VISTAS 2010 FAQs
What is VISTAS?
VISTAS began as a print and CD publication that attempted to capture the professional and practical wisdom of presenters at the 2004 ACA Annual Convention in Kansas City. It remains a dynamic project as we navigate the expanding opportunities offered by technology. The goal of VISTAS, as described in VISTAS: Perspectives on Counseling 2004 (Walz & Yep, 2004, p. ix) is to build a, “user –driven ACA-sponsored database of counseling resources that will capture the best ideas and practices of ACA members.” We further defined VISTAS on our homepage as “an innovative publication produced for ACA by Counseling Outfitters, LLC (Garry R. Walz and Jeanne C. Bleuer) as a means of capturing the ideas, information, and experiences generated by the annual ACA conventions.” We are excited to announce that in 2010 we will expand VISTAS to include papers not based on program presentations.
We are always working to streamline and improve the VISTAS submission and review process as well as the nature of the database of counseling resources that has been developed. Therefore, small variations in procedures have occurred from year to year in the past – and will probably continue in the future.
Is VISTAS a book, a journal, a database?
VISTAS 2004 and 2005 existed primarily as a print publication. In 2006, a smaller print publication was produced, but was supplemented by additional online-only selections. In 2007, an online-only publication was produced; while in 2008 and 2009, both a book and online-only articles were selected. VISTAS has never existed as a print journal and does not have the narrow topical focus common to most journals. It can also be viewed as a database reflecting topics of interest as gleaned largely through annual convention presentations. Contributors are primarily professional counselors in all settings, counselor educators and supervisors, graduate students, and program administrators.
Will there be a print publication of VISTAS 2010?
No. VISTAS 2010 will be a digital publication, presented in the format of a book in the VISTAS Online database. Each VISTAS 2010 article will also be entered as a separate file in the ACA online library. VISTAS will retain the competitive peer-review process for the selection of articles for inclusion.
What is the deadline for VISTAS 2010?
The deadline for a submission to be peer-reviewed and considered for inclusion in the 2010 digital publication is November 16, 2009 (updated).
Can papers from past conferences be submitted?
Yes. In fact, papers no longer need to be based on any conference program. If you have a program or practice that has been validated through research or experience, and want to share your knowledge and resources with other counseling professionals, you are invited to prepare a paper for submission to VISTAS 2010.
Will my paper be edited?
Papers accepted for VISTAS 2010 will be lightly edited; authors may be requested to provide further clarification or information if needed.
In what person should VISTAS papers be written?
We prefer that it be written in third person.
What will happen if I submit an author biography that is longer than requested?
We reserve the right to modify author biographies that do not conform to the requested format.
Can VISTAS papers be published elsewhere?
Papers selected for inclusion in VISTAS 2010 will be copyrighted by ACA. A release form, granting copyright permission to ACA will be forwarded to authors upon acceptance of their papers. The form must be signed and returned before the article can be included in VISTAS 2010. This copyright will not preclude authors from submitting an altered or expanded version of their papers (with a different title) to other potential publishers. However, you might want to check with the journal editor first as some journals won't accept articles on the same topic even if they are different in content.
Can previously published articles be submitted to VISTAS?
We cannot accept articles that are copyrighted by another publisher. However, we strongly encourage you to write a new article that focuses particularly on the practical implications that can be drawn from the content of your previous written work(s).
How are VISTAS articles selected?
Due to the dynamic nature of VISTAS, the selection process has varied by year. Most articles have been solicited from ACA annual conferences. As VISTAS has evolved, we have also been able to solicit annual NCDA conferences as well as biennial ACES conferences. VISTAS 2004 articles underwent a rigorous peer-review process. Papers from 2005 – 2007 underwent editorial selection and, thus, can be compared to having a chapter included in an edited book. In 2008 and 2009, the combination of print and online-only articles continued while the review process increased in rigor to a blind peer-review process. This process is now our standard procedure.
Is VISTAS 2010 a refereed publication?
Yes. A peer review panel of professional leaders, scholars, and subject matter specialists will select all papers included in VISTAS 2010. The review process meets accepted professional standards of being a refereed publication as defined in Cabell's Directory of Publishing Opportunities: Psychology and Psychiatry, 2007-2008.
As the project has grown over the years, so too has the way in which articles are reviewed. Articles selected for inclusion in the print versions of VISTAS can be cited as a chapter in a published book. Articles selected for “online only” can be cited as being editorially selected for an electronic publication. Further, VISTAS 2004 and 2008-2010 authors can confidently say the articles were peer-reviewed, while 2005-2007 articles were editorially selected.
One final distinctive characteristic of VISTAS that authors should consider carefully is that, perhaps more so than in most publications, VISTAS holds each author personally responsible for the quality of the writing and the veracity of the views and opinions expressed in his/her article. Once an article has been selected by the review panel, minimal editing is performed by VISTAS editors.
What are reprint and copyright procedures?
Educational Use: You are welcome to copy this article for educational purposes, but please cite the source, e.g., an APA reference citation followed by, “Reprinted with permission from ACA for educational purposes only.”
For Profit Publication: Contact the American Counseling Association for reprint permission. You'll find a staff directory at: http://www.counseling.org/AboutUs/Staff/TP/Home/CT2.aspx
