Topics: College of Sciences and Humanities, Immersive Learning
December 10, 2010
An international philosophy journal produced though an immersive learning class at Ball State University has been recognized for is excellence and innovation.
Stance: An International Undergraduate Philosophy Journal recently was honored by the American Philosophical Association/Philosophy Documentation Center with the Prize for Excellence and Innovation in Philosophy Programs.
The award is given for a record of achievement, the accomplishment of clearly defined goals and the appropriateness of the program for emulation by others in the field.
Produced and edited by undergraduate students in a class taught by David Concepcion, a philosophy professor who serves as the managing editor, the journal is in its fourth year of publication and is distributed internationally to college and university libraries.
"We are especially pleased with this award because it acknowledges that Ball State students are world leaders," Concepcion said. "Working with students from Australia, Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom and Slovenia, Ball State students teach other students and scholars around the world how to review academic papers and how to improve their own writing. This prize can only enhance our international reputation and further solidify our position as the best undergraduate philosophy journal in the world."
Each year, a small number of returning staff and Concepcion train new staff members on the journaling process, which includes evaluating the form and content of manuscripts, writing constructive reviews and conducting independent research.
The undergraduate staff, comprised of philosophy, English, computer science, journalism and business majors, collaboratively develops all internal procedures, operational documents and external communications, including the production timeline, external reviewer selection practices, calls for papers and reviewers, criteria for evaluating manuscripts, decision letters and financial management. Each member of the editorial board reviews approximately 25 manuscripts during the winter break between semesters.
The publication is funded through the Provost's Immersive Learning Initiative.
By Marc Ransford, Senior Communications Strategist