University of Rhode Island Open-Access Policy

The Faculty of the University of Rhode Island 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 of Rhode Island 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 of Rhode Island 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, 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 Faculty Senate or Faculty Senate’s designate will, on behalf of the University, 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 of each article no later than the date of its publication at no charge to the University Libraries acting as the representative of the Faculty Senate in an appropriate format (such as PDF) specified by the University Libraries.

The University Libraries may make the article available to the public in an open-access repository. The Faculty Senate Library Committee will be responsible for developing an implementation plan for this policy that has faculty interests in mind, interpreting this policy, resolving disputes concerning its interpretation and application, and recommending changes to the Faculty Senate. The policy will be reviewed after three years and a report presented to the Faculty Senate. 

On September 20, 2012, Vice Chairperson Byrd moved that the Faculty Senate establish an Ad Hoc Committee on Open Access to examine and discuss the issues of open access, other universities' practices, and how these issues affect URI. Following discussion, the motion carried.

On February 21, 2013, Professor Rathemacher presented the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Open Access using a PowerPoint presentation. She responded to questions during and after her presentation.

On March 21, 2013, Vice Chairperson Byrd moved approval of the following: That the Faculty Senate approve the Open Access Policy as recommended in the report of the Executive Committee. Discussion ensued. Following discussion, the motion carried. No dissenting votes or abstentions were voiced. 

Vice Chairperson Byrd moved approval of the following recommendation: That the Faculty Senate amend the charge to the Library Committee to reflect the Open Access Policy.

On April 18, 2013, Chairperson Larsen announced that the following amendment to the charge to the Library Committee was also returned to the floor for approval and that no motions were necessary: [new language is boldface; out of date language is italicized]

4.50 The Library Committee. This committee shall act as liaison between the University Library and the faculty as a whole and advise the Library on matters of general faculty concern; consult with the Library faculty on long-range needs of the Library and the adequacy of budget provisions to meet those needs; serve in an advisory capacity to the Faculty Senate regarding the implementation and interpretation of the University of Rhode Island Open-Access Policy, resolving disputes concerning the interpretation and application of the policy, and recommending changes in the policy to the Faculty Senate; report annually to the Faculty Senate and propose Senate action relating to the University Library. The Vice Provost for Information Services and Dean of University Libraries shall serve as an ex officio non-voting member of the Library Committee.

Discussion ensued. Following discussion, the motion carried.

On May 1, 2013, the Amendment to the Charge to the Library Committee (#12-13--35) was approved by President Dooley. The charge to the Library Committee appeared in Section 4.50 of Appendix C of the University Manual: By-Laws of the Faculty Senate.

On May 2, 2013, the Open Access Policy for the University of Rhode Island (#12-13--29) was approved by President Dooley. The policy appears in Appendix G of the University Manual as Open Access Policy #13-1.

On March 20, 2014, Professor Rathemacher presented to the Faculty Senate the Annual Report of the Faculty Senate Library Committee, outlining the Library Committee's activities related to the implementation of the URI Open Access Policy.

On May 7, 2015, Professor Rathemacher presented to the Faculty Senate the Annual Report of the Faculty Senate Library Committee and the Annual Report of the Faculty Senate Designate for the URI Open Access Policy, addressing number of OA Policy waivers issued, a significant increase in the number of downloads of A Policy articles, and a proposal to add the Open Access Designate to the Library Committee membership.

On September 17, 2015, the Faculty Senate voted to amend Section 4.50 of its By-Laws to allow the Faculty Senate Designate for the URI Open-Access Policy to serve as a voting ex officio member of the Library Committee.

On April 21, 2016, Professor Lang presented to the Faculty Senate the Faculty Senate Library Committee's three-year review of the Open Access Policy.

In 2017 and 2018, the Library Committee did not make a report to the Faculty Senate.

On December 7, 2017, the Faculty Senate approved a change to its By-Laws to create The Committee for Research and Creative Activities. This new committee's charge, effective for the 2018-2019 academic year, incorporates the prior charge of the Library Committee, which was dissolved. See Section 4.42 of Appendix C of the University Manual: By-Laws of the Faculty Senate.

The University of Rhode Island Open Access Policy is administered by the Faculty Senate.

The Faculty Senate's Committee for Research and Creative Activities serves in an advisory capacity to the Faculty Senate regarding the implementation and interpretation of the Policy.

Contact:

Julia Lovett

Associate Professor / Digital Initiatives Librarian
Faculty Senate Designate for the University of Rhode Island Open-Access Policy
jalovett@uri.edu
(401) 874-5079