University Libraries News » Mason Open Access Publishing Fund Established

"George Mason University, through the University Libraries, will provide financial support to Mason scholars and researchers who wish to publish their work in open access (OA) journals. Faculty, postdoctoral fellows and registered graduate students are eligible to apply to Mason’s Open Access Publishing Fund (OAPF) for assistance with article processing fees required by some OA journals. 'This is a very exciting new development, giving faculty the opportunity to take advantage of shifts in the world of publishing,' says Provost Peter Stearns. 'We’ll obviously watch the results closely, so we can adjust as situations warrant, but we’re pleased to be opening this new access to scholarly communication.' Once an article has been accepted for publication in an open access journal, the author must complete the fund application form on the Libraries’ website. Applicants will be notified of funding approval, and payment will be made directly to the publisher. The OAPF will operate on a first-come, first-served basis, concluding once all the funds have been awarded during the fiscal year. Establishment of the $25,000 fund is in direct response to faculty interest in open access journal publishing. See the OAPF guidelines for more information or contact Claudia Holland at chollan3@gmu.edu or call 703-993-2544."