Q. How Can I Publish Open Access for Free?

Quinnipiac Libraries participate in publishing agreements with several publishers, including ACM, Cambridge University Press, Springer Nature, and Elsevier, that allow eligible Quinnipiac authors to publish open access (OA) articles without paying article processing charges (APCs).

While the ACM and Cambridge University Press agreements cover eligible fully open access journals, the Elsevier and Springer Nature agreements generally apply only to hybrid journals, which publish both subscription-based (paywalled) and open access articles. After an article is accepted in a participating hybrid journal, authors may choose to publish it as open access, with the APC covered through Quinnipiac's institutional agreement.

To be eligible for APC coverage under the Elsevier and Springer Nature agreements, the corresponding author must be affiliated with Quinnipiac University and use an active QU email address during the publishing process. Fully open access journals published by Elsevier and Springer Nature are generally not included in these agreements, and APCs for those journals may still apply.

If you are considering publishing with Elsevier or Springer Nature, the publishers' journal finder tools can help you identify eligible journals and determine whether APC funding is available:

• Elsevier Journal Finder allows you to search by manuscript title, abstract, keywords, or journal title. If the funding status displays "No publishing charge," the APC is covered through Quinnipiac University's agreement, allowing eligible authors to publish open access at no cost.

• Springer Journal and Funding Finder allows you to search using a manuscript title, abstract, or keywords and provides information about journal funding and publishing models. Funding statuses may include:

  • 100% funding available – APCs are fully covered through an institutional agreement.
  • No funding found – APCs may apply.

For more information about Quinnipiac's open access publishing agreements, participating publishers, and eligibility requirements, visit the Open Access Publishing Guide.