Publication Ethics

Servitia: Journal of Community Service and Engagement is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical responsibility in academic publishing. The journal follows the guidelines and best practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and expects all participants—authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—to uphold these principles throughout the publication process.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are expected to submit original works and properly attribute all sources and ideas drawn from other research. Any form of plagiarism, self-plagiarism, falsification, or duplication is strictly prohibited. Authors must ensure data accuracy and may be requested to provide supporting materials to verify their findings. Manuscripts must not be under consideration elsewhere, and authors should clearly disclose any potential conflicts of interest or affiliations that could influence their work. All contributors listed as authors should have made substantial intellectual or practical contributions to the study.

2. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for maintaining impartiality and evaluating manuscripts solely on scholarly merit, without bias regarding personal or institutional characteristics. Editors must safeguard the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and only share them with those involved in the review and publication process. Editorial decisions are based on originality, methodological rigor, relevance, and ethical compliance. Editors also oversee adherence to ethical standards, including consent for community-based research, protection of participant data, and responsible reporting of results.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential and provide objective, constructive, and evidence-based feedback. They are expected to identify potential ethical issues, such as plagiarism, duplicate submissions, or undeclared conflicts of interest, and inform the editors promptly. Reviewers should recuse themselves from reviewing if a conflict of interest may compromise their impartiality.

4. Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher supports the editorial team in upholding ethical standards throughout the publication process. This includes assisting in resolving disputes, addressing allegations of misconduct, and implementing corrective actions, such as publishing errata, retractions, or expressions of concern, in line with COPE guidelines.