H300-James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal
Practicum and Seminar
Description
Students in the course serve on the James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal
Editorial Board. JMURJ Editorial Board members work to promote, publish, and share JMU
undergraduates’ text-based and multimedia research in the online publication. JMURJ
accepts submissions from all JMU disciplines in a double-blind, peer-reviewed editorial
process that includes faculty reviewers from across campus.
JMURJ Editorial Board members learn, collaborate, and lead within and across three teams:
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Marketing, outreach, and acquisitions (which includes meeting with administrators
and faculty leaders, soliciting manuscripts, creating and developing funding
opportunities, identifying Faculty Review Board members and reviewers, and
developing online content on different platforms, including social media and
Scholarly Commons);
Editing in all its forms, from comprehensive editing to copyediting and
proofreading (which includes coordinating manuscripts’ progression through the
publication process, working with writers and Faculty Review Board members, and
hands-on editing practice in disciplines across campus); and
Design and publication (which includes designing online and print materials,
formatting and laying out copy and images for the journal itself, and developing
online content on different platforms).
In each of these overlapping arenas, JMURJ Editorial Board members do a lot of purposeful,
practical writing to the JMU student body at large, to students who have submitted their
work, to Faculty Review Board members, and to professors and administrators across
campus. Editorial Board members gain experience in defining and publishing a growing
university-wide academic research journal; collaborating with a diverse group of enthusiastic,
skilled team members; and working with people and texts from various fields, both here at
JMU and beyond
JMURJ seeks applicants from potential Editorial Board members from disciplines across
campus who are self-starters, who work and play well with others, and who value the range
of research that goes on here at JMU.
See more information about the journal, including Volumes 1 and 2: www.jmu.edu/jmurj.
Credits
The seminar and practicum for Honors 300 “James Madison Undergraduate Research
Journal” require consent of instructor for admission.
Seminar
3 credits can be used for Honors seminar requirement. It can also be used to fulfill the
second-semester depth requirement for an Area of Emphasis.
Practicum
Variable credits (1-3) for a practicum can serve as an Honors elective or can complete
the three-semester sequence for an Area of Emphasis.
Letter of Interest for New Students
Though there are no prerequisites, registering for the course requires instructor consent,
which is contingent upon the initiative you demonstrate in a short letter of interest that
addresses the four questions below. Please email your letter to Scott Lunsford, co-advisor of
JMURJ, lunsfoss@jmu.edu.
1. Are you interested in taking the course for seminar or practicum credit? If for
practicum, how many credits?
2. Why are you interested in serving on the JMURJ Editorial Board?
3. Read the team member roles and related skills below. What role(s) do you have
experience with? What skills do you have?
4. How do see your professional and academic goals matching up with the mission and
vision of the journal?
Editorial Board Member Roles
While producing JMURJ is a collaborative effort, the success of the journal requires Board
members to have particular sets of skills.
1. Editorial Team: Board members work with the Faculty Review Board and student
authors to prepare submissions for publication. This involves proofreading and
copyediting submissions that are approved by faculty reviewers. As a member of the
JMURJ editing team, you will be expected to display a strong understanding of
grammar, possess strong writing skills, and demonstrate the interpersonal skills
necessary for working with a team of your peers. Previous experience in publishing,
providing peer writing feedback, and/or writing center tutoring is appreciated.
2. Design Team: Board members design the layout for publications, update and
innovate the website, and use graphic design software to create marketing materials.
The skill traits necessary for members of the design team include a basic knowledge
of graphic design software, such as Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Canva, and
Cascade. Design team members should also have basic knowledge of web design and
print design. Along with these traits, members must also be highly organized and
display a strong sense of creativity.
3. Marketing and Outreach Teams: Board members work to publicize JMURJ:
o Marketing: Publicizes JMURJ through broad communication techniques, such as
mass emails, targeted calls-for-papers (CFPs), and social media. Along with the
basic skills expected of all JMURJ Board members, marketing team members
must possess professional written and interpersonal communication skills with
JMU administrators and faculty. Previous experience with marketing and social
media management and a familiarity with Microsoft Excel or Google Drive
software are also appreciated.
o Outreach: Publicizes JMURJ through interpersonal communication, such as
recruiting faculty members to join the JMURJ review board, giving presentations
to students, sending thank you emails, etc. The members of the outreach team
must display strong interpersonal communication skills in professional writing
and public speaking.