Afterwork

Statement of Purpose:
AfterWork is a nonprofit, student-staffed literary journal produced for the Concordia College community and funded through the student activity fee.  The purpose of AfterWork is to recognize student literary talent and to be an educational tool whereby students may:

  • Gain confidence by submitting work for publication
  • Write for a large audience of varied backgrounds and opinions
  • Improve their writing
  • Enrich the lives of others through their writing
  • Be enriched themselves as they discover new understandings of the self and the world through literary pursuit

AfterWork respects the mission and policies of Concordia College as expressed in official college documents.

Legal Status of AfterWork:

  • The literary magazine at Concordia College will be known as AfterWork
  • Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, is legally entered as the owner of AfterWork
  • The publisher of AfterWork is the president of Concordia College
  • The Board of Publication is designated by the publisher
  • AfterWork is a not-for-profit publication

Administrative Responsibility and Organization:

Publisher

  • The publisher is responsible for overseeing the publication of AfterWork.
  • The publisher, or the publisher's designee, has the sole right to approve changes or amendments to this policy statement.
  • The publisher is the official representative of the college in legal actions regarding AfterWork.

Board of Publication
The Board of Publication receives complaints or suggestions regarding AfterWork and/or staff.  Whenever possible, complaints and suggestions should be forwarded first to be processed by the editor and/or staff.

  • The Board of Publication advises the publisher on any matter concerning AfterWork.
  • The Board of Publication or its representatives maintains an open line of communication with the publisher, adviser, design consultant, financial consultant, and students associated with AfterWork. In so doing a cooperative effort will be made to maintain and improve the quality and financial standing of AfterWork.
  • The Board of Publication is responsible for recruiting, interviewing and selecting the editor.
  • The Board of Publication interprets and enforces this policy and suggests changes when necessary.
  • The Board of Publication makes a recommendation to the Publisher on the naming of the adviser.

Adviser

  • The adviser is appointed by the Publisher.
  • The adviser serves as a resource to actively provide suggestions and/or criticisms concerning elements of AfterWork.
  • The adviser is someone sympathetic with the aims of Concordia College and sensitive to the concerns of the Concordia community. The adviser is someone knowledgeable about the literary and technical aspects of AfterWork.
  • The adviser is responsible for reviewing AfterWork with the staff on a regular basis. The adviser is to provide advice on matters which relate to concerns, ethics, literary appeal, quality, technical problems, the canons of responsible publishing, policy interpretation, management, and organization of the staff.
  • The adviser maintains open communication with the Board of Publication and the AfterWork staff. The adviser works with the editor to resolve conflicts.
  • The Adviser maintains open communication with the Board of Publication, based on the following criteria:
          - AfterWork does not contain any legally or ethically questionable materials.
          - The subject matter reflects the interests and standards of the Concordia community.
          - AfterWork is worthy of College publication.
  • The adviser is responsible for directing and ensuring that AfterWork staff seeks advice from the financial and design consultants when needed and appropriate. The adviser will report any mishandling of design or financial matters to the Board of Publication.
  • The adviser is not a member of the Board of Publication.

Design Consultant

  • The design consultant is appointed by the publisher upon recommendation by the adviser.
  • The design consultant serves as a resource to provide suggestions and/or criticism concerning the design-related elements of AfterWork.
  • The design consultant may be called upon to report any design problems to the adviser and/or the Board of Publication.

Financial Consultant

  • The financial consultant is appointed by the publisher upon recommendation by the adviser.
  • The financial consultant serves as a resource to provide suggestions and/or criticism concerning the financial aspects of AfterWork.
  • The financial consultant may be called upon by the Board of Publication to report on the financial condition of AfterWork.

Student Responsibility and Organization:

Editor selection requirements as prescribed by Board of Publication:

  • The position is to be held by a full-time Concordia student who has earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 and continues to earn a GPA of 2.5 or better for the term of office.
  • The position is appointed by the publisher upon recommendation of the Board of Publication.
  • The student holding this position may not be a member of the Board of Publication.

Procedures for removing the Editor as prescribed by the Board of Publication:

  • The student holding this position is subject to removal for stated and proper reasons, and then only by orderly and prescribed procedures established by the Board of Publication. 
  • A complaint may be brought to the publisher, the Board of Publication, or the adviser. 
  • The Board of Publication has authority to recommend to the publisher removal from office.  The publisher makes the final decision to dismiss. 
  • Should the need arise, an interim appointment may be made by the publisher upon the recommendation of the Board of Publication.

Responsibilities of the Editor:

  • The editor is responsible for all aspects of AfterWork production, editorial policy, and the supervision of AfterWork staff, including the business operations. The editor selects and trains all AfterWork staff members, who must be full-time Concordia students.
  • The editor should be aware of general literary magazine operations and the financial aspects of AfterWork.
  • The editor is responsible for ensuring that AfterWork does not contain any legally or ethically questionable materials, the subject matter reflects the interests and standards of the Concordia community, and the layout and format are worthy of a college publication.
  • The editor keeps the Board of Publication and adviser informed about the status of AfterWork.
  • The editor is responsible for presenting an updated procedure manual to the Board of Publication for ratification by the close of the position's term of appointment.

Policy Guidelines:

  • AfterWorkwill include a disclaimer which reads: "opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the college administration, faculty, or student body."
  • AfterWork should not contain any material, written or photographic, that is not worthy of college publication.
  • Prior to publication and distribution, the publisher, Board of Publication, and the advisor are not to censor the contents of AfterWork except for libelous material.
  • Names of students, faculty, staff and/or administration of the college accused or suspected of a violation of college policy or civil or criminal offense will not be printed without the permission of the publisher.

Financial Guidelines:

  • AfterWork is financed through the student activity fee.
  • The Editor (or a business manager hired by the Editor) is responsible for preparing a preliminary budget and submitting it to the appropriate subcommittee of the Student Government Association for review toward approval and funding.
  • Updated budgets will be provided by the business manager to the Board of Publication in September and January.
  • AfterWork is to have no advertisements.
  • Stipends will be set by the appropriate student committee.

Disciplinary/Dismissal Procedures:
A staff member may be disciplined, or dismissed for good reasons including, but not limited to:

  • Inability to perform job requirements
  • Uncooperative behavior and/or insubordination
  • Abuse of AfterWork property or equipment
  • Careless work or negligence
  • Habitual absences and/or tardiness
  • Reporting to work under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs
  • Violation of AfterWork or College Policy

Disciplinary actions may include:

  • Oral reprimands
  • Written reprimands
  • Probation from AfterWork staff
  • Suspension for appropriate amount of time from AfterWork staff
  • Dismissal from AfterWork staff

Dismissal of a staff member will follow after these steps have been taken:

  • Good cause should be determined by the editor and the business manager.
  • Verbal or written warning citing reasons why termination is being considered. One week will be given to allow the employee time for correction.
  • Letter of termination giving staff member one additional week for correction. The letter of termination will be signed and dated by the editor, the business manager, and the adviser. If satisfactory improvement is not made, termination will result.
  •  If a staff member wants to appeal dismissal, an appeal can be sought through the Board of Publication.

Resignation Consideration:

  • Any employee who no longer meets the minimum requirements of the position will resign immediately without further pay.
  • In the case of a planned resignation, all employees are required to submit a written resignation at least two weeks in advance.

Information For:

current students
faculty and staff		 parents
alumni		 high school students
admitted students