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About the Journal

The HGU Research Journal is a peer-reviewed, open-access venue for both scholarship and all expenses paid programs across the disciplines represented at Highstone Global University (Texas, USA). We publish empirical studies, reviews, and methodological advances that address global challenges and expand equitable access to knowledge. Submissions are welcome from faculty, students, and collaborators worldwide.

Privacy Statement

Effective date: 16 August 2025

Who we are. The HGU Research Journal (“the Journal”) is published by Highstone Global University and hosted at https://hguresearch.net.
Contact: editor@hguresearch.net

What this covers

This policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect personal data for everyone who interacts with the Journal through our Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform—readers, authors, reviewers, editors, and visitors.

Data we collect

  • Account details: name, email address, affiliation, country/region, roles (author/reviewer/editor), optional identifiers (e.g., ORCID).

  • Submission & publication data: author lists and affiliations, abstracts, references, funding info, acknowledgements, submission files, revisions, editorial notes.

  • Peer-review records: reviewer invitations and responses, reports, recommendations, decision letters, and audit timestamps.

  • Usage & technical data: IP address, device/browser info, pages viewed, referrer; security and error logs.

  • Communications: emails and system notifications related to your account and submissions.

How we use your data (purposes)

  • To register and manage your account and roles.

  • To run the editorial and peer-review workflow and to publish accepted work.

  • To index and disseminate published metadata via OAI-PMH and scholarly services (e.g., Google Scholar; DOI registration if enabled).

  • To generate aggregated usage statistics (e.g., COUNTER reports) and improve our services.

  • To maintain site security, detect abuse, and comply with legal obligations.

Legal bases (where applicable)

  • Contract/Pre-contract: managing submissions and peer review at your request.

  • Legitimate interests: quality control, research integrity, indexing/discovery, preservation, and security.

  • Consent: optional features such as linking an ORCID iD or analytics cookies (if enabled).

What becomes public

For published articles we make the scholarly record publicly available (e.g., titles, abstracts, author names and affiliations, ORCIDs if supplied, funding information, article files). Email addresses are not displayed by default.

Cookies

OJS uses essential cookies (e.g., session OJSSID and CSRF tokens). If you select “remember me,” a persistent cookie is set. Analytics cookies are only used if an analytics plugin is enabled; you can control cookies in your browser.

Sharing with service providers

We use trusted providers to operate the Journal:

  • Web hosting & storage: DreamHost (server, databases, secure file storage).

  • Email delivery: DreamHost SMTP (transactional mail).

  • Persistent identifiers / indexing (if enabled): Crossref/DataCite for DOIs, PKP PN for preservation, Google Scholar indexing.
    Providers may process data on our behalf under appropriate safeguards. We do not sell personal data.

International transfers

Data are stored in the United States and may be accessed by editors or reviewers in other countries for peer-review purposes. We use reasonable safeguards for cross-border processing.

Data retention

  • Accounts & profiles: kept while your account is active. On request, accounts can be deactivated or deleted (subject to required record-keeping).

  • Editorial/peer-review records: retained as part of the scholarly and administrative record.

  • Published content and metadata: kept indefinitely to preserve the scholarly record.

  • Server logs and backups: retained for limited periods consistent with security and operations.
    If you need specifics, contact editor@hguresearch.net.

Security

We use HTTPS, access controls, least-privilege permissions, and routine maintenance to protect data. No method is 100% secure, but we take reasonable steps to reduce risks.

Your rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or export your data, and to object or restrict certain processing. To exercise these rights, email editor@hguresearch.net. We’ll respond within a reasonable period (typically 30 days).

Children’s privacy

This site is intended for adults involved in scholarly communication. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 16.

Changes to this policy

We may update this notice from time to time. We will post the revised version with a new effective date.

Contact:
HGU Research Journal
Email: editor@hguresearch.net
Website: https://hguresearch.net