TIERED CONTRIBUTION POLICY FOR SUSTAINABILITY

RELACult - Latin American Journal of Studies in Culture and Society
ISSN: 2525-7870
Publisher: Latin American Center for Studies in Culture - CLAEC

Last updated: October 25, 2025
Effective from: November 1, 2025
Maximum duration: 24 months
Legal basis: Ordinance No. 05/2025 - CLAEC Publishing

INTRODUCTION

RELACult is adopting the Tiered Contribution System for Sustainability (TCSS), a pioneering initiative that replaces traditional Article Processing Charges (APCs) with a flexible and inclusive voluntary contribution model. This system reflects the institutional commitment to the democratization of scientific knowledge and responsible editorial sustainability.

Guiding Principles

  • Inclusion: No researcher will be excluded for financial reasons.

  • Flexibility: Each author chooses the modality most suited to their socioeconomic reality.

  • Transparency: Responsible management and regular accountability of resources.

  • Temporality: Limited duration during the search for permanent funding.

  • Quality: Maintenance of editorial excellence standards.

CONTRIBUTION MODALITIES

1. Social Contribution

Values:

  • Authors affiliated with Brazilian institutions: BRL 150.00.

  • Authors affiliated with international institutions: USD 50.00.

Target audience:

  • Undergraduate and graduate students without scholarships.

  • Independent researchers without institutional affiliation.

  • Authors from countries classified by the World Bank as low-income.

  • Researchers without specific funding for publication.

  • Basic education teachers conducting independent research.

2. Standard Contribution

Values:

  • Authors affiliated with Brazilian institutions: BRL 300.00.

  • Authors affiliated with international institutions: USD 75.00.

Target audience:

  • Researchers affiliated with higher education institutions.

  • Professors and graduate students with scholarships.

  • Researchers from public and private institutions.

  • Self-employed professionals developing academic research.

  • Majority of submission cases.

3. Institutional Support Contribution

Values:

  • Authors affiliated with Brazilian institutions: BRL 450.00.

  • Authors affiliated with international institutions: USD 100.00.

Target audience:

  • Researchers with specific funding for publication (CNPq, CAPES, FAPESP, etc.).

  • Authors affiliated with institutions with publication cost policies.

  • Research projects with budgets allocated to scientific dissemination.

  • Researchers who wish to contribute in solidarity to the waiver fund.

BENEFITS AND DISCOUNTS

Full Waiver (100%)

Eligibility:

  • Researchers in proven socioeconomic vulnerability situations.

  • Authors from low-income countries (according to World Bank classification).

  • Cases of total absence of research funding.

  • Exceptional situations evaluated by the Editorial Board.

Request procedure:
Insert justification in the "Comments to Editor" section when submitting the manuscript in the OJS system.

Evaluation criteria: Prioritization of inclusion and democratization of access to scientific publication.

50% Discount (Automatic)

Eligibility:

  • CLAEC members in good standing.

  • Applicable to any contribution modality.

Application examples for Brazilian authors:

  • Social Contribution: BRL 150 → BRL 75.

  • Standard Contribution: BRL 300 → BRL 150.

  • Support Contribution: BRL 450 → BRL 225.

Application examples for international authors:

  • Social Contribution: USD 50 → USD 25.

  • Standard Contribution: USD 75 → USD 37.50.

  • Support Contribution: USD 100 → USD 50.

Procedure: The discount is automatically applied during the submission process upon identifying CLAEC membership.

Membership information: https://claec.org/institucional/associe-se/

Waiver for Special Issues

Covered modalities:

  • Thematic issues with guest editors.

  • Special dossiers on strategic themes.

  • Commemorative editions.

  • Publications resulting from partner academic events.

Communication: Calls for special issues will expressly indicate the contribution waiver.

PAYMENT PROCESS

Payment Timing

Payment of the contribution is requested after final acceptance of the manuscript, before publication.

Payment Methods

For Brazilian authors:

  • Bank transfer (PIX).

  • Identified deposit.

  • Bank slip.

For international authors:

  • International bank transfer.

  • PayPal.

  • Western Union.

