Within six weeks of being submitted, each journal paper undergoes a preliminary review by the journal editor. The journal editor decides among four options for routing the paper:
When a journal paper is reviewed, four options are available to the reviewers and editor:
The practice periodicals have slightly different review requirements from the other ASCE journals.
Each of these options is described in more detail below, along with possible outcomes of a rereview and a description of the appeal process.
Preliminary Decisions
Send out for review
The manuscript meets the basic requirements set by ASCE and the journal. At least two reviewers will be located by the journal editor, who will send each reviewer a copy of the paper (on paper or electronically) and a Manuscript Review form. The reviewers read the manuscript and complete the review form, selecting one of the recommendation options and critiquing the paper. The reviewers send their review forms to the editor, who examines the reviews and completes an Editor Summary Review form. The editor then forwards the Manuscript Reviews and Editor Summary Review form to ASCE. ASCE journals staff communicates the results of the editor's decision to the authors.
Transfer (to another ASCE journal)
The editor and/or reviewers may decide that the paper is not suitable for the journal and would be more appropriate to a different ASCE journal. In this case, the decision is to recommend that the authors transfer the paper to the different ASCE journal. The editor sends the review forms to ASCE. ASCE journals staff communicates this decision to the authors and, if the authors agree, route the paper to the referred journal.
Return without review (outside of scope)
The editor and/or reviewers may decide that the paper is not suitable for the journal. The editor or reviewers may explain why the paper is outside the journal's scope and/or suggest a non-ASCE journal that would be appropriate. The editor send the review forms to ASCE. ASCE journals staff communicates this decision to the authors.
Return without review (grammar/syntax)
The editor may determine that the paper has sufficient problems with English grammar and syntax that it is not ready for review. The editor sends the Editor Summary Review form to ASCE. ASCE journals staff communicates this decision to the authors.
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Review Decisions
Accept in present form
Based on at least two reviews, the editor decides that the paper is ready for publication in its present form. The editor sends the two reviews and the Editor Summary Review to ASCE. ASCE journals staff send the authors an acceptance letter, which includes any comments from the Editor Summary Review form, and an author kit. The authors submit the paper in final form, along with required forms and electronic files.
Accept, consider suggested revisions
Based on at least two reviews, the editor decides that the paper is nearly ready for publication and asks the author to consider making revisions based on suggestions from the reviewers. The editor sends the two reviews and the Editor Summary Review to ASCE. ASCE journals staff send the authors an acceptance letter, copies of the reviews, any marked manuscript pages, and an author kit.
If the authors wish to proceed to publication, they revise the paper and, if necessary, provide an explanation of why they did not accept certain suggestions. The authors send the revised papers, along with required forms and electronic files, to ASCE. The revised paper is forwarded to the editor, who reviews it and completes a new Editor Summary Review form. (The editor also may choose to return the revised paper to one or both of the original reviewers.) When the editor decides that the paper has been revised satisfactorily, the paper is forwarded to ASCE journals production.
Rereview required
Based on at least two reviews, the editor decides that the paper is not ready for publication; this decision is neither an acceptance nor a decline. The editor sends the two reviews and the Editor Summary Review to ASCE. ASCE journals staff communicate this decision to the authors and send copies of the reviews, any marked manuscript pages, and a request for revisions.
If the authors wish to proceed, they revise the paper and send it to ASCE, along with a letter that explains how the reviewers' comments have been addressed. The revised paper and letter are forwarded to the editor, who reviews them and completes a new Editor Summary Review form. (The editor may choose to return the revised paper to one or both of the original reviewers.) The editor sends the form to ASCE staff, who communicate the decision to the authors. More information on outcomes of a rereview.
Declined final
Based on at least two reviews, the editor decides that the paper is not appropriate for publication. The editor sends the reviews and the Editor Summary Review to ASCE. ASCE journals staff communicate this decision along with the reviews to the authors, alerting them that no further revisions will be considered.
A manuscript that has been declined may not be resubmitted to the same journal unless it has been substantially revised and offered as a new submission.
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Practice Periodicals
Practice periodicals have a slightly different review process from the journals. For practice periodicals, the editor needs only one review to accept or decline a manuscript. The review is performed by either an editor or an individual selected by the editor from a pool of approved reviewers. Manuscripts must represent technically competent work; however, the primary criterion for acceptance or rejection will be the work's level of practical or reader interest. Otherwise, the review process and publication process for practice periodicals is the same as for the journals.
Rereview Outcomes
If review of a paper does not result in either an accept or decline, the author may have the option of submitting a revised version of the paper for rereview. The results of a rereview are based on how well the author has addressed the reviewer and editor comments. Manuscripts returned for rereview may have the following outcomes:
Withdrawn
The author may choose not to revise the manuscript and notifies ASCE to remove it from further consideration in the journal.
Accepted
If the editor receives a single positive review, then the paper is accepted. If the single review is negative, two positive reviews are required for the paper or note to be accepted.
Revise for Review
If the author does not revise the paper sufficiently to satisfy the editor/reviewers, then the manuscript may be returned to the author for further revisions.
Declined
A paper may be declined after rereview if the author has not revised the paper sufficiently to satisfy the editor/revieweres, or if new material has been introduced that is considered to be of unacceptable quality, or if additional errors are found.
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Appealing a Review Decision
An author who disagrees with a review decision may appeal it, stating in writing the wish to do so. The manuscript is then sent to a new group of individual reviewers. If it is again declined, the decision may be appealed to the appropriate division, council, or institute. If the manuscript is again declined, the decision may be appealed to the Board Publications Committee.
Appeals should be directed by mail email to Liz Horowitz, Managing Editor, Journals, ASCE, 1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, VA 20191-4400.