For details about this credit, including the criteria, reporting timeframe, applicability, scoring, and more, please review the full credit language:
- AC 11: Open Access to Research – version 2.2
Frequently Asked Questions
How has this credit changed between STARS 2.1 and 2.2?
Substantive changes have been made to this credit. Criteria and scoring have been revised to provide multiple ways to earn points. A comprehensive list of differences can be found in the 2.2 Summary of changes.
Can points still be earned if the open access policy isn’t mandatory?
While policies that allow for publisher embargoes and/or provide a waiver option for authors to opt-out of the open access license/program for individual articles, under Version 2.2, policies and commitments that are strictly voluntary (i.e., opt-in) do not qualify. In such cases, institutions should respond “No” for having a policy that requires its employees to publish scholarly works open access.
Does this credit require an open access research repository at the institution?
Under Version 2.2, partial points are earned for having an institutional research repository. The repository may be managed by the institution, available at the system level, or the institution may participate in a consortial and/or outsourced open access repository.
Example Responses
- Hope College – Good documentation provided for a repository, open access policy (with waiver option), and an open access fund. Solid reporting example for smaller institutions.
- University of Massachusetts Amherst – The Open Access Policy includes a Mandate to deposit for Open Access (research outputs may be delayed by publisher or author embargoes).
- University of Tasmania – The Open Access Policy includes a Mandate to deposit for Open Access (research outputs may be delayed by publisher or author embargoes).
- University of Victoria – Good documentation provided for the institutional repository and journal hosting.
Common Issues Identified During Review
- There must be an open access policy, guideline or statement in place at the institution.
- If the policy doesn’t mandate open access (with or without opt-out), there must be some indication that the institution provides financial support to support open access.
- There must be an open access research repository at the institution (or system) level, and a link to the repository must be included.