA. In this way, the journal can serve as a platform from which to share broader topics within eJOPA’s focus and scope. We are excited by the potential of this approach to expand the insight and expertise brought to our publication resource and to enhance discussions in this arena: http://oib.ojq.mybluehost.me/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/G.E.-Memorandum-of-Guest-Editor-Understanding-.pdf

Final Note: The upgrades to the journal system are designed to electronically facilitate the publication process. If you have any questions about the new system or other questions requiring assistance, please contact Charlie Whitaker, Associate Editor, at CVWhitaker@missouristate.edu. For questions concerning the review process, please contact Darrell Hamlin, Managing Editor, at DAHamlin@fhsu.edu. Any other questions, comments, or insights should be addressed to me, Andrew Lokie, Editor, at AndrewLokie@missouristate.edu. Because of the changes still in progress, we have had to extend our timelines, but we hope to get back on track in the coming year. It has been our intention to let each author know within two weeks if his or her article has been assigned to the review process and within 45 days if his or her submission has been accepted for publication. We ask authors to be timely in their responses during the review process, which may include revisions resulting from reviews, copyediting, and final proofing.