About This Journal
Beginnings
During fall semester 2014, then Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, Dr. Karim Ismaili, convened a campus-wide group to develop guidelines for a journal of graduate research and creative scholarship. The committee included faculty from all colleges at Bridgewater State University and representatives from the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Maxwell Library as well as a graduate student. Dr. Elaine Bukowiecki, Graduate Faculty Fellow in the College of Graduate Studies, served as chair. In October 2014, Dr. Wendy Haynes assumed the position of Interim Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. From that point forward, Interim Dean Haynes and Graduate Faculty Fellow Bukowiecki guided the development of the journal with invaluable input and support from the committee. Work began with examining various graduate journals from other colleges and universities throughout the United States. This research guided the formation of BSU’s graduate journal. The committee developed journal guidelines and formed an advisory board. Finally, the committee chose the title, The Graduate Review: Journal of Graduate Research and Creative Scholarship as the masthead for this journal. President Dana Mohler-Faria formally announced The Graduate Review to the BSU community at the university’s Student Arts and Research Symposium (StARS) on April 27, 2015.
The Journey Continues
The first volume of The Graduate Review was published on June 30, 2016. This journal contained six varied and interesting articles along with three very creative artistic works. The authors and artists represented in volume I of The Graduate Review were graduates or current graduate students from the departments of political science, English, criminal justice, special education, art, and the School of Social Work. A beautiful photograph titled “Snow Dune” graced the cover of the journal.
On June 30, 2017, volume II of The Graduate Review was published. This journal contained two poems, one short story, three commentaries, three research projects, and a series of themed artistic works. The authors and artist represented in volume II of The Graduate Review were graduate students from the departments of English, special education (TESOL program), computer science, and the School of Social Work. A poignant artistic work titled “A Portrait of Mental Illness: Cast Ceramic and Plastic Head” graced the cover of the journal.
Volume III of The Graduate Review was published on June 30, 2018. This edition of the journal was double in length as compared to the previous two volumes. Volume III of The Graduate Review contained six research studies, three commentaries, two literary reviews, two poems, and a series of themed photographs of ceramic vessels. The authors and artist represented in volume III of The Graduate Review were former and current graduate students from the departments of English, special education, physical education, educational leadership, elementary education (C.A.G.S. program in Reading), psychology, criminal justice, art, and the School of Social Work. A beautiful and thought-provoking artistic work titled “B-Phone: A Photograph of a Ceramic Vessel” graced the cover of the journal.
Volume IV of The Graduate Review was published on June 30, 2019. This edition was briefer than volume III of The Graduate Review and contained two research studies, one commentary, three literary reviews, and several photographs of artistic works from a collection titled “This Light is Not My Own”. The authors and artist represented in volume IV of The Graduate Review were former and current graduate students from the departments of English, special education, educational leadership, art, and the School of Social Work. A most thought-provoking artistic work titled “Bury the Past, Rob Us Blind” graced the cover of the journal.
For volume V of The Graduate Review, current and recently graduated graduate students from the six state universities in Massachusetts were invited to submit their research and creative work. Since Bridgewater State University is the only state university in Massachusetts with a graduate journal, The Graduate Review’s advisory board thought it would be most fitting to invite graduate students from the other five state universities in Massachusetts along with graduate students at Bridgewater State University to submit manuscripts. In this way, volume V of The Graduate Review would be most diverse and robust. This invitation to other state universities in Massachusetts for manuscripts to volume VI of The Graduate Review will be extended once again.
Volume V of The Graduate Review was published in mid-July 2020. This edition contained two literary reviews, a description of an innovative high school science curriculum, two poems, one literature review, a policy paper, a commentary, and a psychological-anthropological study. The authors represented in volume V of The Graduate Review were former and current graduate students from the departments of English, secondary education and professional programs, anthropology, and the School of Social Work. A lovely example of cloth and embroidered infant clothes titled “A Glimpse of Motherhood” graced the journal’s cover. The artist is a graduate student from the department of art.
Volume VI of The Graduate Review was published in mid-September 2021. This is indeed a “special edition” as 27 manuscripts are published in this journal, representing four state university in Massachusetts: Bridgewater State, Salem State, Westfield State, and Worcester State. This edition contains two memoirs, several poems, nine commentaries, three literature reviews, two literary analyses, one historical analysis, three research studies, two book reviews, and one flash fiction piece. The academic disciplines represented are: communication sciences and disorders, English, counselor education, health sciences and kinesiology, education, social work, psychology, and history. A photograph of a beautiful and thought-provoking quilt titled “Living Outside the Binary” graced the journal’s cover. The artist is a recent graduate from the School of Social Work, Bridgewater State University.
With volumes I through VI of The Graduate Review now published, the journal’s editor and advisory board are now accepting submissions for volume VII. Fall submissions to The Graduate Review will be accepted through December 1, 2021 and spring submissions to the journal will be accepted through February 28, 2022. Current matriculated and recently graduated graduate students are eligible to submit their work to The Graduate Review. Each submitted work should have a faculty sponsor.
Submissions to The Graduate Review follow the double-blind review process. The journal’s advisory board initially reviews all submissions and then forwards these submissions to faculty members from relevant academic disciplines. Once the faculty reviews are complete, these reviews are forwarded to the journal submitters.
Projects Eligible for Publication in The Graduate Review
Research studies, creative writing, poetry, commentaries, book reviews, and artistic works are welcomed submissions for The Graduate Review. Works that are written or created by one student or co-authored or co-created by more than one student will be accepted for consideration. For co-authored/co-created works, at least one student should be a graduate student at Bridgewater State University.
How to Submit to The Graduate Review
Students may submit their work using the online submission form and guidelines found on this site.
By submitting, the authors/creators grant The Graduate Review permission to publish their work. The works published in The Graduate Review are the property of the individual contributors and may not be reprinted or duplicated without consent.