Important Updates to JoSoTL’s Publication Process and Accessibility Guidelines

Dear Authors,

To better serve both our contributors and readers, the Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (JoSoTL) is implementing two important changes to our publication process.

1. Transition to Rolling Publication (Effective July 2025)

Beginning in July 2025, Volume 25, Issue 3, JoSoTL will shift to a rolling publication model. This means we will publish articles individually as soon as they are ready for release, rather than waiting to put them into fixed issues. At the beginning of each quarter, we will open a new issue and populate that issue with manuscripts as they are ready for publication. At the end of the quarter, we will close the issue, publish the PDF of the full issue, and open the next issue. This change is designed to reduce time to publication and increase the visibility of your research.

To manage our current queue, we will begin publishing accepted manuscripts already in production, prioritizing those that have been in queue the longest. Newly accepted articles will also be published on a rolling basis once they meet all style, formatting, and revision requirements.

We understand that authors with articles currently in queue may have concerns about fairness. However, this new approach will accelerate publication overall. For example, an article currently slated for late 2026 could now be published by Issue 4 of 2025.

2. Accessibility Compliance and New Formatting Guidelines

In alignment with federal mandates, all online content published by public universities must comply with WCAG 2.1, Level AA accessibility standards by April 24, 2026. This includes all JoSoTL volumes moving forward.

To meet these standards, JoSoTL has updated its style sheet and created a new accessibility checklist for authors. While we will continue to follow APA 7th edition as our core style guide, key accessibility requirements include:

• Use of Arial font
• Applying built-in document tools for headings, bulleted lists, tables, and alternative text for images (e.g., Microsoft Word Styles for headings). (Using these tools instead of manual formatting allows screen readers to navigate content more effectively, ensuring accessibility for all readers.)

For folks who have accepted manuscripts but not submitted their final manuscripts, you will need to follow the new journal style and accessibility requirements.

If you have an article in queue, we will contact you separately with the expected publication date and whether you need to revise your manuscript for accessibility.

Please get in touch if you have any questions or concerns. Meanwhile, please review the new style sheet and accessibility checklist linked on our website to prepare your manuscript for publication.

Thank you for your continued contributions to JoSoTL and your commitment to accessible, high-quality scholarship.

Sincerely,
The JoSoTL Editorial Team