Open Access Policy

The University of Massachusetts Amherst Policy for Open Access to Faculty Publications was endorsed by the Faculty Senate (April 7, 2016) and became effective July 1, 2016.

The Faculty of the University of Massachusetts Amherst (hereafter “the University”) is committed to disseminating the fruits of its research and scholarship as widely as possible. In keeping with that commitment, the Faculty adopts the following policy: Each Faculty member grants to the University permission to make available his or her scholarly articles and to exercise the copyright in those articles. More specifically, each Faculty member grants to the University a nonexclusive, irrevocable, worldwide license to exercise any and all rights under copyright relating to each of his or her scholarly articles, in any medium, provided that the articles are not sold for a profit, and to authorize others to do the same. The policy applies to all scholarly articles authored or co­-authored while the person is a member of the Faculty except for any articles completed before the adoption of this policy and any articles for which the Faculty member entered into an incompatible licensing or assignment agreement before the adoption of this policy. The University will waive application of the license for a particular article, or delay access for a specified period of time, upon express direction by a Faculty member. Each Faculty member will provide an electronic copy of the author’s final version (or better version, if possible) of each article no later than the date of its publication at no charge to the appropriate representative of the University in an appropriate format (such as PDF) specified by the University. The University may make the article available to the public in an open ­access repository. The Office of the Provost will be responsible for interpreting this policy, resolving disputes concerning its interpretation and application, and recommending changes to the Faculty from time to time. In implementing this policy the University will strive for simplicity and minimal burden on the Faculty, using appropriate technology to ease the participation of the Faculty. The policy will be reviewed by the Provost (or designee) after three years and a report presented to the Faculty Senate.