Policies
Copyright and Licensing Policy
Copyright
Authors publishing in Elevate: A Buddhist Journal retain the copyright of their work. Copyright
remains with the author(s) at all times, and no transfer of ownership is required for publication in
the journal.
By submitting and publishing in the journal, authors grant Elevate: A Buddhist Journal the right
to publish, archive, and disseminate the work as part of its open-access publishing program.
Open Access Policy
All content published in Elevate: A Buddhist Journal is made freely available immediately upon
publication. There are no subscription fees or access charges for readers.
The journal supports the principles of open scholarly communication and the global
dissemination of research in Buddhist studies and related fields.
Licensing Terms
Unless otherwise stated, all articles published in Elevate: A Buddhist Journal are distributed
under the:
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)
This license allows anyone to:
- Read, download, and share the published work
- Copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt, remix, transform, and build upon the material
- Use the work for both non-commercial and commercial purposes
Conditions of Use
Users must:
- Provide appropriate credit to the original author(s)
- Cite Elevate: A Buddhist Journal as the original source of publication
- Indicate if any changes were made
- Provide a link to the Creative Commons license
No additional restrictions may be applied beyond those stated in the license.
Author Rights
Authors are free to:
- Deposit their published work in institutional repositories
- Share the article on personal websites or academic platforms
- Use the published version in teaching and academic presentations
- Distribute the work with proper citation to the original publication in Elevate: A Buddhist Journal
Third-Party Material
Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to use any copyrighted material (such as
images, tables, or excerpts) included in their submissions. Such material must be clearly credited
and comply with applicable copyright laws.
Archiving and Preservation
The journal ensures long-term preservation of published content through digital archiving
systems and institutional repositories to guarantee permanent accessibility.
Disclaimer
The views expressed in published articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect
the views of the editors or editorial board of Elevate: A Buddhist Journal.
Publication Ethics
Elevate: A Buddhist Journal
Elevate: A Buddhist Journal is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication
ethics and academic integrity. The journal follows the general principles and best practices
recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE): https://publicationethics.org/
Editorial Responsibility and Publication Decisions
Final decisions regarding publication rest with the editorial team of Elevate: A Buddhist Journal.
Manuscripts are evaluated based on scholarly quality, originality, relevance to the journal’s
scope, and reviewer recommendations.
Editors may consult peer reviewers and members of the editorial board when making decisions.
All decisions are also guided by applicable legal and ethical considerations, including issues
related to plagiarism, libel, and copyright infringement.
Principles of Fair Evaluation
All submissions are assessed solely on their intellectual content and scholarly merit. The journal
does not discriminate on the basis of:
- nationality or geographic origin
- gender identity or sexual orientation
- age
- ethnicity or race
- religious or political beliefs
Every manuscript is treated with equal respect and impartiality throughout the review process.
Confidentiality of Submissions
Manuscripts submitted for review are treated as confidential documents. Access is limited to
editors, assigned reviewers, and relevant editorial staff.
Submitted materials will not be shared, discussed, or used for any purpose outside the peer-
review process. Editors and reviewers are not permitted to use unpublished material in their own
research without explicit written consent from the author(s).
Corrections, Retractions, and Post-Publication Updates
If a published article is found to contain significant errors, inaccuracies, or ethical concerns, the
editorial team will work with the author(s) to determine the appropriate course of action. This
may include issuing a correction, an erratum, or, in serious cases, retraction of the article.
The journal reserves the right to publish corrections in order to maintain the integrity of the
scholarly record.
Author Responsibilities
Originality and Simultaneous Submission
Authors must ensure that submitted work is original, has not been published previously, and is
not under consideration elsewhere. Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals at the
same time is considered unethical and will result in rejection.
Plagiarism and Academic Integrity
All submissions must represent original scholarship. When using the ideas, words, or data of
others, proper citation is required. Manuscripts containing plagiarism or fabricated information
will not be considered for review.
Citation of Sources
Authors are expected to acknowledge all sources that have influenced their research. Proper
attribution should be given to both published and unpublished works that inform the submission.
Authorship Criteria
Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial intellectual contributions
to the research, including its conception, design, analysis, or writing.
All listed co-authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its
submission. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that authorship is accurate and
complete.
Post-Publication Corrections
If an author identifies a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they are expected
to promptly inform the editorial team and cooperate in issuing a correction or retraction if
necessary.
Copyright and Licensing
Upon acceptance, authors agree to publish their work under the terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), unless otherwise specified by the journal.
This ensures that published work may be freely accessed, shared, and reused, provided
appropriate credit is given to the author(s) and the journal.
Reviewer Responsibilities
Timely Evaluation
Reviewers who feel unqualified to assess a manuscript or unable to complete a review within the
requested timeframe should inform the editorial team and decline the invitation.
Confidential Handling of Manuscripts
All manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential. They must not be shared or
discussed with others unless authorized by the editors.
Objectivity and Constructive Feedback
Reviews should be conducted in a professional and impartial manner. Feedback should focus on
scholarly content and be supported by clear reasoning. Personal criticism of authors is not
appropriate.
Recognition of Sources
Reviewers should alert editors to any relevant literature not cited by the authors and should
identify any substantial overlap with other published or known works.
Conflicts of Interest
Reviewers must not evaluate manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest arising from
personal, professional, or institutional relationships. Any privileged information obtained during
the review process must remain confidential and must not be used for personal advantage.
Privacy Statement
Elevate: A Buddhist Journal is committed to protecting the privacy of its users and contributors.
Any personal information submitted through this journal platform—such as names, email
addresses, and other contact details—will be used solely for editorial and publication-related
purposes.
This information will not be shared, sold, or disclosed to any third parties outside the journal’s
editorial and publishing processes. It will only be accessed by authorized editorial staff as
necessary for managing submissions, peer review, and communication with authors and
reviewers.
