Frequently Asked Questions
Who can submit to the Keystone Journal of Undergraduate Research (KJUR)?
Any student who is attending or has recently graduated from one of the 14 universities that comprise the Pennsylvania State University System and completed undergraduate research at a PASSHE school under a faculty mentor.
What qualifies as research?
KJUR supports a wide variety of scholarly efforts and recognizes that research can take a variety of forms across disciplines. Regardless of the discipline, an undergraduate researcher asks an original question, gathers data, and makes a significant contribution to the scholarship. KJUR encourages submissions from undergraduate students, supported by engaged faculty mentors.
What if this research has already been or will be published elsewhere?
If it has been submitted or published in another journal then you may not submit it to KJUR.
Can I submit my senior or honors thesis?
Yes, as long as it meets the guidelines for KJUR.
How do I submit my work?
Please see Submission Instructions.
My faculty mentor has not read my paper. Should I submit it anyway?
No, it is expected that you have worked closely with your faculty mentor during the preparation of your manuscript.
When is the KJUR submission deadline?
There are no deadlines, manuscripts can be submitted at any time. However, there are deadlines for a given issue.
My project involves the use of human or animal subjects. What should I do?
KJUR will not publish any research unless it has been approved by the local Institutional Review Board or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. These approvals should be made before any data is collected.
What rights do the authors published in KJUR retain?
KJUR articles are published under the Creative Commons-Attribution-Noncommercial license. Authors retain their copyrights.
How will I know if my work has been accepted for publication?
Both the lead student author and the faculty mentor will receive an email indicating whether the manuscript has been accepted, accepted with revisions or rejected.
Can I make revisions to my work after it has been submitted?
Once a manuscript has been submitted it cannot be revised until the review process has been completed. Most manuscripts will require some revision following the review process. If a manuscript is accepted for publication in its current form the authors will still be given an opportunity to proof the manuscript before publication. Once it is published, KJUR will not make changes to the published work.