Journal Editor

POSITION DESCRIPTION: 

The National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) invites applications for two positions: editor of JNCHC: The Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council and/or editor of HIP: Honors in Practice, the organization’s two refereed scholarly journals. Editors will begin their three-year terms in January 2025, with the possible renewal for a second three-year term.

Published twice a year and receiving approximately 50 submissions, JNCHC contains essays and research on honors education broadly conceived, as well as the larger higher education context in which collegiate honors education operates. Published annually and receiving approximately 25 submissions, HIP contains applied research about innovative honors practices and integrative, interdisciplinary, and pedagogical issues of interest to honors educators.

Editors are expected to secure timely and appropriate reviews and make the final decision on manuscripts, communicating with both author(s) and reviewers. Editors are also responsible for maintaining the high standards of NCHC journals and exploring opportunities to broaden the reach and reputation of the journals. Editors report to the NCHC Publications Board, which serves at the direction of the NCHC Board of Directors.

The ideal candidate will have a master’s or doctoral degree and professional experience in honors education, editorial work, and scholarly publishing, along with a demonstrable commitment to the mission of NCHC.

ABOUT NCHC: 

The oldest and largest membership organization of honors educators in the world, NCHC focuses on supporting honors education among colleges and universities. It serves as a professional association for honors programs and colleges and students, providing resources, support, and networking opportunities for educators involved in honors education. NCHC aims to advance honors education by fostering collaboration among honors programs, sharing best practices, and promoting excellence in teaching and learning.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Ensure the timely publication of JNCHC (twice a year) or HIP (once a year)
• Oversee all aspects of the manuscript review and selection process
• Work with NCHC staff members and the production team to ensure the timely distribution of each issue
• Recruit and manage an editorial board of reviewers
• Work with the NCHC staff to maintain and update the publications pages of the NCHC website and social media
• Respond to inquiries
• Participate in efforts to broaden the reach and visibility of the journal
• Serve as an ex-officio member of the Publications Board
• Represent JNCHC or HIP at the NCHC annual conference and annual spring meeting of the Publications Board 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• A master’s or doctoral degree and professional experience in honors education
• A strong commitment to NCHC’s mission and higher education more broadly
• Established record of scholarship
• Evidence of understanding the mission and operations of the journal, in addition to its strengths and challenges
• Openness to different methods, theories, and approaches to scholarship 
• Record of service for scholarly journals, e.g., as editor, editorial board member, reviewer, etc.
• Evidence of organizational skill and intellectual leadership
• Proficiency in standard office technology platforms
• Knowledge of and commitment to ethical practices in scholarly publishing, as articulated by the Committee on Publication Ethics (https://publicationethics.org/)
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills 

APPLICATIONS:

Cover letters should address the following points in no more than two pages:

• Description of your interest in the position, including a discussion of how you meet the qualifications above
• A vision statement that sets forth your goals and plans for the journal's content, which may include an assessment of the current strengths, weaknesses, or gaps you plan to address and how you will carry out your plan.

Applicants must also include a letter of support from their supervisor indicating 1) approval of the application and 2) the nature of any institutional support that would be available to the candidate. 

Applicants will also be asked to upload a CV/résumé, including the names and contact information of four relevant references.  

Review of applications will begin on September 1, 2024, until the positions are filled. We intend to interview finalists for the positions at the annual meeting of the NCHC, which will be held in Kansas City, Missouri, Oct. 31- Nov. 2, 2024.

Questions about the positions should be directed to Richard Badenhausen, search chair, at rbadenhausen@westminsteru.edu, while technical questions about submitting materials should be directed to hello@nchchonors.org.  

COMPENSATION: 

The position is a 1099 contractor appointment and provides an annual stipend of $12,000 (HIP) or $14,000 (JNCHC) paid quarterly. If university support for travel is not available, a travel allowance to attend semiannual meetings of the NCHC Publications Board may be included. Employment benefits are not included.