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Open Access Support: Library Fund

Open access support options available for USU researchers.

USU Libraries Open Access Funding Initiative

a diamond shape with an unlocked padlock in it to represent diamond open accessUtah State University Libraries provides $30,000 annually to support USU authors with open-access publishing costs. Eligible applicants—faculty, staff, and students—can apply for up to 50%  of the Article Processing Charges (APCs) up to $1500 for articles published in Gold Open Access journals.

The fund opens to applicants twice a year, on January 5 and July 1, and remains open for one week during each cycle.

Recipients are required to deposit a copy of their published article in the USU institutional repository. Please note that awards cannot be used for other publishing expenses, such as page charges or color figure fees, nor can they be used to reimburse APCs that have already been paid.

Apply for the Open Access Fund

For questions or clarifications, please email scholarlycommunications@usu.edu.

Want to know when the fund opens?

Check out the funding period by viewing the calendar event

To import the funding period to your calendar, click the button below:

ADD TO CALENDAR
Check out these directions on how to import events.

Evaluation Criteria

To ensure fairness and maximize the impact of the fund, applications will be reviewed using a transparent evaluation matrix. This process supports our commitment to consistent and equitable decision-making and to advancing open access publishing across the USU community.

Priority will be given to:

  • Student authors and early-career researchers

  • Applicants with limited access to other funding sources

  • Publications in journals that actively support the open research ecosystem

  • Scholars who contribute to or engage with USU’s Institutional Repository

This approach helps us direct funding to those whose work may otherwise go unsupported, broadening the reach and visibility of USU scholarship.

You can view the full evaluation matrix and detailed review criteria in the document linked below.