Phoenix Scholar

The Phoenix Scholar allows for the submission of research articles, thought pieces, and original research. Publishing in the Phoenix Scholar is voluntary, and we offer no compensation or guarantee of acceptance to prospective authors. Please review our process below if you plan to submit.

Submitting research work to the Phoenix Scholar periodical involves a series of steps designed to ensure that the submission is thorough, adheres to the Phoenix Scholar guidelines, and has the highest chance of acceptance. Here is the current process for research authors:

Step 1: Selecting the Appropriate Journal [Theme]

1.1 Review a Periodical Issue [Scope and Aims]

· Read through a Phoenix Scholar: It is important to look through an edition of the Phoenix Scholar to get an idea of the kind of articles that go into each issue.

· Identify the theme of the issue: Ensure you read each call for proposed work and the theme of the "call" to ensure your article submission aligns with the scope and aims of the periodical.

· Evaluate the audience: Consider the Phoenix Scholar's target audience [Researchers, Students, Faculty, Alumni, General Public] and whether your research or writing target (content) will be of interest to them.

1.2 The Phoenix Scholar Guidelines

· Read submission "call for article" guidelines: Thoroughly read the submission guidelines provided by the Phoenix Scholar, which typically include formatting, word count, and any APA style guidelines.

· Faculty Journal Submission Agreement (JSA): Should we accept your work you will be provided a JSA to fill out and return to us. The agreement allows us to utilize your work in the scope of the Phoenix Scholar but does not preclude you from using it elsewhere. You can read the sample JSA here. Sample JSA  [not for submission unless received through Docusign].

Step 2: Preparing the Manuscript

2.1 Manuscript Structure and Formatting- Please review the tab for author guidelines.

· Adhere to guidelines: Follow Phoenix Scholar's formatting instructions regarding font type, size, margins, and headings. We will turn it back to authors who do not follow these prescriptives.

· Consistent style: Ensure consistency in writing style, terminology, and units of measurement.

· Language: If necessary, seek professional language editing services to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy. We ask that you proof, proof, and proof your work to minimize the time it takes to get your work ready for publishing.

Step 3: Supplementary Materials

3.1 Figures and Tables

· Quality and clarity: Ensure that all figures and tables are high-quality, clear, and correctly labeled. We will turn down blurry imaging.

· Separate files: Prepare figures and tables in separate files if required by the journal.

· Legends and captions: Provide detailed legends and captions for all figures and tables.

· Ensure that the work is your own construct: Your tables and graphs should be your work, and if you are using someone else's tables/charts, you must have express permission to do so before submitting.

3.2 Additional Files

· Supplementary information: Include supplementary data or additional materials that support the main manuscript.

· Compliance with guidelines: Ensure all supplementary files comply with the Phoenix Scholar's requirements for format and file type.

Step 4: Ethical Considerations

4.1 Author Contributions

· Authorship criteria: Ensure all listed authors meet the criteria for authorship and agree to the submission.

4.2 Plagiarism Policy

· Plagiarism will not be tolerated.

· Plagiarism: The intentional or unintentional use of work that is not one’s own, in whole or in part, without acknowledging the source and presenting that material as one’s own original academic work. This includes, but is not limited to:

o Reproduction and submission of work which is not one’s own, whether published or unpublished. This includes using materials from third parties that sell or provide academic papers or assignments, regardless of how the third party describes their mission, purpose, or materials. This also includes output generated by artificial intelligence tools.

o Using another’s ideas, written words, or intellectual property without properly acknowledging the source:

§ Quoting a source word-for-word without providing quotation marks and citations.

§ Submitting work that is substantially identical to another source in content or organization without appropriately citing the source.

§ Using other intellectual property in a work without appropriate citations, permissions, or rights (when applicable). Intellectual

property includes but is not limited to images, presentations, videos, software programs, computer code, charts, figures, illustrations, and artistic or musical composition.

