Virginia Policy Review

For the 2026–27 volume, VPR invites manuscript submissions engaging with the theme Virtue in Action: an exploration of how principled leadership, ethical governance, and moral character inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of public policy.

Submissions may draw on empirical, historical, legal, or normative frameworks, and may address any of the following policy areas: health, environment, education, criminal justice, economics, foreign affairs, technology and AI, housing and urban development, social policy, or national security. Work that connects ethical reasoning to concrete policy outcomes is especially encouraged.

All submissions undergo a double-blind peer review process.

Submission Types & Length
VPR accepts four categories of submission:

• Full articles should be between 5,000 and 7,000 words.
• Literature reviews should be between 2,000 and 3,000 words.
• Policy briefs should be between 1,000 and 3,000 words.
• Responses and commentaries are also accepted; authors should contact the editorial team regarding appropriate length.

Manuscript Preparation
Submissions must be uploaded as a .docx or .pdf file. The manuscript must be fully anonymized: all author names and identifying information must be removed from the document before upload to preserve the integrity of double-blind review.

Authors must also submit a separate title page containing all authors’ full names, the title of the manuscript, contact information, and any acknowledgments, as well as an abstract of no more than 250 words summarizing the argument, methodology, and policy implications of the work. Bluebook, Chicago, and APA citation formats are all accepted; a single format must be applied consistently throughout.

Eligibility & Originality
VPR accepts submissions only from students currently enrolled at the University of Virginia, at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Submissions from authors outside the University will not be considered. Co-authored work is eligible provided all co-authors are UVA students.

Submissions must represent original scholarship that has not been previously published in any form, including journals, law reviews, newspapers, blogs, or institutional working papers. VPR does not accept simultaneous submissions; manuscripts under review at another publication are ineligible. All co-authors must be identified by name, school or program, expected graduation year, and email address, and must have consented to the submission. All submissions must comply with the UVA Honor Code and applicable academic integrity policies.

Required Disclosures
Authors must disclose any use of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Copilot) in the preparation of the manuscript. AI use is not automatically disqualifying, but it must be described. Authors must also disclose any conflicts of interest — financial, personal, or professional — that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the analysis, as well as any external funding or sponsorship supporting the research. Authors of manuscripts involving human-subjects research must confirm prior Institutional Review Board (IRB) or ethics committee approval.