Comprehensive guide for our editorial board members to maintain excellence in academic publishing
Understanding the role and responsibilities of an editor at Vivekananda Educational Publication
Editors play a crucial role in maintaining the quality and integrity of our publications. They are responsible for overseeing the peer review process, making final decisions on manuscript acceptance, and ensuring that all published content meets our high standards of academic excellence.
As an editor, you serve as a gatekeeper of quality, mentor to authors, and guardian of our publication's reputation. Your expertise and judgment shape the content that reaches our readers.
Our editorial process is built on four fundamental principles:
Key duties and expectations for our editorial board members
Evaluate new submissions for scope, quality, and adherence to journal guidelines. Desk reject manuscripts that don't meet basic criteria within 5 days.
CriticalIdentify and invite qualified reviewers based on expertise. Ensure at least 2 reviewers per manuscript. Avoid conflicts of interest.
EssentialEvaluate reviewer reports and make final decisions: Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject. Provide clear justification.
CoreCommunicate decisions professionally and constructively. Ensure authors receive timely feedback that helps improve their work.
ImportantMonitor review progress and send reminders. Ensure all manuscripts are processed within the standard timeline of 4-6 weeks.
RequiredEnsure final versions meet formatting standards, check for plagiarism, and verify that all revisions have been properly addressed.
Final StepYour step-by-step guide through the editorial process
Mark items as you complete them
Check if manuscript falls within journal scope and meets basic formatting requirements
Run plagiarism software and verify similarity index is below 15%
Identify 2-3 qualified reviewers with relevant expertise
Send invitations and track acceptance within 5 days
Track progress, send reminders, ensure timely completion
Read all reviewer reports and make preliminary decision
Make final decision and draft decision letter to author
Verify final manuscript formatting before publication
Standard processing timeline for manuscripts
Manuscript received, preliminary check completed, and assigned to editor within 3-5 days
Reviewers identified, invited, and accept within 1 week. Review process begins.
Reviewers complete their assessment. Editor monitors progress and sends reminders if needed.
Reviews evaluated, decision made, and author notified with detailed feedback.
Authors submit revised manuscript. Editor reviews changes and makes final acceptance.
Tools and materials to support your editorial work
Standard templates for accept, revision, and rejection letters
Access TemplatesCommon questions from our editorial board members
We recommend assigning at least 2 reviewers per manuscript to ensure balanced and comprehensive feedback. For controversial or highly specialized topics, consider assigning 3 reviewers.
Reviewers are expected to complete their assessment within 2-3 weeks. If you haven't received reviews within this timeframe, please send a gentle reminder or consider finding alternative reviewers.
When reviews conflict, carefully evaluate both sets of comments. Consider seeking an additional reviewer's opinion or making a decision based on your own expertise. Always document your reasoning for the final decision.
Conflicts include recent collaboration (within 5 years), current institutional affiliation, family relationships, or any financial/commercial interest. If uncertain, disclose and consult with the editorial office.
Run all manuscripts through plagiarism detection software. If similarity exceeds 15%, investigate thoroughly. Document all findings and consult with the editorial office before making a decision.
Maintain a record of reviewer performance. Consider removing consistently problematic reviewers from your pool and provide feedback to the editorial office for database management.