We are committed to supporting open access publishing and the creation of scholarship by our students, faculty, and researchers. The Open Access Fund seeks to facilitate more choice in publishing by helping to offset the cost of Article Processing Charges (APCs) for Furman authors. It allows authors to consider a broader audience, retain more of their rights, and realize the benefits of Open Access without sacrificing their funding.

What do I need to know before I apply?

Read the full Open Access Fund Guidelines. By submitting an application form, you affirm that you have reviewed the Guidelines.

Who is eligible?

Furman University faculty, adjunct faculty, researchers, post-docs, staff and students in all disciplines are eligible to apply. 

What types of publications are eligible?

Only peer-review, fully open access works published in reputable titles are eligible. “Reputability” will be determined by the Furman University Libraries in consultation with the applicant, the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association, the Directory of Open Access Journals, and/or the Directory of Open Access Books.

Are there limits on the funding?

Yes. These include, but are not limited to:

• Funding will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis up until the funding for a given year is exhausted.
• In a fiscal year, an author can receive maximum reimbursements of $1,000. Unused funds cannot be rolled over to future years.
• In the case of cross-institutional co-authors, fees are pro-rated. The fee will be divided equally among all authors up to the $1,000 caps.
• The maximum reimbursement for any single article is $1,000.
• Funds may cover publication fees, submission fees, or illustration fees.

How do I apply?

Complete the application form on this page. The request will be reviewed for eligibility and you will be informed whether it has been approved.

The Furman University Libraries Open Access Fund is paid for and administered by the Furman University Libraries. For questions or concerns about the fund, guidelines, or eligibility, please contact us at scholarexchange@furman.edu. 

The Furman University Libraries also provide more information on Open Access, other Open Access Initiatives and Open Educational Resources.