Publishing in the Journal of College Counseling: Tips From the Editors (Part 1)

Abstract

In the last issue, I offered readers and potential authors some tips and guidance for submitting research-based manuscripts for review to the Journal of College Counseling (JCC). My goal was to share feedback from the journal's senior editorial staff based on their experiences with the review process that would enable prospective authors to better craft their work to meet the needs and expectations of JCC readers. In this issue, I will share some insights related to the submission of practice-based manuscripts. An important part of the counseling literature, the utility of these manuscripts is based largely on how they are constructed and the message or issue they address. Since its inception in 1998, the mission of JCC has been to advance the college counseling knowledge base and inform the practice of counseling professionals at 2- and 4-year colleges and universities. In fulfillment of this mission, the journal actively seeks submissions under the Professional Issues and Innovative Practice category because these manuscripts have the potential to stimulate professional discussions and share new treatment designs and strategies to college counselors nationwide. Documenting the popularity and quality of these types of manuscripts, a recent metastudy of JCC content revealed that 40.7% of all manuscripts published in the journal between 1998 and 2009 were in the Professional Issues and Innovative Practice category (Byrd, Crockett, & Erford, 2012). Although they are included in the same category, there are distinct differences in the purpose and format of manuscripts related to Professional Issues and to Innovative Practice that warrant a separate discussion of each. Professional Issues Manuscripts Professional Issues manuscripts are designed to facilitate discussion of emerging trends and contemporary topics. The JCC author guidelines (a copy of which is included in this issue) state that Professional Issues manuscripts should present an in-depth analysis and discussion of current issues related to the practice of counseling professionals in higher education settings. Furthermore, Professional Issues manuscripts should include a critical review of the relevant literature and research related to the professional issue and offer implications for professional practice and future research. Basically, these manuscripts provide a venue for professionals to share how they are dealing with changes in student demographics, university policies, presenting concerns, and resource allocations to meet the needs of their campus students. When crafting Professional Issues manuscripts, authors should consider their intended audience. As Guiffrida, Schwitzer, and Choate (2006) noted, the journal readership includes many different types of professionals: counselors, program coordinators, university administrators, and graduate training faculty. Clearly identifying which constituencies might be most interested in the topic being presented will help frame the manuscript in a manner that increases its relevance. Potential authors should consider what the particular issue they plan to write about means for the practice of college counseling and whom it is most likely to affect. For example, issues related to the strategic use of available campus resources may be of most interest to counseling center directors who are charged with the day-to-day operations of the campus's counseling center activities. On the other hand, issues related to academic outcomes and student retention may appeal more to university administrators who will use this information to support their efforts to procure additional resources from state and federal policy makers to fund counseling center initiatives. Specifically, potential authors should focus on addressing what the issue is, why it is important, to whom is it important, what the potential impact of this issue might be, and how it could best be addressed. Another tip for potential authors is to ensure that an unbiased presentation of the issue is included. …