Southern Illinois University Carbondale
When does the policy take effect?
January 2015.
Who is covered by the policy?
All faculty employed by SIUC.
What is the rationale for the policy?
The policy is designed to increase the accessibility and visibiilty of the research conducted at SIUC. It complies with the language adopted by the Illinois General Assembly which tasked all public higher education institutions in Illinois to adopt a policy regarding research articles “to maximize the social and economic benefits of research to the public” (Illinois Public Act 098-0295).
How do I comply with the policy?
See the section on “How to comply.”
Do I have to give my copyright to SIUC?
No. The policy only grants the University a nonexclusive right to make the article available in OpenSIUC, the institutional repository of SIUC. Authors still retain copyright of their article(s).
Does this policy require me to publish in open access journals?
No. Authors continue to have the right to choose where to publish their articles. Most publishers allow authors to deposit the post-peer-reviewed version of their article(s) in institutional repositories. For those that do not, a waiver may be claimed.
What writings are covered by the policy?
The policy covers “accepted, peer-reviewed journal manuscripts” written by faculty while employed by SIUC. It does not cover non-peer-reviewed articles, books or book chapters, or other works, although faculty are encouraged to deposit such materials in OpenSIUC when feasible.
Does the policy apply to articles written before the policy was adopted?
No, it does not apply to any articles that were completed before January 2015.
Does the policy apply to co-authored articles?
Yes, the policy applies to all peer-reviewed articles authored or co-authored while the person is a member of the faculty of SIUC. Co-authors own a share of the copyright to the co-authored work and as such are covered by the policy. Co-authors from other institutions should be informed about the policy, and if they object to the terms, a waiver may be claimed. In the event that a co-author from another institution deposits the article in their institution’s repository, it is still necessary to deposit the article in OpenSIUC.
What version of an article should be deposited?
The author’s post-peer-reviewed final article. This is the last document that you send to the publisher after the peer review process has been completed, but before the publisher’s copyediting or formatting. A small number of publishers allow authors to deposit the publisher’s copyedited and formatted pdf version of the article; when this is the case, authors are encouraged to deposit that version.
What is an author addendum and when should I use it?
An author addendum is a supplementary agreement between an author and publisher. It accompanies the agreement required by the publisher and signed by the author which governs the terms of an article’s publication. The recommended addendum for SIUC authors informs the publisher of the University’s Open Access Policy and its terms, including the granting of a non-exclusive right to the University to distribute the article via the institutional repository, OpenSIUC. While not required to establish the priority of the University’s rights, it clarifies the rights of all parties and may help to avoid misunderstandings. So, it is recommended that the addendum be used for each article submitted to a journal.
What if the journal publisher refuses to accept the addendum?
The Policy prevails over any subsequent agreement signed with the publisher, and it is not required to have the publisher agree to the amendment in order to comply with the Policy. If the publisher refuses to consider your article for publication because of the Policy, one option is to claim a waiver for the article. However, authors should carefully consider the implications of transferring all copyright to a publisher without retaining any rights of their own.
What if the publisher refuses to allow me to deposit my article in OpenSIUC?
Again, you may claim a waiver by completing the waiver form.
Where can I find information on publisher policies regarding repositories?
The first and best place to find a publisher's policy is on the author agreement you signed. The web site Sherpa Romeo tracks many publisher policies on self-archiving and posting in repositories. Publisher web sites may also provide the relevant information. Direct communication with the editor/publisher can often resolve any ambiguities.
What if the publisher requires an embargo before the article can be made available via the repository?
The submission form allows selection of an embargo period. Select an embargo period only if the publisher requires one. Your article will not be available for viewing or download until the selected time period has elapsed, until then only the citation information will be visible in OpenSIUC.
How do I claim a waiver of the Open Access Policy?
Complete the online waiver form.
What if an article has copyrighted images in it?
It depends on whether you had to sign an agreement to get access to the image you used. If the image is in the public domain or your use of it was fair use, then the work can be made publicly accessible with the image included. If you did sign an agreement, review the agreement to see if it allows broad use of the image as long as it is in the context of the article. If the terms of the agreement would not permit public access to the image in the context of the article, you have a few options:
· Contact the other party to the agreement to get permission;
· Deposit a version of the article that does not include the images;
· Claim a waiver of the policy for that article.