Waiver Eligibility

1. Introduction:

"Journal for Current Sign" (JCS) recognizes that financial constraints may occasionally prevent qualified researchers from publishing their valuable work. To address this, JCS offers a limited number of fee waivers for article processing charges (APCs). This policy outlines the eligibility criteria and application process for these waivers.

2. Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible for a waiver, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Corresponding Author Status: The applicant must be the corresponding author of the submitted manuscript.
  • Financial Need: Applicants must demonstrate a genuine financial hardship that would make paying the APC difficult or impossible. This could include factors such as:
    • Lack of institutional funding support for research publication
    • Affiliation with a developing country or low-resource institution
    • Personal financial limitations
  • Manuscript Quality: The submitted manuscript must be of high quality and meet the editorial standards of JCS. This will be assessed through the journal's peer-review process.
  • Alignment with JCS Scope: The manuscript must fall within the scope of JCS and address relevant topics in the field.

3. Application Process:

Applicants interested in applying for a waiver should submit the following documents along with their manuscript:

  • Waiver Application Form: This form will be available on the JCS website and will request information about the applicant's financial situation and justification for the waiver.
  • Supporting Documentation: Applicants should provide documentation to support their claim of financial hardship. This may include letters from funding agencies confirming lack of support, proof of income, or other relevant evidence.

4. Selection Process:

Waiver applications will be reviewed by a committee consisting of JCS editors and editorial board members. The committee will consider the following factors when making decisions:

  • Strength of the application: The clarity and persuasiveness of the applicant's justification for needing a waiver.
  • Financial need: The severity of the applicant's financial hardship.
  • Manuscript quality: The scientific merit and relevance of the submitted manuscript.
  • Availability of funds: The number of waivers available in a given period.

Applicants will be notified of the committee's decision within [specify timeframe] of submitting their application.

5. Appeals:

Applicants whose waiver requests are denied may appeal the decision to the JCS Editor-in-Chief. Appeals must be submitted in writing within [specify timeframe] of receiving the notification of denial and should provide additional information to support the appeal.