UIC Library Faculty Open Access Policy: Open Access Policy

The library faculty of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is committed to sharing the intellectual fruits of its research and scholarship as widely as possible and lowering barriers to its access. In recognition of that commitment and responsibility, the UIC library faculty is determined to take advantage of new technologies to increase access to its work by the citizens of Illinois and scholars, educators, and policymakers worldwide. In support of greater openness in scholarly endeavors, the UIC library faculty agrees to the following:

Each faculty member grants to UIC permission to make scholarly peer‐reviewed journal articles to which he or she made substantial intellectual contributions publicly available in the UIC open access institutional repository, and to exercise the copyright in those articles. In legal terms, the permission granted by each faculty member is a nonexclusive, irrevocable, paid‐up, worldwide license to exercise any and all rights under copyright relating to each of his or her scholarly articles, in any medium, and to authorize others to do the same, provided that the articles are not sold for a profit. This license in no way irrevocably interferes with the rights of the UIC library faculty author as the copyright holder of the work.

The policy will apply to all scholarly peer‐reviewed journal articles authored or co‐authored while a faculty member of UIC. To assist in the open distribution of the articles, faculty members will upload bibliographic information and an electronic copy of each article to UIC’s institutional repository within 30 days of publication.A faculty author can apply to opt out of the policy for a particular article; waivers will only be granted on an article by article basis to a faculty member.  The license granted to UIC regarding an article will be waived by the University Librarian, or his/her Designate upon written/electronic notification with explanation. 

The Scholarly Communication Committee will be responsible for interpreting this policy, resolving disputes concerning its application, and recommending changes as necessary. This policy will be reviewed by Library Faculty in 1 year, and every three years following. 

Approved by Library Faculty - 11/21/2011