Utah State University adopts Open Access policy (USA)

Utah State University has joined an emerging national trend and the ranks of a growing number of the country's universities in adopting an official "Open Access" policy. USU's University Libraries headed the effort. "For the library and, indeed, the whole university, this is a momentous occasion," said Richard Clement, USU's dean of libraries. "It enables faculty authors to retain rights to their own publications and to make the fruits of their research and scholarship freely available to all." The new open access policy - officially known at USU as Policy 535 - ensures that all employees at Utah State University retain the ability to share their publications with colleagues, students and the public upon their publication. The policy was first unanimously approved by USU's Faculty Senate in April, followed by approval by the President's Executive Committee with the endorsement of USU President Stan Albrecht