Vol. 9(2) Summer 02

From the Editor

Greetings to all readers of the Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education (JIAEE) and to all members of the Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education (AIAEE)!

The summer months seem to pass by more quickly as I get older. I don’t know what the hurry is, but it seems like only yesterday that many of us gathered in beautiful Durban, South Africa for the 18th Annual AIAEE Conference. In general, this issue is devoted to publicizing our collective benefits from that conference, and specifically, we congratulate and applaud the scholarship of selected members by publishing their outstanding papers, posters, and carousels. It should be noted that the Journal’s Editorial Board Members provided a huge service this summer by completing the peer-review of all outstanding papers in a most expedient manner.

Several items were discussed at the JIAEE Editorial Board meeting held in conjunction with the Annual AIAEE Conference. First, it was decided that an online subscription form be created and posted on the Journal’s Web site. This task is complete and can be accessed at http://www.aged.tamu.edu/aiaee/jiaee/journalsub.asp. Second, board members ask that all subscribers contact their local university or public library and encourage them to subscribe to the Journal. You may entice many libraries’ interest in a JIAEE subscription if you “gift” them a one-year subscription. Library subscriptions are $45 USD/annually. Individual subscriptions can be acquired for the low cost of $25 USD/annually. Third, board members decided that email and diskette versions of JIAEE will not be available beginning with this issue. Instead, JIAEE will be published in hard copy and electronic (Web- based on a closed server) formats only. This action reduces the problems the JIAEE was experiencing with diskette formats and corruptible email file attachments. Finally, board members passed a resolution that manuscripts will have only three opportunities to be peer-reviewed by JIAEE before they can no longer be submitted for review and possible publication in the JIAEE.

A new Web site has been established at http://www.aged.tamu.edu/aiaee/jiaee/index.htm. Very soon, the JIAEE will enjoy a paperless peer-review process. Databases and corresponding Web sites are being built and tested at the moment. You can expect to submit your manuscripts electronically, review others’ manuscripts and submit your review forms through the Internet sometime this fall. I hope you find the new peer-review process a much needed benefit for our profession. Once the online submission and peer- review process is completed, I will post a notice on the AIAEE listserv. Of course, for those who prefer to use old technologies, JIAEE will continue to accept manuscripts in paper form, but the review process will take longer to complete.

I wish all of you a very successful year as we enter the last half of 2002. We should all continue to improve the scholarship and rigor in the JIAEE. I look forward to receiving your future manuscripts. Please continue to recruit your colleagues, students, and acquaintances into the AIAEE. It doesn’t take much effort. You could start by showing or emailing someone the AIAEE Web site location at http://ag.arizona.edu/aiaee/. Or, you could show someone the JIAEE Web site today. Above all else, do what you can to promote greater understanding of agricultural and extension education worldwide.

Sincerely,

Gary J. Wingenbach, Editor

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education