2024-2025 Research and Publications Committee

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Charge

The Research and Publications Committee (the Committee) shall study and report to the AAA Board of Directors on all operating matters concerning Association publications and respond to requests of the President and the Board of Directors to study and report on matters of concern related to research.

Publications Responsibilities

Publications topics to be addressed by the Committee include, but are not limited to:

• Preparing a recommendation for the AAA Board of Directors to appoint an incoming senior editor for an association-wide journal (The Accounting Review, Accounting Horizons, or Issues in Accounting Education, depending on the year).  The Committee will:
  • Approve the Call for Nominations for Senior Editor put forth by the journal’s Steering Committee:
    • The Accounting Review - Fall 2024
    • Accounting Horizons -  Fall 2025
    • Issues in Accounting Education - Fall 2026
  • Thoroughly review the slate of nominated Senior Editor candidates put forth by the journal’s Steering Committee and recommend up to two candidates to the AAA Board of Directors for final approval.
    • Members and the Chair of each Steering Committee are appointed prior to the Annual Meeting by the AAA Management Team.
  • Work with the journal’s Steering Committee and incoming Senior Editor to review (and potentially revise) the proposed slate of Editors and members of the Editorial Board.
  • Approve the slate of Editor candidates put forth by the journal’s Steering Committee and forward to the AAA Board of Directors for final approval.
  • Approve the slate of proposed Editorial Board candidates put forth by the journal’s Steering Committee and notify the AAA Board of Directors of the selections.
     
• Evaluating the AAA’s strategy and implementation for its scholarly publications.
  • Evaluate and monitor trends in scholarly publishing.
  • Monitor and recommend means of maintaining the economic viability of the Association's publications.
  • Review proposals for new journals and make recommendations to the AAA Board of Directors.

• Developing policies to guide our journal processes.
  • Evaluate our scholarly publications and recommend changes to the publication process for the Association’s journals, including the submission process for the entire collection and the methods and timing of publication for the association-wide journals.
  • Benchmark with other scholarly publishers, supporting organizations, and policy makers to identify best practices in publication ethics and revise publication ethics guidelines as needed.
  • Develop community norms and policies to support authors, editors, and consumers of accounting research to create and provide stewardship for intellectual property of the highest caliber.
     
• Communicating with and supporting the community
  • Engage the accounting editorial community in discussion and evaluation of developing norms/policies.
  • Secure input on developing norms/policies as appropriate from representatives of public accounting firms, corporations, the IRS, PCAOB, and other entities that sponsor research or provide data and/or participants.
  • Identify the educational implications of the recommended norms/policies.
     
• Responding to Board and/or Management Team identified issues related to publications
  • When such an issue is identified, the Board and/or Management Team formed task force will include at least one member from the Research and Publications Committee.
     
• Handling Studies in Accounting Research monographs
  • Coordinate the Studies in Accounting Research (SAR) series including soliciting, inviting, reviewing, and evaluating proposals.
  • When a monograph or proposal is submitted, the Chair of the Research and Publications Committee will identify a subcommittee to process the manuscript.
  • The process is as follows:
    • AAA Professional Staff Liaison will work with the AAA Vice President-Research and Publications to advertise and promote the Call for Proposals.
    • Proposals and completed works will be evaluated by the subcommittee of three or more members that is established for an accepted proposal or completed work. The selection of members of the review committee will be based upon recommendations of the author(s) and the AAA Vice President-Research and Publications with the objective of forming a mutually acceptable group that is highly conversant with the area and possesses established research records.
    • The Committee will provide comments and suggestions and, upon completion, make a recommendation to the AAA Vice President-Research and Publications as to whether the work meets SAR criteria.
    • For proposals, the Committee will also monitor the work as it is being completed.
    • Appropriate milestones and time limits will be established for the completion of the work.
    • The AAA will publicize, publish, and distribute sufficient copies based on orders received from members and non-members.

The Committee can also propose new matters for Management Team and/or Board of Directors consideration.

Committee Membership

• New Committee members are appointed prior to the Annual Meeting by the AAA Management Team.
• The Committee shall consist of nine (9) to twelve (12) members, including the Vice President of Research and Publications, a Chair, a Chair-Elect (in the final year of the Chair tenure), the Chairs of the three AAA-wide journal Steering Committees, and up to six (6) additional members appointed prior to the Annual Meeting by the AAA Management Team, all serving staggered three-year terms.
• The Chair-Elect serves for one year (in the final year of the Chair tenure), then serves as Chair for two years.
• In keeping with the AAA’s Conflict of Interest policy, members of the Committee may not hold the highest ranking editor position (e.g., Managing or Senior Editor) of any AAA journal, as these editors are occasionally called on to report to the Committee.
• Criteria for Committee composition are:
  • Each Committee member will have an established research history with editorial experience, preferably:
    • Senior Editor experience at Accounting Horizons, Issues in Accounting Education, or one of the 17 AAA section journals, or Editor experience at The Accounting Review (TAR).
    • Equivalent experience at non-AAA journals will be considered.
  • Diversity of research area and method, geographic location, institution, and other DEI criteria.
• Criteria for serving on this committee as Chair/Chair-elect:
  • At least one year of service on the Research & Publications Committee, and/or,
  • Senior editor experience (or equivalent) at any AAA journal or Editor experience at TAR.

Estimated Time Commitment

• Committee members should expect to meet approximately four (4) times throughout the year, typically 2-3 weeks prior to the AAA Board of Director meetings in May, July, November, and March.
• Meetings will be virtual and will be scheduled from 1 to 3 hours each.
• Approximately an equal number of hours will likely be required as advanced preparation.
• Other meetings may be scheduled at the discretion of the Chair. 

Committee Member Responsibilities

• Fulfill the Committee charge above. In particular, Committee members are expected to:
  • Attend all meetings (to the extent possible).
  • Be prepared for meetings having reviewed advance materials.
  • Actively participate in Committee deliberations with a focus on what is best for the AAA research community and the AAA collection of journals, writ large.
  • Participate in the work of subcommittees as needed.
  • Maintain confidentiality of all Committee deliberations and decisions.
• The Chair has the responsibility to request from the AAA Management Team the removal or replacement of a Committee member who is not fulfilling their Committee responsibilities.
• The Chair must submit at least one report per year to the Board of Directors. This report should include accomplishments and suggested modifications and should be sent to the AAA President, the committee's Board of Directors Liaison, and Governance Manager, Barbara Gutierrez (barbara.gutierrez@aaahq.org).

AAA Support

• Barbara Gutierrez, (barbara.gutierrez@aaahq.org), Governance Manager, assists with providing logistical support for committee and task force meetings and conference calls.
• If the Chair has any questions about the charge or responsibilities of this committee, s/he should contact the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or the committee’s Board of Directors Liaison.

Members