Pacific University Press Editorial Structure

The Pacific University Press is dedicated to editorial practices that both ensure the publication of quality works and respect authorial independence and agency. To this end, the press emphasizes substantive editorial review and collaborative partnerships with authors, and provides every author with constructive feedback that improves the quality of their manuscripts while preserving their unique voice.

The editorial functions of the press are the joint responsibility of the Press Director, Associate Press Director, and developmental editors.

Press Director

The Dean of University Libraries serves as the Press Director. The Press Director, in collaboration with the Editorial Board, is responsible for setting the vision and strategic direction of the press, appoints all Editorial Board members (and serves in a non-voting, ex officio capacity on the Board) and, in conjunction with the Associate Press Director, conducts the initial review of all submissions.

Associate Press Director

The Associate Press Director is responsible for recruiting and supporting the Acquisition Teams, working with the Acquisition Teams and potential authors to complete book proposals, and overseeing the general operations of the press. Based on recommendations from the Acquisition Teams, the Associate Press Director brings book proposals before the Editorial Board for consideration. Once an acquisition (either proposal or manuscript) is approved by the Editorial Board, the Associate Press Director coordinates the review process for the manuscript.

The Associate Press Director also identifies appropriate developmental editors to work with authors in revising their manuscript (as appropriate, based on review reports), and coordinates the final editing, design, and production stages for each book (including coordinating the permissions and legal review processes for each work).

Developmental Editors

Pacific University Press endeavors to recruit and acquire manuscripts that display excellence in thought, organization, and narrative expression. However, we recognize that many ultimately excellent works require substantial critical feedback and revision prior to reaching their final form, and the press is committed to providing authors with appropriate editorial support towards that end.

For this purpose, the press maintains a directory of both Pacific University faculty members and external scholars with expressed interest and skill in the critical analysis of manuscripts and providing constructive editorial support to authors in their disciplines. When a book proposal (or complete manuscript) is approved for acquisition by the Editorial Board, and a need for developmental editing is indicated by the the Associate Press Director or by peer reviewers, the Associate Press Director will select an appropriate editor to work with the author(s).

A developmental editor will be responsible for only one project at a time, and will be selected for no more than one manuscript in a given academic year. The developmental editor’s responsibilities will commence upon receipt of manuscript reviews from peer reviewers; the editor will work with the author to address both reviewer feedback and to provide additional constructive analysis of the manuscript.

In recognition of the substantial time and effort necessary to review and provide significant editorial support for a monographic manuscript, the developmental editor will receive a stipend (half of the stipend will be provided at commencement of the work, with the other half provided upon the press’ receipt of the author’s final manuscript).

Copyeditors

All manuscripts accepted for publication are copyedited by a professional copyeditor contracted by Pacific University Press. The author will have the opportunity to review the copyeditor’s feedback and make appropriate corrections (some corrections will be required based on the press’ style guide, factual inaccuracies, or internal inconsistencies; other, such as style choices, will be made at the author’s discretion).