The recently held Penn State Faculty Senate meeting debated about the future of research publishing.
The senate engaged in the discussion about what has become a hot topic among researchers in recent years: open access scholarly publications versus traditional subscription-based journals.
The open access discussion stems from a resolution the senate passed in 2015 in support of open access scholarly publications. Open access publications, unlike other subscription-based models of academic publishing, do not require a subscription fee to read, meaning the research published therein is more widely accessible and available, including to members of the public.
A number of senators noted that more and more universities are embracing open access publishing, with major universities like the University of California severing its relationship with the scientific publisher Elsevier. According to Karen Estlund, associate dean for technology and digital strategies with the Penn State University Libraries, these subscriptions typically cost a university millions of dollars per year, with costs rising by as much as 19 percent annually as journals experience profit margins higher than the oil and gas industry.
Many senators agreed that creating a more formal policy in support of open access publishing would be a step in the right direction, with a desire to make their research more easily available outside of academe as a primary concern. One senator noted that Penn State, as a major research university, has a responsibility to push back against costly publishers for the benefit of smaller universities with less resources to do so.
However, faculty members also expressed concerns about that potentially losing access to subscription-based journals would negatively impact their research, while others were unsure how the cost distribution would be handled under an open access model.
The senate also continued work to update its policies on academic advising. Having accepted a legislative report on proposed updates and goals for the academic advising policy at its January meeting, the senate continued to talk about potential steps to meet the goals of the report and strengthen advising.
The senate also heard remarks from President Eric Barron and Executive Vice President and Provost Nick Jones, who shared a report on signs of the positive financial health of the University and updates on several ongoing academic dean searches, respectively.
Senators additionally accepted a number of legislative and advisory reports, including on undergraduate registration, the definition of academic ranks, short-term disability benefits for faculty and the unique challenges faced by international students and how to best support them in their academic careers.
The next Faculty Senate meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m. on April 23 in 112 Kern Graduate Building on the University Park campus.
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