What is Absence?
ABSENCE—in its 18th year of publication by Penn State Greater Allegheny—is an annual review of the best literary and visual art made by students, staff, faculty, and alums of the campus each academic year. ABSENCE is published each April, and is available for the first time in paper at an annual “Celebration of the Arts: A Reading and Reception,” which features the creative work of each year’s authors and artists. Acceptance for publication by the student editors is selective and competitive, holding at a rate of 20 to 25% since 2006.
Student editors have the opportunity to earn as many as 8 hours of Penn State academic credit while working to produce ABSENCE by enrolling in English 209: Journal or Magazine Practicum (offered during the Fall or Spring semester).
Yearly publication of ABSENCE is sponsored by: The Office of the Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Admissions and Enrollment Management, Development, the Student Activity Fee, Student Affairs, and by individual faculty and staff contributions.
For questions—and to request copies of recent issues—or to request an application to become a student editor, contact the Sr. Faculty Adviser & Publisher, Dr. Clifford Manlove ([email protected]).
Mission statement
The Mission of ABSENCE is the annual publication of a high-quality literary and visual arts review for the Penn State Greater Allegheny community. The review’s goal is to provide all full- and part-time PSUGA students, faculty, staff, and alumni a shared venue for their creative endeavors, and to generate interest in the arts in the Greater Allegheny community. The review also provides students professional opportunities to prepare for careers as editors in publishing—whether academic or trade, journal or book, paper or Web—and document/graphic design. Past staff editors have gone on to work in publishing or on to various graduate/professional studies.
Submission guidelines and editorial policies
Eligibility for publication in ABSENCE is open to all full- and part-time students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Penn State Greater Allegheny. Original poetry, fiction, non-fiction & creative non-fiction, visual arts, and photography will be accepted for consideration by the student editors. Previously published works will not be considered. Upon publication, all rights revert to authors/artists; however, ABSENCE reserves the right to republish all materials electronically and to use materials published in the Review to fund its publication. A blind-review process is employed to ensure that all submissions are judged solely on artistic merit. A maximum of 10 submissions per volume can be made to the Senior Faculty Adviser, who removes all biographical information before turning them over to the student editorial staff for consideration.
Preferred means of submission is by email attachment; send to: [email protected].
Final publication prerogative rests solely with the Editor.