Q. When does the open access (OA) policy need to be in place?
A: The deadline for implementing the policy is March 31, 2020.
Q. Will the policy require that articles be published in OA journals?
A. No. While high-quality OA titles are available, authors are not limited to these journals. Authors may continue to publish in the journals of their choice.
Q. Will the policy become a barrier to publishing in the journal(s) of my choice?
A. No. Publishers have experience with open access policies in place at dozens of research funders and hundreds of universities, many of which have been in place since 2004. More than 80% of publishers agree to the deposit of a version of an article into an institutional repository.
If a journal or publisher is unwilling to accept the terms of the campus' open access policy, a waiver may be granted on a case-by-case basis exempting articles from the policy.
Q. Will we be violating copyright by complying with an OA policy?
A. No. An OA policy, written and executed properly, will not create a situation where copyright violations will occur.
Q. What are the benefits of an OA policy?
A. Authors that make scholarship open:
- Share research with those who can’t access it, including students and the general public
- Create additional opportunities to collaborate with colleagues
- Enjoy increased citation rates and visibility via search engines
Q. Are other universities implementing OA policies?
A. Yes. According to the Registry of Open Access Repository Mandates and Policies (ROARMAP), more than 1,000 organizations worldwide have open access policies, 732 of which are research organizations (as of 12/2018). At least three SUNY campuses, Stony Brook, Brockport, and Binghamton have adopted OA policies as well.
