Withdrawal Policy

The Journal of Engineering Education and Practice (JEEP) understands that authors may need to withdraw a manuscript from the publication process at various stages. This policy provides clear guidelines for withdrawing manuscripts, ensuring a fair and transparent process for authors and the journal.

Key Aspects of the Withdrawal Policy:

  1. Withdrawal Before Submission:

    • Authors can withdraw their manuscript at any time before submission to the journal (i.e., before the manuscript is formally submitted to the journal’s system for peer review).
    • No fees will be charged, and the manuscript will not be processed further.
    • Authors should promptly notify the editorial team via email, and the manuscript will be removed from the submission system.

  2. Withdrawal After Submission but Before Peer Review:

    • If a manuscript has been submitted but has not yet entered the peer review process, authors may request to withdraw it.
    • The manuscript will be removed from consideration, and no publication fees will be charged.
    • Authors are required to submit a formal written request to the editorial team, including the manuscript ID, title, and reason for withdrawal.

  3. Withdrawal During Peer Review:

    • If the manuscript is in the peer review stage, authors may request withdrawal at any time before receiving the final decision from the editors.
    • In this case, the manuscript may be withdrawn, but the authors may be responsible for partial editorial costs, depending on the stage of the review process.
    • Authors must provide a valid reason for the withdrawal, and the editorial team will process the request accordingly.

  4. Withdrawal After Acceptance but Before Publication:

    • Once a manuscript has been accepted for publication, the authors are generally expected to proceed with the publication process.
    • If a manuscript is withdrawn after acceptance but before publication, the authors may be responsible for partial publication fees if editorial or production work has already been done (e.g., peer review, copyediting).
    • The withdrawal request should be made as soon as possible, and the editorial team will assess the situation on a case-by-case basis.

  5. Withdrawal After Publication:

    • Once a manuscript has been published, it cannot be withdrawn. The article becomes part of the journal’s permanent archive.
    • If an author wishes to remove their article post-publication due to ethical concerns or errors, the article will not be removed, but a retraction notice will be issued. The retraction notice will be clearly linked to the original article, providing a transparent explanation for the retraction.

  6. Refunds Upon Withdrawal:

    • If an article is withdrawn before it has entered the production or publication stage, authors may be eligible for a full refund of any applicable publication fees, minus any administrative fees.
    • Withdrawal after acceptance but before publication may result in a partial refund or no refund, depending on the amount of editorial work already completed.
    • Once an article is published, no refunds will be issued.

  7. Request Process:

    • To withdraw a manuscript, authors must send a formal written request to the editorial team via email. The request should include the manuscript title, ID, and a clear reason for the withdrawal.
    • The editorial team will review the request and notify the authors once their manuscript has been officially withdrawn from consideration.

  8. Consequences of Unauthorized Withdrawal:

    • If an author withdraws a manuscript without notifying the editorial team or without a valid reason (e.g., to submit the manuscript elsewhere while it is still under consideration at JEEP), the journal may flag the manuscript, and the author may face restrictions on future submissions to JEEP.

This policy ensures clarity and fairness in handling manuscript withdrawals and guarantees that the journal’s editorial process remains transparent and consistent for all authors. JEEP is committed to supporting authors through every stage of the publication process while respecting their right to withdraw their work when necessary.