University of Washington Policy Directory

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*Formerly part of the University Handbook
Faculty Code and Governance

Policies: Terms & Conditions

Chapter 54



Open Access




Section 54-31   Purpose

As a public university, the University is dedicated to making its research and scholarship freely and widely available to the people of Washington and the broader research community. In addition to the public benefit, the following policy is intended to serve faculty interests by: promoting the visibility and accessibility of their work, resulting in greater impact and recognition; helping them retain distribution rights; and aiding preservation of the scholarly record.

S-B 188, June 1, 2018 with Presidential approval.

Section 54-41   Policy and Grant of Rights

Faculty members grant to the University a nonexclusive, irrevocable, worldwide license to exercise, and to allow others to exercise, any and all rights under copyright relating to their scholarly articles, in any medium, for the purpose of making their articles freely and widely available in an open access repository. This policy does not transfer copyright ownership to the University.

S-B 188, June 1, 2018; S-B 209, March 10, 2023: both with Presidential approval.

Section 54-51   Scope and Waiver

This policy applies to all scholarly articles authored or coauthored while a person is a member of the faculty except for articles completed before the adoption of this policy.

The Provost or Provost's designate will waive this requirement or delay access for a specified period of time for a particular article upon express direction by the faculty member. Grant of such a waiver or delay is mandatory, not at the discretion of any person or group.

S-B 188, June 1, 2018 with Presidential approval.

Section 54-61   Deposit of Articles

To assist the University in archiving and disseminating scholarly articles, the faculty commit to helping the University obtain copies of their articles. Specifically, each faculty member who does not obtain a waiver to deposit in the institutional repository will endeavor to provide an electronic copy of the final accepted (post-peer review) manuscripts of the faculty member's articles to the University for inclusion in the institutional repository or notify the University that the article will be available elsewhere on an open access basis.

S-B 188, June 1, 2018; S-B 209, March 10, 2023: both with Presidential approval.

Section 54-71   Policy and Grant of Rights

The Provost or Provost's designate will be responsible for implementing and interpreting this policy and recommending changes to the faculty from time to time. In implementing this policy the Provost or Provost's designate will strive to maximize faculty participation by providing appropriate technology and other support to facilitate article deposit.

S-B 188, June 1, 2018 with Presidential approval.