Submission Guidelines
Thank you for your interest in Virginia Policy Review! Submissions for the 2024-2025 issue are now closed but 2025-2026 submissions will open soon!
Research Article: These articles are typically longer and reflect some kind of research in a particular policy area of interest. This can include an empirical analysis of a government program or a case study of some kind. These articles can take a position, make recommendations, or suggest specific improvements to a particular program or policy. Length may vary, but they must be no longer than 7000 words. Please also include an abstract no longer than 250 words and a short biography on each author no longer than 100 words.
Commentary/Op-ed: These entries are generally shorter and are intended to reflect different perspectives on a particular issue. These articles should take a position on a particular topic and must be no longer than 2000 words. Please include a short biography no longer than 100 words on each author.
Citations: All citations must follow the APA Citation Style. Please use in-text, parenthetical citations with a reference list at the end. For help, see the manual’s quick guide or the APA section of Purdue OWL.
Style:
2024-2025 Theme: “Public Policy is Everywhere”
In a world of self determination and righteousness, we oftentimes forget that the decisions we make, the schools we attend, the food we eat, the water we drink, the clothes we wear, the homes we live in, and even the air we breath are in some way or another affected by decisions made by others: those others being policymakers; lobbyists; and governments; both domestic and foreign.
A well known proverb states that the most wrong thing is to do nothing at all, that ignorance is bliss to a fault of one’s own path through life. This year, Virginia Policy Review aims to highlight those ignorances that, for better or worse, shape our words, actions, and decisions to better equip us to do something about them. Be it climate change, abortion, humanitarian crises, economic insecurity or many, many other policy issues this edition addresses, one thing is certain amongst them all: to enact change, to do something about them is to first acknowledge their pervasive existence in our lives and the lives of others: our friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, acquaintances, and even mere strangers.
Some articles will offer potential resolutions, others more carefully define the policy issue and dig deeper into root causes and outcomes, others simply attempt to convince you some policies are right or wrong. As a reader, we encourage to read on, even if some issues strike too close to home or nowhere near it. We encourage you to challenge your own beliefs, dig deeper into issues, and become more informed about the decisions that affect us in our day-to-day lives. After all, policy is indeed everywhere; don’t be ignorant - tread on self-determined, righteous, and better equipped to solve the issues of today and tomorrow.
Commentary/Op-ed: These entries are generally shorter and are intended to reflect different perspectives on a particular issue. These articles should take a position on a particular topic and must be no longer than 2000 words. Please include a short biography no longer than 100 words on each author.
Citations: All citations must follow the APA Citation Style. Please use in-text, parenthetical citations with a reference list at the end. For help, see the manual’s quick guide or the APA section of Purdue OWL.
Style:
- Use Times New Roman font in 12pt.
- Double-space your submission.
2024-2025 Theme: “Public Policy is Everywhere”
In a world of self determination and righteousness, we oftentimes forget that the decisions we make, the schools we attend, the food we eat, the water we drink, the clothes we wear, the homes we live in, and even the air we breath are in some way or another affected by decisions made by others: those others being policymakers; lobbyists; and governments; both domestic and foreign.
A well known proverb states that the most wrong thing is to do nothing at all, that ignorance is bliss to a fault of one’s own path through life. This year, Virginia Policy Review aims to highlight those ignorances that, for better or worse, shape our words, actions, and decisions to better equip us to do something about them. Be it climate change, abortion, humanitarian crises, economic insecurity or many, many other policy issues this edition addresses, one thing is certain amongst them all: to enact change, to do something about them is to first acknowledge their pervasive existence in our lives and the lives of others: our friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, acquaintances, and even mere strangers.
Some articles will offer potential resolutions, others more carefully define the policy issue and dig deeper into root causes and outcomes, others simply attempt to convince you some policies are right or wrong. As a reader, we encourage to read on, even if some issues strike too close to home or nowhere near it. We encourage you to challenge your own beliefs, dig deeper into issues, and become more informed about the decisions that affect us in our day-to-day lives. After all, policy is indeed everywhere; don’t be ignorant - tread on self-determined, righteous, and better equipped to solve the issues of today and tomorrow.