Frequently Asked QuestionsQ: Who can sign for an organization?
A: This varies with organization type. In general, a signatory must be in a leadership role.
- For journals: Editors, Editors-in-Chief, Directors, Journal Managers, or similar can sign on behalf of the journal. Associate Editors, Assistant Editors, Editorial Board members, and so on cannot sign on behalf of journals.
- For academic institutions: Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Provosts, Deans, Directors of Research, etc., can sign on behalf of the institution or academic unit. Professors, Associate Professors etc cannot sign on behalf of the institution.
- For other organizations: CEOs, Presidents, or similar, can sign on behalf of their organization.
Q: I am signing DORA for an organization. Why do you need my name?
A: Organizations are required to have a person sign on their behalf. The first and last name and job title are required to validate the organization’s signature for it to appear on the DORA website.
Q: Why do you need my job title?
A: We ask that you provide your job title so we can ensure that duplicate signatures to the declaration are either separate individuals, or intend to update their information with us. If you are signing on behalf of an organization, we need to verify that you have the appropriate authority to sign.
Q: I am signing on behalf of a journal. How do I complete the signature?
A: Please write the full journal name in the “Organization” space, not the publisher or academic institution. As noted above, only persons in senior leadership or with the appropriate authority can sign on behalf of a journal (e.g. Editor, Director, Journal Manager). Please indicate your position by providing your job title in the space provided.
Q: I am signing on behalf of an institution/university. How do I complete the signature?
A: Please write the full name of your university in the “Organization” space. We require the full name and not the acronym for approval. Only persons in senior leadership or with the appropriate authority can sign on behalf of an institution/university (e.g. President, Provost, Dean, Director of Research, etc.). Please indicate your position by proving your “Job Title” in the appropriate space provided.
Q: I’ve signed, but my signature doesn’t appear on the website.
A: Reasons for signatures not appearing on the website include:
- The signature has not yet been approved by DORA staff.
- The form was not filled out correctly.
- The signer does not have authority to sign on behalf of the organization.
If you have additional questions, you can reach out to info@sfdora.org.