Waiver-Eligibility
Introduction:
The "Journal for Social Science Studies" (JS3) recognizes that exceptional circumstances may prevent authors from meeting all of the journal's standard publication fees. To address such situations, JS3 offers a limited waiver program for article processing charges (APCs). This policy outlines the eligibility criteria and application process for fee waivers.
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for a waiver, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Authorship: The applicant must be the corresponding author of the submitted manuscript.
- Financial hardship: The applicant must demonstrate significant financial hardship that would prevent them from paying the APC without undue burden. This may include factors such as limited research funding, low income, or affiliation with an institution in a low-resource setting.
- Manuscript quality: The submitted manuscript must be of high quality and deemed suitable for publication in JS3, as assessed through the journal's peer-review process.
- Prior publications: The applicant must not have previously published or submitted a manuscript for publication in JS3 with a granted waiver.
Application Process:
Applicants seeking a waiver must submit the following documents along with their manuscript:
- Waiver application form: A completed waiver application form outlining the applicant's financial hardship and justification for the waiver.
- Financial documentation: Evidence of financial hardship, such as a recent pay stub, tax return, or letter from a supervisor or grant agency confirming limited funding.
- Supporting statement: A letter from the applicant's institutional affiliation confirming their status and supporting the waiver request.
Review Process:
Waiver applications will be reviewed by the JS3 editorial board on a case-by-case basis. The board will consider the applicant's eligibility criteria, the severity of their financial hardship, the quality of the submitted manuscript, and the journal's overall budget constraints when making a decision.