Catalyst Publication Agreement
*For all accepted submissions
CATALYST: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL OF SERVICE-LEARNING & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
This Publication Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into between:
Author(s): _______________________________________________________________
Address:_________________________________________________________________
Email:____________________________ Phone: ________________________________
AND
Publisher: Wake Forest University, Office of Civic & Community Engagement
Address: 1834 Wake Roest Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27109
Journal: Catalyst: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Service-Learning & Community Engagement
The “Work” subject to this Agreement is entitled and described as follows:
Manuscript Title: _________________________________________________________
Submission Category:______________________________________________________ Date:______________
1. GRANT OF RIGHTS
1.1 License Grant
The Author(s) hereby grant(s) to Wake Forest University and North Carolina Campus Engagement a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to the Work, which includes the following rights:
- Publish, reproduce, and distribute the Work in Catalyst journal
- Make the Work freely available online through open-access platforms
- Include the Work in digital archives and repositories
- Allow readers to download, read, and cite the Work
- Distribute the Work under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)
1.2 Copyright Retention
The Author(s) retain(s) full copyright ownership of the Work and may exercise all rights accorded to them under copyright law, including but not limited to:
- Using the Work in teaching and educational contexts
- Depositing the Work in institutional repositories
- Incorporating portions of the Work in future publications
- Creating derivative works based on the Work
- Granting additional licenses for the Work
2. AUTHOR REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Author(s) represent(s) and warrant(s) that:
2.1 Originality and Ownership
- The Work is original and has been created solely by the Author(s)
- The Author(s) own(s) all rights in the Work or has/have obtained all necessary permissions and authority to enter into this Agreement
- The Work has not been previously published in whole or substantial part that would conflict with the terms of this Agreement or the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)
- The Work is not currently under consideration for publication elsewhere (except as permitted for simultaneous submissions under Catalyst guidelines)
2.2 Content Warranties
- The Work does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary rights
- The Work does not contain any defamatory, obscene, or unlawful material
- The Work does not violate any right of privacy or publicity
- Any third-party materials included in the Work are properly attributed and used with permission
- All research involving human subjects has been conducted in accordance with applicable ethical guidelines and institutional review board approvals
2.3 Authority
- The Author(s) has/have full authority to enter into this Agreement
- If the Work was created in the course of employment, the Author(s) has/have obtained necessary permissions from the employer
- All co-authors have consented to this publication and Agreement
3. PEER REVIEW AND EDITORIAL PROCESS
3.1 Review Process
- The Work will undergo peer review in accordance with Catalyst’s review guidelines
- The Author(s) acknowledge(s) that acceptance is contingent upon successful completion of the peer review process
- The Author(s) agree(s) to respond to reviewer comments and editorial suggestions in a timely manner
3.2 Editorial Rights
- Wake Forest University reserves the right to edit the Work for length, clarity, grammar, and style
- Substantial changes will be communicated to the Author(s) for approval
- The Author(s) will have the opportunity to review and approve final proofs before publication
4. PUBLICATION TERMS
4.1 Open Access Publication
- The Work will be published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)
- The Work will be freely available to readers worldwide at no cost
- Readers may distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the Work, provided proper attribution is given
4.2 Publication Timeline
- Target publication dates are as outlined in Catalyst’s submission guidelines
- Notification of acceptance: February 28, 2026
- Expected publication date: June/July 2026
- Actual publication dates may vary due to editorial and production requirements
4.3 Attribution Requirements
- The Author(s) will be credited as specified in the manuscript
- Wake Forest University and North Carolina Campus Engagement will be acknowledged as publishers
- The Work will include proper citation information for scholarly reference
5. AUTHOR RETENTION RIGHTS
5.1 Retained Rights
The Author(s) explicitly retain(s) the right to:
- Post the accepted manuscript on personal or institutional websites
- Include the Work in dissertations or theses
- Use the Work for teaching purposes, including course packs and online courses
- Present the Work at conferences and professional meetings
- Distribute copies to colleagues for scholarly purposes
- Translate the Work into other languages
- Create derivative works incorporating the content
5.2 Attribution Requirements for Reuse
When exercising retained rights, the Author(s) must:
- Acknowledge Catalyst as the original place of publication
- Provide proper citation to the published version
- Include a link to the published version when possible
6. PUBLISHER RESPONSIBILITIES
6.1 Publication Standards
Wake Forest University will:
- Conduct fair and timely peer review through qualified reviewers
- Maintain editorial independence and academic freedom
- Preserve the Work in digital archives for long-term access
- Provide DOI (Digital Object Identifier) for permanent citation
- Ensure the Work meets professional publishing standards
6.2 Open Access Commitment
- Make the Work freely available online immediately upon publication
- Not charge readers or their institutions for access
- Archive the Work in appropriate repositories for long-term preservation
- Clearly mark the Work with CC BY 4.0 license terms
7. FINANCIAL TERMS
7.1 No Fees
- No publication fees will be charged to the Author(s)
- No royalties or compensation will be paid to the Author(s)
- The Author(s) are responsible for any costs related to obtaining permissions for third-party materials
8. INDEMNIFICATION AND LIABILITY
8.1 Author Indemnification
The Author(s) agree(s) to indemnify and hold harmless Wake Forest University, North Carolina Campus Engagement, and their officers, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) arising from:
- Breach of the Author’s representations and warranties in this Agreement
- Any copyright infringement or other intellectual property violation
- Any defamatory or unlawful content in the Work
8.2 Limitation of Liability
Wake Forest University’s liability under this Agreement is limited to the direct damages actually incurred, and in no event shall exceed $500.
9. TERMINATION AND WITHDRAWAL
9.1 Pre-Publication Withdrawal
- The Author(s) may withdraw the Work before acceptance by providing written notice
- After acceptance, withdrawal requires mutual agreement and may result in costs to the Author(s)
9.2 Post-Publication
- Once published, the Work will remain permanently available under the CC BY 4.0 license
- The Author(s) cannot revoke the open access license after publication
10. GENERAL PROVISIONS
10.1 Governing Law
Any dispute arising under this Agreement shall be brought in the courts of North Carolina, Forsyth County. This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina without giving effect to its conflict or choice of laws rules. Should a dispute arise in connection with this Agreement, Author(s) and Wake Forest agree to use their best efforts to resolve the dispute through negotiation. If the dispute cannot be resolved through negotiation, the parties agree to submit the dispute to mediation with a mediator chosen jointly and all costs of the mediation shared equally. If the parties agree mutually to waive mediation, such dispute shall be adjudicated in the state or federal Courts of North Carolina, and both parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of such Courts. Venue will lie only in Forsyth County, North Carolina, or the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.
10.2 Entire Agreement
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior negotiations, representations, or agreements relating to the subject matter.
10.3 Amendments
Any modifications to this Agreement must be in writing and signed by both parties.
10.4 Severability
If any provision of this Agreement is found to be unenforceable, the remainder of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
SIGNATURES
By signing below, the parties agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement:
AUTHOR(S):
Signature: _________________________________ Date: _______________
Print Name: _______________________________
Signature: _________________________________ Date: _______________
Print Name: _______________________________ (Add additional signature lines as needed for co-authors)
FOR WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY:
Signature: _________________________________ Date: _______________
Print Name: Allison Walker
Title: Director of Community Partnerships & Experiential Learning
Contact Information: For questions about this Agreement, contact: catalystjournal@wfu.edu Phone: (336) 758-3742
Agreement Version: 1.0 Effective Date: [August 1, 2025]