Article Processing Fees
3.1 Fee Structure and Rationale
The Article Processing Charge (APC) for JCSTI is set at USD 100. This fee supports the journal's open-access publishing model, ensuring that all published articles are freely accessible to readers without subscription or pay-per-view barriers. The APC covers a comprehensive range of services provided throughout the editorial and production process.
3.2 Breakdown of Services
Editorial Management:
The APC funds the editorial office's administrative overhead, including receipt and tracking of submissions, communication with authors and reviewers, and coordination of the peer review process. Editors manage manuscript workflow from submission through final decision, ensuring efficient and rigorous evaluation.
Quality Assurance and Peer Review:
A significant portion of the fee supports the peer review infrastructure, including the recruitment and engagement of qualified reviewers, management of review timelines, and handling of conflicts of interest. The journal maintains high standards of evaluation through robust editorial oversight.
Production Services:
Accepted manuscripts undergo professional copyediting, typesetting, figure preparation, and quality control. The APC covers formatting for online publication, conversion to standard file formats (PDF, HTML, XML), and digital preservation through archival systems.
Open-Access Hosting:
The fee includes costs for hosting the article on the journal's website and partner platforms, ensuring perpetual availability. Digital archiving in repositories (e.g., PubMed Central, institutional repositories) is also covered.
Publication Services:
Article metadata, DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers), indexing in databases, and promotion through social media and newsletter distribution are included.
No Submission Fees:
Unlike many journals that charge submission fees, JCSTI charges only upon acceptance, reducing the financial barrier for authors.
3.3 Payment Procedures
Invoicing:
The corresponding author receives an invoice after the manuscript is accepted. Payment must be completed before the article is published online.
Payment Methods:
Payment may be made via credit card, bank transfer, or institutional purchase order. Details are provided with the invoice.
Refund Policy:
APCs are non-refundable once an article has been published. If a manuscript is withdrawn after acceptance but before publication, a partial refund may be considered, minus administrative costs.
3.4 Waivers and Discounts
Eligibility for Waivers:
Authors from low-income countries, as defined by the World Bank, may request a full or partial waiver of the APC. Requests must be supported by a statement from the author's institution confirming lack of funds.
Early-Career Support:
First-time authors or graduate students may apply for discretionary discounts. These requests are reviewed individually and approved based on merit and financial need.
Institutional Membership:
Institutions that subscribe to JCSTI's partner programs may qualify for discounted APCs for their affiliated authors.
3.5 Transparency and Accountability
The journal adheres to open-access best practices. The APC amount is clearly stated on the journal website and is not subject to hidden fees. The journal is committed to ensuring that APC revenue does not influence editorial decisions, which remain independent and based solely on scholarly merit.
