U of T Undergraduate Geography Academic Journal

 

The University of Toronto Undergraduate Geography Society (TUGS) is dedicated towards showcasing the research achievements and writing excellence of undergraduate geography students. We are formally launching an Academic Journal to encourage intellectual exploration across all four disciplines in geography: Physical, Environmental, Human and Geographic Information Systems. TUGS welcomes undergraduate student submissions in the form of comprehensive research reports and opinion based papers for the 2014-2015 academic year issue of the journal. We are committed to selecting high-quality manuscripts demonstrating well-conducted research work and insightful analyses. The journal will be a student led initiative run by the students of geography and the TUGS executive committee. Various departments and faculty members have shown their support here at the University of Toronto. All submissions selected will be edited by a peer-review process (outlined in section 2.3). Issues will be published annually and made available in both print and electronic format.

 

1. Editorial Board members

 

1.1 Managing Editor (1 position):

This is a paid position held by a Ph.D student who has completed their course work and can committee to the journal for the whole semester. The Department of Geography is in charge of hiring this position and will collaborate with the TUGS executive committee. The Managing Editor will be in charge of reviewing the Editor-In-Chief and Journal Editor position applications, through consultation with TUGS executives. They are also responsible for delegating tasks and deadlines to others involved.

 

1.2 Editor-In-Chief (1 position):

This position requires close coordination with the Journal Editors and Managing Editor. The Editor-In-Chief is responsible for overseeing the editing and design stages of the journal. As well, they will be responsible for notifying the rest of the executive committee on the progress of each paper and if track changes were required. Priority will be given to an upper-year student, but it is not a requirement. Once your application is received, you will be contacted for an interview and review process. If you wish to apply, you must meet the following requirements:

·         Must be a full-time or part-time undergraduate student enrolled in a minor, major, or specialist program with the UofT Department of                                           Geography.

·         Must send a resume, editing experience preferred but not required

·         Must send a well-articulated writing sample

 

 

1.3 Journal Editors (8 positions, 2 per stream):

The role of the general journal editors will be to read, choose, and edit essays alongside the Managing Editor. The expected commitment is around 20 to 25 hours per semester, with the busy months being February and March. You will also be asked to read over essays during the months of February - April and submit comments to the Editor-in-Chief no later than 2 May 2015. Once your application is received, you will be contacted for an interview and review process. If you wish to apply, you must meet the following requirements: 

·         Must be a full-time or part-time undergraduate student enrolled in a minor, major, or specialist program with the UofT Department of                                           Geography.

·         Must send a resume, editing experience preferred but not required

·         Must send a well-articulated writing sample

·         Must specify which stream they wish to focus on for editing (either Physical, Human, Environmental, or GIS geography stream)

·         Journal Editors are allowed to submit papers to the journal as well, so long as another Journal Editor edits/reviews their paper

 

1.4 TUGS Executive Committee

The rest of the TUGS executive committee will be responsible for collaborating on the facilitation of layout design, final selection of papers, and payment for publication and distribution (provided by Arts & Science Student Union).

 

 

2. Policies

 

2.1 Selection Policies

Two types of papers will be accepted (see below). It should be noted that we will only be accepting submissions at or above the 200 level in GGR, JGI, and JGE courses during the academic year of 2014 - 2015.

I.       Research Reports: typically but not always in the form of a culminating term paper where the student is able to expand on his or her knowledge on course material. This type of paper entails a comprehensive list of secondary and primary sources. Moreover, while not necessary, the manipulation of secondary data in the form of modelling, charts, graphs, tables, or maps.

• Minimum 10 secondary sources

• Minimum 2000 words

• Opinion Based Papers: typically but not always in the form of personalized writing. This type of paper can surround a topic on current or past events in the context of a geographical concept.

  No source limit

  Maximum 1500 words

 

2.2 Peer Review Process

The peer review process with go through several stages. While distinctly separate, the TUGS committee will be a crucial role in facilitating every phase of the peer review process.

·         Editorial Board (Managing Editor, Editor-in-Chief, Journal Editors) will select papers

·         Advised period by current faculty

• Faculty from each respective stream will give advice on submissions in his/her professional disciplinary knowledge based on the title, abstract, and overall quality of the paper.

·         TUGS Executive Committee consultation on selected papers

·         A 1 on 1 review meeting between students who submitted papers and Journal Editors in their respective stream

 

2.3 Publication Frequency

At the end of the academic year of 2014 - 2015, The U of T Journal of Undergraduate Geography will publish one issue. In the future, one issue will be published annually.

 

2.4 Archiving

The journal will be posted and available on the TUGS official website. It will also be linked with the Geography Department’s official website. We have been given a grant from ASSU for printing the finished issue on paper, but copies will be limited. Issues of The UofT Journal of Undergraduate Geography will be held in the TUGS office as well as the Geography Department’s lounge on the 5th floor of Sidney Smith. Moreover, if anyone desires a personal copy, requests will be considered. Depending on the availability of remaining copies, it may be at the cost of the individual requesting a personal copy, which will be professionally binded from our publishing company.

 

 

3.  Submissions

 

3.1 Submissions

All papers must be submitted via email to tugs.uoft@gmail.com with the following:

• Subject heading: “Paper Submission Title [year/stream].”

• If not already included in the paper, please include a 150-200 word abstract.

• Paper must discuss a geographical concept, written for a third or fourth year GGR***, JGI***, or JGE*** course. Papers completed at the 100 level will not be accepted, however if a paper completed at the 200 level is substantial and relevant to the field of geography it may also be accepted.

 

3.2 Author Guidelines

All papers must consist of the following

·         A minimum grade earned of 80%.

·         Must include a 150-200 word abstract with minimum 5 keywords.

It is expected that author(s) of the paper have extensively gone through an editing process during the process of their original submission. In order to be published, the following edits are required:

·         Preliminary edits based on feedback from course instructor/TA

·         Edits based on feedback from Journal Editor during 1 on 1 review session

·         Final changes before publication

 

3.3 Copyright

All copyright is held by the student(s) who have completed the work, however due to publication and copyright laws students must acknowledge the distribution and handling of their papers by TUGS, the Department of Geography, and ASSU.

 

Two documents must be provided:

 

I. A statement from the professor stating that they acknowledge you’ve indeed received an A- (80%) or greater on the essay and they support the publication of material from the class assignment.

 

II. A statement providing consent from yourself (or if applicable each group member) allowing for publication of the essay.

 

4. Other

 

4.1 Sponsorship

The UofT Journal of Undergraduate Geography is supported by the Department of Geography as well as the Arts & Science Student Union. Student names and paper titles will be announced during the end of year social hosted by TUGS every April.