Author Guidelines

• Only original work will be considered.
• Simultaneous submissions are allowed. However, once accepted by Catalyst, all other submissions must be withdrawn.

All manuscripts must use APA 7th edition citation style.

• Word counts vary by category and author type (student, faculty/staff, or community partner)
• Word limits exclude references, tables, and figures.

• Catalyst does not prohibit use of generative AI technology as a professional tool but strongly cautions authors to thoroughly consider the ethical implications of its use within the larger context of scholarship and knowledge creation.
• If an author chooses to use AI, the editors encourage a close review of any content generated, as generative AI tools have been known to produce misleading or inaccurate information, falsify academic evidence, and misinterpret complex intellectual concepts.
• If an author uses generative AI or AI assisted technologies (such as ChatGPT), the editors request a “use of AI disclosure” statement that will also be included in the final submission, if accepted.
• The disclosure should name the generative AI tool or service used, explain the reason for its use, state that the author(s) reviewed and edited the content, and affirm that the author(s) take(s) full responsibility for the publication’s content. 
  
  
  

• Empirical studies of community-engaged learning in higher education. Methodologies may include qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods, and may examine theoretical, conceptual, and/or practical approaches to community engagement. Research articles advance knowledge in the SLCE field by providing systematic inquiry that produces new understanding and offers clear interventions in interdisciplinary scholarship. We especially encourage submissions from emerging scholars, students, and community-based researchers whose work pushes the field forward in innovative ways.
• Up to 8,000 words
• Up to 5,000 words for student and community partner submissions

• We welcome creative expressions that illuminate the complexities, joys, and challenges of service-learning and community engagement. Submissions may include creative nonfiction, poetry, visual art, photography, short documentary films, podcasts, and other multimodal formats that capture authentic experiences and foster empathy across difference. Creative works should demonstrate how artistic practice intersects with civic engagement, revealing truths that traditional scholarship alone cannot convey. We encourage submissions from community members, students, and practitioners whose creative voices expand our understanding of partnership, transformation, and social change.
• Up to 5,000 words, 5 image files, or 20 minutes of media
• Up to 3,000 words, 3 images, or 10 minutes for student and community partner submissions

• A critical analysis of community-engaged project(s) and/or program(s) in the nonprofit sector and/or SLCE field that offers practical insights for replication, adaptation, or avoiding pitfalls. Case studies should move beyond description to examine the theoretical frameworks, partnership dynamics, outcomes, and lessons learned from specific initiatives. These narratives contextualize challenges and successes within broader SLCE scholarship, providing actionable knowledge for practitioners, administrators, and community partners seeking to develop or strengthen their own programs. Co-authored submissions with community partners are especially encouraged.
• Up to 3,000 words
• Up to 1,500 words for student and community partner submissions

• An analytical essay that explores a community-engaged experience through the lens of critical inquiry. Critical reflections move beyond personal narrative to interrogate underlying assumptions about power, privilege, reciprocity, and social justice within SLCE practice. These pieces should provide evidence to contextualize the learning process, examine systemic issues that shape community-campus partnerships, and assess impact on both the writer and the broader community. We welcome reflections that grapple with failure, ambiguity, and the messy realities of authentic collaboration, as well as those that celebrate transformative breakthroughs in understanding.
• Up to 3,000 words
• Up to 1,500 words for student and community partner submissions

• Reviews of recent publications (within the past five years) in the SLCE field that not only describe a work’s content and approach but also examine its contributions to pedagogy, practice, policy, and scholarship. Book reviews should position the text within current conversations in the field, analyze its methodology or arguments, clarify its intended audience, and assess how it expands or challenges existing knowledge. Reviews should help readers determine the book’s relevance to their own work while contributing to the broader scholarly dialogue about what constitutes impactful, equitable community engagement.
• Up to 1,500 words
• Up to 1,000 words for student and community partner submissions

• A comprehensive narrative overview designed as an essential exploratory resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to understand and address the unique needs and assets of specific organizations or communities. These profiles offer a contextual snapshot highlighting key demographic, socioeconomic, and environmental factors, the social issues being addressed, community strengths and resources, and the organization’s approach to partnership and engagement. Community partner profiles should center community voice and knowledge, illuminating what makes this organization or community distinctive and what others can learn from their experience and expertise.
• Up to 1,500 words
• Up to 1,000 words for student and community partner submissions

• A collaborative product that actively involves community members in identifying, addressing, and solving local challenges. These multimodal submissions document projects that foster mutual learning and knowledge exchange between academic institutions and community organizations, with emphasis on real-world impact. Projects should integrate service-learning, research, and action to promote community empowerment, social justice, and sustainable change. Submissions in this category are typically co-created and may take diverse formats—including multimedia presentations, interactive timelines, digital storytelling, or other innovative forms that best represent the collaborative nature and outcomes of the work. Contact the Editor to discuss submission parameters based on your project’s unique format and scope.