For Section Editor

Now that the Section Editor has been assigned, they can log in and view their dashboard. The submission can be found at the top of the My Assigned queue.

The My Assigned queue of a Section Editor with assigned submissions.

Clicking on the view button opens the full submission record.

In the Review Stage, a notification indicates that Reviewers need to be assigned.

A sample submission record.

Note: In the screenshot above, we see the Section Editor’s view. Notice the limited Action buttons (only Make Recommendation is available).

From the Reviewers panel, you can select Add Reviewer to assign a new Reviewer.

This opens a new window, where Reviewers are listed and can be selected one at a time.

The Locate a Reviewer window listing all Reviewers.

Clicking on the blue arrow reveals more information about their review history, including how many active reviews they are currently assigned, how many reviews they have completed or declined, etc. If the user has added a Biography or Reviewing Interests, this information will be displayed here.

You can assign a user to review a submission if they are also an editor of the submission.

At the bottom of this form, you will see options to:

Select Reviewer: Use this to confirm your selection once you have picked a Reviewer from the list.

Create New Reviewer: If none of the Reviewers are suitable, you can use this button to create a new Reviewer. This is a new account in the system.

Enroll Existing User: If none of the Reviewers are suitable, you can enroll an existing user as a Reviewer.

For this demonstration, we will pick a Reviewer by hit the Select Reviewer button.

This initiates a new window with a message for the Reviewer.

The Add Reviewer screen with email notification template.

You can revise any of the prepared text.

Further down the form, you will see the additional details that are sent to the Reviewer including title, abstract, important dates, and a link to the files to be reviewed.

Review details include type and due date settings.

Hit the Add Reviewer button to send the message and assign the Reviewer.

Back on the Review Stage, we can see the Reviewer is now listed.

The newly added Reviewer seen in the Review Stage.

You can make additional changes using the blue arrow toggle next to the Reviewer’s name.

Expanded reviewer details and options.

Review Details: Provides details on the review.

The Review Details window.

Email Reviewer: This allows you to send a message to the Reviewer.

The Email Reviewer window.

Edit Review: This allows you to change the review dates and files.

The Edit Review window.

Unassign Reviewer: This allows you to unassign the Reviewer.

The Unassign Reviewer window.

History: Provides a brief history of the review.

The review History window.

Editorial Notes: Provides a note about this reviewer. The other administrators, managers and all editors. Notes will be visible for future review assignments.

The Editorial Notes window.

Review Discussion: Review Discussion is another way for you to contact a reviewer. In a review discussion, you have the option to attach files.

To start a discussion, click ‘Add Discussion.’

The location of the Add Discussion button.

You will then select the reviewer(s) you would like to start a discussion with.

The list of reviewers to select for discussion.

At this point, we could add additional Reviewers and then wait for their recommendations to come in.

Responding to Reviews

Once the Reviewers have completed their work, the Section Editor can see the results in their dashboard. Here they will see notifications that new reviews have been submitted and whether all reviews are in.

Sample notification of completed reviews in the Section Editor's dashboard.

Use the Read Review link in the Reviewers panel to read the comments from the Reviewers, including those for both the Author and Editor as well as for the Editor only.

A sample review with comments.

Select the Confirm link at the bottom of the screen.

A sample review with comments.

In the Reviewers panel, you can now see a Thank Reviewer link. Choose that to thank the Reviewer.

The Review Confirmed status applied to a review.

Hit the Thank Reviewer button to send the message.

The Thank Reviewer window.

Making the Recommendation

Based on the Reviewer's recommendations, Section Editor can use the Make Recommendation buttons to make a recommendation for Editor.

The various action buttons for making a decision regarding a submission.

Recommendations include:

Request Revisions: This will require the Author to make minor changes, the editor has the option to select whether another round of review will be required.

Resubmit for Review: This will require the Author to make major changes, the paper is required to review in the next rounds.

Accept Submission: This means the submission is accepted without revisions and can proceed to the Copyediting stage.

Decline Submission: This means that the submission has not passed peer review and is unsuitable for further consideration. 

That's it. It's all thing need to do for the Section Editor.

If you need further assistance, contact the journal’s editorial team on the Contact page.