Author Guidelines
Preparing Your Manuscript
As you prepare your manuscript for submission to JSFLRP we ask that you abide by the following:
- Do not submit a manuscript under consideration by another publication. Your corresponding author must affirm the non-duplication of submission in your cover letter.
- Follow the most recent edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA Manual) for reference style and general guidelines. JSFLRP presently uses the 7th Edition of the APA Manual.
Length of Manuscript
Manuscripts may not exceed 30 double spaced pages in length, including references, tables, figures and appendices. All pages must be in 12-point Times New Roman font.
Your abstract, keywords, title page and author biography are not included in your page count.
Manuscript Formatting
Submit your manuscript as a Microsoft Word file. Use 12-point Times New Roman font. Otherwise, comply with style and formatting guidelines of the 7th Edition of the APA Manual.
Bias-Free Language and Sorority and Fraternity Terminology
Your manuscript must be edited for bias-free language. Our editorial board of JSFLRP encourages you to review Chapter 5 of the AFA Manual. Another resource for bias-free writing is the JCSD Supplemental Guide to Bias-Free Writing (see https://myacpa.org/jcsd-supplemental-style-guide/).
Sorority and Fraternity Terminology
Use precise terminology relevant to sororities and fraternities. While often used to describe these organizations, “Greek” is a nationality (Biddix et al., 2014). Avoid terms like “Greek organizations” or “Greek life” in your manuscript. Instead rely on more precise identifiers like “sororities and fraternities” or “sorority and fraternity life.”
Similarly, be precise in your descriptions of fraternal organizations or organizational members. Broad descriptions of “sororities and fraternities” often center historically and predominantly white sororities and fraternities. When relevant, use council or organization affiliations or other clear, bias-free descriptors to identify the organization(s) of interest (e.g., National Pan-Hellenic Council fraternities).
Here is a brief, incomplete list of terms the editors recommend that you use in reference to the sorority and fraternity experience and the professionals who support these organizations:
- Use member or active member instead of active
- Use new member or associate member instead of pledge
- Use recruitment or intake instead of rush
- Use potential new member instead of rushee
- Use sorority and fraternity professional or campus-based professional instead of sorority/fraternity advisor
- Use sorority and fraternity community instead of sorority and fraternity system
- Use headquarters professional instead of headquarters staff
Masking Your Manuscript
Our editorial board relies on a masked review process. Your identity will not be shared with peer reviewers, and our peer reviewers’ identities will not be shared with you. To mask your manuscript, make sure that the manuscript file does not contain the names of the author(s), clues to the identity of the author(s) or institutional affiliation(s).
Please mask any citations that would identify the author(s). For example, McCready et al. (2022), would be masked as Authors (2022).
Required Components for Submission
- Cover letter (not shared with peer reviewers)
- Title page (not shared with peer reviewers)
- Manuscript file
Cover Letter
Include a brief cover letter that addresses the relevance of your manuscript to JSFLRP. In particular, address the relevance of your scholarship to policy and practice related to sororities and fraternities. Your cover letter must affirm the non-duplication of submission in your cover letter, and must be signed by your corresponding author.
Title Page File
Submit your title page separately from your manuscript file. Format your title page according to the 7th Edition of the APA Manual, and include each author’s name and institutional or organizational affiliation.
On a second page of your title page file, include a brief, 75 words-or-less biography for each author. If relevant, include the sorority or fraternity affiliation of each author in their biography.
Manuscript File
Include the title, abstract and keywords on the first page of your manuscript file. Position the abstract below the title. Abstracts should clearly describe the primary intent and outcome of the manuscript. Abstracts should be between 75 to 100 words in length. Following the abstract, provide up to five keywords relevant to your manuscript.
Tables and figures should be included in your manuscript file after the reference citations. Include only essential data in tables and combine tables whenever possible. Within the text of your manuscript, inset “[INSERT TABLE/FIGURE # HERE]” where appropriate. Final placement of tables and figures is the discretion of the editors.
References
Biddix, J. P., Matney, M., Norman, E., & Martin, G. (2014). The influence of fraternity and sorority involvement: A critical analysis of research (1996– 2013). ASHE Higher Education Report Series, 39(6), 1–156. https://doi.org/10.1002/aehe.20012
