The Value of Open Access to Undergraduate Research Page: 4
5 p.View a full description of this article.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
III. Importance of Open Access Resources for Undergraduate Research
The Right to Research Coalition (RRC) is an organization of students founded in the summer of
2009 to promote "an open scholarly publishing system based on the belief that no student should
be denied access to the articles they need because their institution cannot afford the often high
cost of access."'7 The realities of the twenty-first century academy, in which library funding
cannot keep pace with the annual inflation in subscription costs, make Open Access crucial for
students and scholars alike who need access to the latest research in order to remain competitive
in both the academic and private sector job markets.
According to the RRC, students stand to gain significantly from Open Access because the
current system limits both faculty and student access to cutting edge research publications and
data, and puts students from smaller schools at a disadvantage in terms of access to scholarly
publications. If scholars do not have access to current research, they cannot teach it in the
classroom. Likewise, students cannot conduct adequate research for course work if they do not
have access to supporting materials, which their libraries often cannot afford to provide. And one
of the greatest benefits of Open Access materials is that research does not have to end with the
degree, or at the boundaries of the university. Materials placed in Open Access repositories and
publications become part of the public trust and are available openly for the public good.
Beyond the classroom, empowering students to share their work in Open Access repositories or
to publish their research in Open Access publications allows them to take control of their
intellectual property and provides them with greater exposure. Students with online Open Access
portfolios have the ability to share their work widely and to participate in a culture of
collaboration and sharing.
It is this last aspect of Open Access that has perhaps the greatest potential to catalyze change in
contemporary scholarly communication. Open Access has the potential to break down walls
within the academy, fostering collaboration and communication among scholars from across
disciplinary divides. Broadening access to scholarly publications and research data can only help
instill the culture of interdisciplinary practice that has been a popular buzzword in universities
for a generation but that so far has failed to effectively materialize.
Outside of the university, we live in anti-intellectual times. Students, particularly those who want
to go on to careers in the academy, must be better equipped to demonstrate the value of their
research, and willing to share the products of their research with the general public. Students
with a solid understanding of the issues of Open Access are better able to advocate for
themselves, for their disciplines, and on behalf of the academy in the culture at large. Through
events like Open Access Week and University Scholars Day, and publications like The Eagle
7 The Right to Research Coalition. "About Our Coalition" http://www.righttoresearch.org/about/index.shtml
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This article can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Article.
Waugh, Laura & Keralis, Spencer D. C. The Value of Open Access to Undergraduate Research, article, October 1, 2013; [Denton, Texas]. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc185796/m1/4/: accessed August 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; .