From first-come, first-served to rubric-based Open Access Publishing Funds: A comparative analysis and survey study - ScienceDirect

Abstract:  Open Access (OA) publishing contributes to research visibility and compliance with grant mandates, yet high Article Processing Charges remain a major barrier. To address this, Clemson University Libraries launched an Open Access Publishing Fund (OAPF) in 2016, initially using a first-come, first-served model. Rapid depletion of funds under this model prompted a shift in 2023 to a rubric-based monthly award system. This research compared the current practices of Clemson University's OAPF with OA funds at similar land-grant universities. The findings revealed that all eight institutions used first-come, first-served models and had similar eligibility criteria to Clemson's. It also surveyed previous OAPF applicants to assess how the OAPF can effectively support their OA publishing needs at Clemson University. Survey results indicated high priority for applicants without alternative funding, early-career faculty, and graduate students/post docs. Respondents also supported journal quality criteria, such as Directory of Open Access Journals listing and high impact factor. Based on the survey results, Clemson Libraries redesigned its OAPF rubric to reflect researchers' priorities while maintaining alignment with the OAPF practices of peer institutions. This study makes an original contribution to the literature as this methodology could be adapted for use at other institutions with OAPFs, and highlights the importance of regular assessment and adaptive funding strategies to sustain OA publishing support and promote access across disciplines.