Step 5: Submitting the Manuscript

5.1 Submission Portal

· Typical "Calls for Articles" will be posted on the website: Each Phoenix Scholar may have a different Editor. Thus, we encourage you to look at the featured theme each time to ensure the correct editor of the issue you want to submit for is listed. You may also reach out to rodney.luster@phoenix.edu for more information.

· Follow instructions: Carefully follow the instructions for submitting your manuscript and supplementary materials. Most times we will use Dropbox as a receptacle for receiving works.

· Metadata entry: Enter all required metadata, including author information, keywords, and abstract during the call for articles.

5.2 File Upload

· Manuscript file: Upload the main manuscript file in the required format (e.g., Word).

· Supplementary files: Upload all supplementary files, including figures, tables, and additional data.

5.3 Confirmation

· Submission confirmation: Ensure that you receive a submission confirmation from the Editor.

Step 6: Post-Submission

6.1 Review Process

· Initial editorial check: The Phoenix Scholar staff will perform an initial check to ensure the manuscript fits the scope and meets basic requirements.

· Administrative review: The manuscript will be sent to the designated Editor and staff for evaluation of its quality, originality, and significance.

· Revisions: Be prepared to receive feedback and revise your manuscript based on reviewer comments.

6.2 Decision and Response

· Editorial decision: The editor will make a decision based on peer reviews, which could be acceptance, minor revisions, major revisions, or rejection.

· Revisions and resubmission: If revisions are requested, carefully address all comments and resubmit the revised manuscript within the specified timeframe.

· Acceptance: Once accepted, follow any additional instructions for final submission, including copyright transfer and proof corrections.

6.3 Post-Acceptance

· Proofreading: Review the proofs of your manuscript carefully for any errors or required corrections.

· Publication: Your article will be published in an upcoming issue of the Phoenix Scholar depending on our needs, both online and in print (if applicable).

· Faculty Journal Submission Agreement

o For potential authors, you should submit your proposed article to the Editor/or link for contact information when provided. Articles will go through the review process and if accepted, potential authors will be sent a Docusign document to sign for release. 

xx· Promotion: Consider promoting your published work through academic networks, social media, and conferences.

Conclusion

Submitting a piece of work to a periodical or journal like the Phoenix Scholar requires meticulous preparation, adherence to guidelines, and responsiveness to feedback. By following this detailed process, authors can enhance the likelihood of their work being accepted and published, contributing valuable knowledge to their field.

The following are active and current members of the editorial board for the Phoenix Scholar.

Executive Editor

Hinrich Eylers, Ph.D., Vice Provost for the University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies

Editor-in-Chief

Mark McCaslin, Ph.D., Associate Chair for the Center for Leadership Studies and Organizational Research

Editor

Juana Lang, Ed.D., General Studies Faculty

Editor and Designer

Challie Facemire Ph.D.

Phoenix Scholar Director and Lead Designer

Rodney Luster, Ph.D., LPC, Senior Director of Research Strategy, Innovation, and Development, Center for Leadership Studies and Organizational Research

Associate Editors

Kimberly Underwood, Ph.D. Chair for the Center for Organizational Wellness, Engagement and Belonging

Mansureh Kebritchi, Ph.D., Chair for the Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research

Editorial Board

Stella Smith, Ph.D.-Associate Research Chair for the Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research

Louise Underdahl, Ph.D.-Fellow for the Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research

Sandra Sessoms-Penny, Ed.D.-Fellow for the Center for Organizational Wellness, Engagement and Belonging

Joy Taylor, Ed.D.-Fellow for the Center for Center for Organizational Wellness, Engagement and Belonging

Early Spring [Special Edition] 2025

KWB Summit [Open]-Editor in Residence-Dr. Kimberly Underwood

This will be a special edition that is a collective of conference proceedings from the 2024 Research Conference known as "KWB Summit," alongside keynote hghlights and interviews.

A full 2025-2026 Calendar will be published soon!

The following is our Peer Reviewer rubric which is used to review all articles submitted for the Phoenix Scholar. For Peer Reviewers, you may download it here.

Download the rubric.