Author Guidelines

How to Submit

Submissions to the Journal of Southern Agricultural Education Research (JSAER) are handled entirely through this online portal. All authors must first register an account with the journal (see the "Register" link in the top menu). If you are already registered, please Log In.

Once logged in, select "New Submission" from your dashboard to begin the 5-step submission process.

1. Preparing Your Submission Files

During the submission process, you will be prompted to upload your manuscript. Your manuscript file must be blinded for review.

  • File Format: Submissions must be in Microsoft Word format (.docx).

  • Anonymize Your Manuscript: To ensure a double-blind review, please remove all identifying information from your file. This includes:

    • Author names and affiliations (on the title page or in headers/footers).

    • Citations or references to your own work (e.g., "In our previous study..."). Replace this with "[Author, Year]" or similar.

    • Any identifying information in the file's "Properties."

2. Entering Manuscript Details (Metadata)

During Step 3 ("Enter Metadata") of the submission process, you will be prompted to enter all information about your manuscript directly into the web form. This information replaces the traditional "cover page."

Be prepared to provide the following:

  • Title of manuscript

  • Author(s), affiliation(s), and contact information (for all authors)

  • Abstract (maximum 300 words)

  • Type of Research (You will select from a dropdown or keyword field):

    • Quantitative

    • Qualitative

    • Historical

    • Philosophical

  • Research Area (You will select from a dropdown or keyword field):

    • Ag. Communications

    • Ag. Leadership

    • Ag. Literacy

    • Extension Education

    • Teacher Education and School-Based Ag. Education

    • Teaching and Learning in Undergraduate Programs

3. Manuscript Preparation Guidelines

Your blinded manuscript file should adhere to the following guidelines.

  • Title: Center the bolded title of your manuscript on the top of the first page. Capitalize only the first letters of major words in the title. Do not include author names.

  • Abstract: The abstract (maximum 300 words) should immediately follow the title in italics.

  • Page Limit: Limit the manuscript to 15 pages. This page limit DOES NOT INCLUDE  the title, abstract, all text, tables, and figures.

  • References: References are not included in the 15-page limit.

  • Sections: The suggested sections include Introduction/Theoretical Framework, Purpose(s)/Objective(s), Methods/Procedures, Results/Findings, Conclusions/Recommendations/Implications, and References.

  • Tables & Figures: Use the "table" function in MS Word to prepare tables. Place tables and/or figures within the body of the paper, "shortly" after their first mention in-text.

  • Page Numbers: Use the "insert, page numbers" command of MS Word to number all pages, including the first page. Center numbers at the bottom of the page. Do not use other footers or headers.

4. Formatting

  • Font: Use Times or Times New Roman, 12-point font.

  • Margins: All margins (top, bottom, left, right) should be set to 1 inch.

  • Spacing: All text should be double-spaced.

  • Style: Use the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.) for all style and formatting, except as modified above. Italicize the names of journals, statistical symbols, and other relevant terms as per the APA style. Do not use the underline feature; turn off hyperlinks for URL references.

What to Expect After Submission

Upon successful submission, you will receive an automated confirmation email from the JSAER system. You can log in to your account at any time to track the status of your manuscript.

Your manuscript will then go through a double-blind review process. Following the reviews, you will be notified of the editorial decision via email and through the OJS system.

JSAER works on a rolling submission basis. Submissions for the current volume will close on December 15, 2025, allowing for the completion of the volume by the end of the year. All submissions received after the closing date will be reviewed for publication in the following year's volume.