Online Submission FAQs

Is my work a candidate for online submission?
I presented a paper at a conference several years ago, but forgot to submit it to ERIC. May I still do so?
How can I contribute my paper to ERIC?
The Online Submission system is a Beta version. If I contribute a paper now, will I have to resubmit the material when the Beta period ends?
My references, tables, slides, and text are in different files. Can't I just submit them one after the other?
How will I know if ERIC has accepted my submission? How long does it take for an accepted item to appear in the database? How will it appear?
If I submit a paper to ERIC, and it is added to the database, can I still publish the paper elsewhere?
What if I prepare multiple papers from the same study?
Will the ERIC record indicate whether my paper has been reviewed by others?
May I make changes to my paper after submission or inclusion in the database?
Whom can I contact with questions?

1. Is my work a candidate for online submission?
ERIC welcomes contributions that are education-related and meet the quality criteria set forth in the ERIC Selection Policy. The submitter must be the copyright holder. ERIC is actively seeking materials such as research papers, dissertations, conference papers, etc. Presentation slides and other optional supplementary files will be accepted only as appendices to the complete text of your paper or report.

2. I presented a paper at a conference several years ago, but forgot to submit it to ERIC. May I still do so?
Yes. ERIC welcomes contributions of materials meeting selection standards, regardless of the date. Your submission must be in one of the acceptable file formats (.pdf, .txt, .doc, or .rtf). ERIC does not accept hard copies of submissions.

3. How can I contribute my paper to ERIC?
Individuals may submit materials using ERIC’s Online Submission system (Beta). Contributors can access the system through the My ERIC section of the Web site. (You will need to register for My ERIC if you haven’t already done so in order to use this feature.)

Before you begin, be sure your paper is ready for submission. Verify that all edits and corrections are complete, that any editing marks from tracked changes are removed, and that a cover page with the title, author name(s), and publication date is included. Remove personally identifying information about research participants such as names, Social Security numbers, or addresses. For privacy reasons, this information may not be included. Remove your CV or resume if it is appended or included in the document. If the document is split into multiple files (e.g., index, chapters, appendices, etc.), it will be reassembled into a single PDF file. Use clear and distinct file names indicating the correct order in which the files should be assembled.

To submit your paper:

Review and accept the agreement to authorize indexing and dissemination of the full text of your document through ERIC.
Attach and upload your file. Use WinZip or StuffIt to combine supplementary materials (such as slides and graphics) into a single file.
Complete a brief form to provide title, author[s], publication date, and a narrative (paragraph style) or structured (pre-defined headings) abstract describing the material content.
Make sure the uploaded content matches the Title, Author, and Publication Date field entries made on the form.

4. The Online Submission system is a Beta version. If I contribute a paper now, will I have to resubmit the material when the Beta period ends?
No. All materials submitted will be added to the ERIC Collection if they meet ERIC's selection criteria and will not need to be resubmitted following the Beta period.

5. My references, tables, slides, and text are in different files. Can't I just submit them one after the other?
No. To ensure accuracy and completeness, ERIC requires contributors to combine all related files using WinZip (.zip) or StuffIt (.sfx) for submission. If you submit separate files, the addenda material (slides, tables, etc.) may be rejected as incomplete documents.

6. How will I know if ERIC has accepted my submission? How long does it take for an accepted item to appear in the database? How will it appear?
Contributors can access the system through the My ERIC section of the Web site and determine the status of their submission by using View My Submissions. Materials selected for inclusion in ERIC will be added to the collection within 30 days of submission. Accepted materials are indexed with an ED (ERIC Document) accession number, and 'Online Submission' is indicated in the Source field.

7. If I submit a paper to ERIC, and it is added to the database, can I still publish the paper elsewhere?
Yes. When you contribute your work to ERIC, you grant permission to index the material and disseminate it online. You do not transfer copyright to ERIC and may seek publication. We recommend that you consult with the editors of the journals you are considering if you have further questions.

8. What if I prepare multiple papers from the same study?
It is possible that an individual author may prepare and submit multiple papers addressing aspects of the same topic. In order for ERIC to consider them all as unique contributions, however, they must differ in major, substantive ways. Papers in which the content has been reorganized, but whole passages are repeated from previous works, or for which only the title has been slightly reworded, are not eligible for inclusion in ERIC.

9. Will the ERIC record indicate whether my paper has been reviewed by others?
No. For online submissions, the "Peer-Reviewed" field is not used and is pre-populated as "N/A." Use of the term is confined to peer-reviewed journals and specific materials from the U.S. Department of Education. If you wish to acknowledge any reviewers or a reviewing organization, please do so within the body of your text, e.g., title page, preface, notes, etc.

10. May I make changes to my paper after submission or inclusion in the database?
No. Please be sure to check all files carefully before uploading them to ERIC so that your document and any supporting materials, e.g. slides, are the final, edited versions.

11. Whom can I contact with questions?
Questions may be submitted to the ERIC Acquisitions Team at ericacq@csc.com. Your inquiry will be routed to a staff member for reply.