How are final decisions made after peer review?

Paige Watson

Updated on 10 March 2026

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After reviewers evaluate submissions and submit their feedback, program chairs or conference organizers must make the final decision for each paper. These decisions determine whether a submission is accepted, rejected, or requires revisions before acceptance.

PeerSubmit allows chairs to review reviewer feedback, analyze evaluation scores, and record final decisions directly from the submission details page.

Step 1: Log in to Your PeerSubmit Account

Start by logging in to your PeerSubmit account.

• Enter your email address and password.
• Click Login.

Step 2: Select Your Organization or Conference

If you have access to multiple organizations or conferences, select the one where you serve as a chair or organizer.

Step 3: Open the Conference Submissions

Navigate to the submissions section to view all submitted papers.

• Open All Conferences.
• Find your conference.
• Click View Submissions.

Step 4: Open a Submission

Select the paper you want to evaluate.

• Click a submission from the pipeline or list view.
• Open the submission details page.
• Review the manuscript information, authors, and track details.

Step 5: Review Reviewer Feedback

Before making a final decision, program chairs should carefully review the feedback submitted by reviewers.

• Open the Review tab.
• Check reviewer comments and evaluation scores.
• Verify that all assigned reviews are completed.

Review feedback helps ensure that decisions are fair and based on expert evaluation.

Step 6: Make the Final Decision

Once reviews are completed, program chairs can choose a final decision for the submission.

• Accept – The submission is approved for presentation or publication.
• Reject – The paper does not meet conference requirements.
• Request Revision – Authors must revise the paper before reconsideration.

Step 7: Submit the Decision Form

When you select a decision, PeerSubmit will open a form where you can provide additional comments.

Accept Decision

• Select the final recommendation.
• Choose the presentation format (oral, short talk, or poster).
• Provide an executive summary or additional notes.

Reject Decision

• Provide comments explaining the decision.
• Add justification notes for the conference committee.
• Click Submit to finalize the decision.

Best Practices for Final Decisions

• Ensure all assigned reviewers have completed their evaluations.
• Consider reviewer scores and feedback carefully.
• Provide clear comments when rejecting or requesting revisions.
• Maintain fairness and transparency in the decision process.

Clear and well-documented decisions help maintain the academic integrity and quality of the conference.