NACTA Journal Updates Coming in 2021

At the December 15, 2020 NACTA Executive Committee Meeting, the final report of the NACTA Journal Task Force was approved. These changes will be implemented on July 1, 2021. The most significant change is the formation of a 12 member Editorial Board. The process of filling the new (non-ex officio) Editorial board positions will be announced in the February 2021 newsletter. The current NACTA Journal Committee will remain in place for the time being. The new Editorial Board will consist of :
• Editor in Chief – chairs editorial board
• Associate Editors (10):
• 4 Associate Editors - Manuscript Review (each would have specific areas of focus)
• Conference Program Chair (Associate Editor – Abstract review)
• Associate Editor – Conference Symposia Chair (Ex Officio Educational Issues and Teaching Improvement Committee Chair)
• Associate Editor – Teaching Tips
• Associate Editor – Web Content
• Associate Editor NACTA Journal Awards (Ex Officio Journal Award Chair)
• Associate Editor - Teaching Awards (Ex Officio Teaching Award Committee Chair)
• Technical Editor – Management organization personnel

2. Establish Editorial Board Member Responsibilities
a. Editor-in-Chief
• Appointed by NACTA Executive Board
• 3-year term, renewable for one more term
• Assigns manuscripts to Associate Editors based on topic and workflow to balance out work for Associate Editors
• Oversees training of reviewers to award Certified NACTA reviewer certificates
• Makes final manuscript decisions based on recommendations from Associate Editors
• Chairs Editorial Board

b. Associate Editors - Manuscript Review
• Four positions (based on topics for manuscript sorting)
• Appointed by Editor-in-Chief
• 3-year term, renewable for one more term (initially consider staggered terms so not all turn over at the same time).
• Assigns manuscripts to reviewers
• Makes a decision on each submission and communicates a recommendation to Editor-in-Chief
• Communicate with Editor-in-Chief and other Associate Editors - Manuscript Handling by email or in meetings as needed

c. Conference Program Chair (Associate Editor – Abstract review)
• Works with Associate Conference Chair from annual meeting host committee (if applicable) on all activities listed below
• Prepares the call for abstracts (November 1), posts on web site and email copy to members, and closes abstract site (first Monday in February)
• Updates categories for abstract submission taking into account annual meeting theme
• Accesses abstracts online and send to reviewers
• Makes final decision on abstract acceptance / rejection (and notifies authors by first Thursday in April).
• Schedules abstracts / symposia / workshops / Blue Ribbon speaker

d. Associate Editor – Conference Symposia Chair (Ex Officio Educational Issues and Teaching Improvement Committee Chair)
• Solicit and respond to member needs regarding programs and activities for instructional improvement;
• Identify, develop, sponsor, and conduct specific teaching and learning related activities such as blue ribbon presentations, round tables, symposia, and workshops at the annual conferences;
• Provide recommendations and assistance to the Editor regarding the publishing of materials pertaining to educational issues and teaching improvement.

e. Associate Editor – Teaching Tips (NACTA Café)
• Edit / approve / reject learning object submissions (teaching tips, videos, software, podcasts, book reviews etc)
• Monitor dialogue between membership and learning object submitters in a dynamic “coffee-house” atmosphere on a designated site on the NACTA Webpage

f. Associate Editor – Web Content
• Responsible for web content (excluding manuscripts, and NACTA Cafe)
• Works with JulNet staff to ensure site is current, well organized and engaging

g. Associate Editor NACTA Journal Awards (Ex Officio Journal Award Chair)
• Establish policies and guidelines for the journal awards
• Evaluate articles in the four issues of each volume of the Journal
• Determine the award recipients

h. Associate Editor - Teaching Awards (Ex Officio Teaching Award Committee Chair)
• Establish and publish policies and guidelines for the teaching awards
• Receive nomination materials
• Determine the award recipients
• Post the names of award recipients to the NACTA Teaching Awards website within four weeks following the annual conference.

i. Technical Editor – Management organization personnel
• Manages manuscript receipt and removal of identifiers
• Manages technical editing and preparation of galley proofs
• Assists with reviewer training to facilitate awarding Certified NACTA Reviewer Certificates