Specific Instructions

After manuscript acceptance, the editorial team will send:

  1. Acceptance certificate.

  2. Detailed payment instructions.

  3. Updated banking information.

  4. Payment deadline.

Important: Payment must be made within 30 days of receiving the instructions.

ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES

Resources raised through TCSS will be applied exclusively to the following areas:

Technological Infrastructure (30%)

  • OJS platform maintenance and updates.

  • Server hosting and security.

  • Backup and digital preservation of articles.

  • User experience improvements.

Editorial Quality (40%)

  • Professional technical review services.

  • Specialized editing and layout.

  • Translation of abstracts into multiple languages.

  • Advanced bibliographic standardization.

Indexing and Visibility (20%)

  • DOI assignment to articles.

  • Submission to new databases.

  • Maintenance of existing indexing.

  • Academic marketing and scientific dissemination.

Training and Development (10%)

  • Editorial team training.

  • Participation in specialized events.

  • Development of new functionalities.

  • Consultation on editorial best practices.

TIMELINE AND DURATION

Implementation

Communication Phase (October 2025)

  • Dissemination to the academic community.

  • Important: Manuscripts submitted until October 31, 2025, remain completely free.

Implementation Phase (Starting November 1, 2025)

  • Beginning of charges for new submitted manuscripts.

  • Modality selection system integrated into OJS.

  • Dedicated support for clarification of doubts.

Monitoring Phase (Continuous)

  • Tracking of submission indicators.

  • Periodic impact reports.

  • Necessary system adjustments.

Duration and Reviews

  • Maximum duration: 24 months.

  • Independent evaluation: After 12 months of implementation.

  • Regular reviews: Annual, with academic community participation.

  • Possibility of revocation: At any time upon obtaining alternative funding.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why implement contributions if the journal is open access?
Open access does not mean absence of operational costs. The TCSS model ensures temporary sustainability while we seek permanent funding, keeping all articles freely accessible to readers.

Can I change the modality after the initial choice?
Yes, in duly justified cases. Contact the editorial team before payment execution.

How do I verify if I am entitled to the member discount?
The system automatically identifies CLAEC members in good standing during the submission process.

What if my waiver request is denied?
You may appeal the decision or opt for the "Social Contribution" modality (BRL 150 / USD 50).

When should I make the payment?
Payment is requested only after final acceptance of the manuscript, with a 30-day deadline for execution.

How do I request a waiver?
Insert your justification directly in the "Comments to Editor" section when submitting the manuscript in the OJS system.

Does evaluation quality differ between modalities?
Absolutely not. All articles follow the same rigorous peer review process, regardless of the chosen contribution modality.

How to prove the situation for waiver request?
A simple statement is sufficient. We prioritize trust and inclusion over excessive bureaucratization.

What happens if alternative funding is not obtained?
The system will be reevaluated by the academic community and may be adapted, maintained, or replaced by other sustainability strategies.

CONTACT AND SUPPORT

Main email

relacult@claec.org

Use this email for:

  • General questions about the policy.

  • Request for payment instructions.

  • Information about the editorial process.

  • Administrative matters.

Waiver request procedure

Waiver requests must be made directly in the OJS system, in the "Comments to Editor" section during manuscript submission.

Office hours

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (Brasília time).

RELATED DOCUMENTS

  • Ordinance No. 05/2025 - CLAEC Publishing.

  • Guidelines for Authors (updated version).

  • Statute of the Latin American Center for Studies in Culture - CLAEC.

INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT

RELACult reaffirms its commitment to:

  • Democratization of scientific knowledge.

  • Inclusion of researchers from all of Latin America.

  • Transparency in resource management.

  • Internationally recognized editorial quality.

  • Continuous search for permanent funding solutions.

  • Participatory review of policies with the academic community.

This policy was developed based on extensive consultation of specialized literature, benchmarking with similar journals, and principles of inclusion and sustainability. RELACult remains open to dialogue and necessary adjustments to better serve the Latin American academic community.

Approved on: October 25, 2025
Next review: October 2026
Version: 1.1

RELACult - Latin American Journal of Studies in Culture and Society
Latin American Center for Studies in Culture - CLAEC
Portal: https://periodicos.claec.org/index.php/relacult
Email: relacult@claec.org