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Inquiro UAB's Undergraduate Research Journal

Operational Guidelines

Developed: October 6, 2025

Authors: Rishab Samant and Tamanna Patel, Inquiro Chief Editors 2024–2026

Article l - Name, Purpose, Non-Discrimination Policy, and Non-Hazing Policy of the Organization

Section 1: Name: inquiro: Undergraduate Research Journal of The University of Alabama at Birmingham

Section 2 - Purpose: inquiro is the premiere student-run annual research journal from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). inquiro was established to create a platform where the research contributions of undergraduate students from across campus could be published and highlighted.

Section 3 - Non-Discrimination Policy: The University of Alabama at Birmingham and inquiro: Undergraduate Research Journal of The University of Alabama at Birmingham prohibits discrimination in admission, educational programs, and other student matters on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, disability unrelated to program performance, veteran status or genetic or family medical history.

Article II - Membership: Qualifications and Categories of Membership

Membership of the Editorial Board of inquiro is based upon the annual selection of members at the discretion of the Editor(s)-in-Chief. This selection will be unbiased and determined based upon their application to the Editorial Board. It is limited exclusively to currently-enrolled undergraduate UAB students.

Article III - Officers: Titles, Terms of Office, Type of Selection, and Duties of the Leaders

Editor(s)-in-Chief: Appointment will be in the Fall semester by Editor-in-Chief(s) of the previous term and Advisors for a term that will hold as deemed necessary and appropriate. Selected members for this position are only eligible if they have served as an Editorial Board member for at least one prior academic year.

Duties:

  • Managing editorial board members, delegating tasks and submissions to the editorial board, working closely with sponsors to ensure the journal is on pace with its objectives, and leading the process of preparing and publishing each inquiro volume.
  • The positions of leadership within inquiro will be determined by the current Editor(s)-in-Chief at their discretion, based upon the annual necessities of the organization.

For the 2024-2026 Editorial Board, the following Editorial Board leadership positions were selected. For the 2024-2025 academic year, selection was based upon the length of previous involvement in inquiro and the seniority of members. For the 2025-2026 academic year, selection was based upon application and subsequent review by Advisors and Editors-in-Chief.

  • Review Correspondence Committee Head: This member will be responsible for ensuring communication amongst authors and reviewers, both students and faculty is efficient and timely. They will maintain the responsibility of monitoring the coordinated progress of this communication, presenting it to the Editor(s)-in-Chief in a concise manner at their request.
  • Engagement Committee Head: This member will be responsible for dually ensuring inquiro maintains regular outreach to the student body and keeping a record of Editorial Board involvement through measurable methods. Measurable methods include tabling, reviewing articles, and any other mechanisms deemed applicable by the Editor(s)-in-Chief and the Engagement Committee Head.

Article IV - Dues

There are no dues required for editorial board membership.

Article V - Standing Committees (if Needed): Names, Purposes, and Composition

  • Engagement Committee: This committee is responsible for ensuring inquiro’s advertisement reaches the student body effectively through social media and in-person methods. The Engagement Committee will also develop graphics/flyers as deemed necessary. This committee can be dissolved in future years if deemed unnecessary.
  • Review Correspondence Committee: This committee is responsible for making communication between reviewers and authors timely. They will communicate with both parties to ensure the journal stays on track for solidifying/preparing articles for publication in the journal. This committee can be dissolved in future years if deemed unnecessary.

Article VI – Advisor(s) Responsibilities and Authority

Current Advisors: Mr. Gareth Jones and Dr. Kevin Fontaine.

  • Responsibilities: Advisors will provide feedback on the operations of inquiro to the Editor(s)-in-Chief, assisting with the planning and development of the journal.

Article VII – Meetings of the Organization: Required Meetings and their Frequency

Meetings will occur on a basis as determined by the Editor(s)-in-Chief. Specific one-on-one meetings will be determined per the needs of the Editor(s)-in-Chief and Committee Heads. Meetings will last approximately one hour. Meetings will be held through ZOOM or in-person.

Article VIII – Method of Changing the Operational Guidelines: Proposals, Notice, and Voting Requirements

A meeting of the Editorial Board must be held to change the Operational Guidelines. If more than 2/3 of meeting attendees vote to change the existing Operational Guidelines, the amendment will pass. Amendments must be proposed by a current member of the Editorial Board and brought to the attention of the Editor(s)-in-Chief. If the amendment passes, Editor(s)-in-Chief will incorporate this amendment in writing by updating the Operational Guidelines and writing a description of the amendment under this Article. The description must include the date on which the amendment was passed.

Article IX – Method of Dissolution of Organization

The organization may only be dissolved by recommendation and action of the acting advisors.