Standardizing Student-Run Processes with SOPs - Slides

Standardizing Student-Run Processes with SOPs
Cecilia Gray, Gwendolyn Harrison, Jessicah Jensen, Kimiko Hammari, Alexus Wall. GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, George Washington University
Student journals experience frequent turnover in our leadership and community members; this constant shift in involvement can make continuity a persistent challenge. Over the past year, the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing (GWJEP) has worked intentionally to preserve institutional knowledge by developing comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to document editorial and operational workflows. These SOPs guide articles through submission, review, revision, and publication; revision feedback to authors—especially those in the humanities or publishing fields who may be unfamiliar with scholarly processes; how we write and evaluate various types of content; social media campaigns; and managing student volunteers, including strategies for addressing inactivity. GWJEP team leads will share process for creating effective SOPs, templates we’ve developed, and examples of how these documents have improved our day-to-day operations. We will also discuss the tangible benefits other student-run journals can expect to experience by implementing SOPs, including smoother transitions and reduced labor between teams, clearer expectations for new staff, and ultimately more sustainable operations. Attendees will leave with the knowledge of practical steps to take to create, implement, and maintain SOPs in their own publications.