Sigma Indie Journal Academy
A Mini Virtual Academy Experience
The Sigma Indie Journal Academy is a 6-week online program that gives attendees access to experts, critical information, and guidance to assist attendees in creating and running their own scholarly journal.
Sigma Provides Academy Attendees:
- Expert Advice
- Directed Readings
- Practical Tips
- Detailed Explanation of Necessary Journal Components
- Live Q&A Session with the Experts
Sigma Provides Approved Journals:
- Sigma-hosted Journal Software Platform
- Platform Training
- 1-year Journal Incubation Period
- Annual Check-ins Upon Completion of Incubation Period
- Free Article Indexing in the Sigma Repository
Attendees Provide:
- Journal Plan (final assignment in the academy)
- Journal Staff (includes leadership, support staff, and reviewers/evaluators)
- Ongoing staff platform training
- A willingness to commit the time and effort to make their journal successful
Acceptable Journal Types
Attendees will choose the one that best suits their needs.
Site-Specific* - tied to your work location or professional affiliation(s)
- School of Nursing
- Hospital/Healthcare System
- Sigma Chapter/Region
- Local/National/International Nursing Organization or Consortium
*Multi-site collaborations allowed
Topic/Subject-Based - defined by area of interest
- Identify the gap,
- Assemble your local, regional, or global team, and
- Go for it!
Who should apply?
This opportunity is available to all nurses (student to retired).
Sigma members are encouraged to apply and receive a price break, but membership is not required.
Individuals may apply, but groups (not to exceed 10 individuals) may also apply and will receive group pricing. Groups may have a better outcome than individuals as journals are collaborative in nature and require multiple staff members to run successfully.
Experience in journal management is a plus but is not required. Those with no experience are welcome.
Participants can include, but are not limited to individuals and groups who:
- have an idea or plan for a journal in mind,
- are curious, but who have not yet assembled a plan,
- are curious, but have no intention of proceeding with a plan at the current time
- are interested in journals to gain a better understanding from the writer's perspective.
Weekly 1-hour recordings are provided by:
- Susan Gennaro, RN, PhD, FAAN, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Nursing Scholarship
- Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, PhD, APRN-CNP, EBP-C, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, Editor-in-Chief of Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing
- Matthew S. Howard, DNP, RN, CEN, TCRN, CPEN, CPN, Sigma, Director of Scholarship and Leadership Resources
- Julie J. Adams, MBA, MSML, CAE, Sigma, Director of Marketing and Communications
- Dustin R. Sullivan, MPS, Sigma, Publisher
- Kimberly S. Thompson, MLS, Sigma, Senior Medical & Reference Librarian, Manager of Sigma Repository
- Margaret E. Adamek, PhD, Indiana University, Editor-in-Chief of Advances in Social Work, an independent journal
- Margaret Perry, MSN, RN-BC, Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Roanoke, Virginia, Editor-in-Chief of Reach Newsletter
Each expert will provide links to applicable readings.
Practical tips will also be provided in written or recorded form.
Weekly Lessons:
- 1-hour recording provided by content expert
- Topical readings that compliment or enhance the recording
- Practical tips provided by content expert
Key Components:
Necessary components of scholarly journals will be discussed, and attendees must supply details of each component in their journal plan:
- Gap Identification
- Scope
- Author Guidance and Agreements
- Journal Leadership
- Peer-Review
- Double-Blind
- Single-Blind
- Open Review
- Copy-editing, Proofreading, Formatting
- Subscriptions, Article Processing Fees, Open Access Fees
- Journal Sustainability
- Leadership Changes
- Journal Longevity
- Obtaining an ISSN
- Content Solicitation
- Journal Promotion
Academy Final Session:
The final week of the academy will be a live Q and A session attended by all academy participants and the expert panel. Participants will have the opportunity to ask the panel questions and request further guidance on topics covered in the academy lessons.
Journal Plan:
All participants interested in pursuing journal creation will be provided a link to the Journal Plan Form.
Sigma Contract:
All approved journals will require a contract between the journal leaders and Sigma.
Academy Fees:
Individuals:
- Sigma Members: $50.00 USD
- Non-Members: $65.00 USD
Groups:
Groups consist of 3 or more individuals and will be charged according to Sigma member prices. Groups may be comprised of members and non-members. The larger the group, the more money saved!
- 3 individuals: $100.00 USD (3rd person participates free of charge!)
- 4-5 individuals: $150.00 USD (4th and 5th persons participate free of charge!)
- 6-10 individuals: $250.00 USD (Up to 4 people in the group participate free of charge!)
Journal Fees:
Hosting Fees:
Upon completion of the 1-year probation/incubation period, Sigma will charge each journal an annual journal hosting fee:
- Sigma Chapter Journal: $100.00 USD
- Sigma Region Journal: $150.00 USD
- Site Specific Journal (Small Site): $200.00 USD
- Site Specific Journal (Medium Site): $300.00 USD
- Site Specific Journal (Large Site): $500.00 USD
- Subject-Based/Topical Journal (dependent upon circulation and other factors): $200.00 - $500.00
Exit Fees:
Should a journal choose to leave the Sigma Indie Journal Platform and continue publication on another website/platform, an exit fee will be assessed, and other contractual obligations will apply.
If a journal ceases publication, exit fees will not apply.
Interested in joining the next cohort?
If you are part of a group, select one person to apply on behalf of the group.