This is a copy of the “UC and Elsevier: Why it Matters” page on this site as it appeared in June 2020, maintained as an archive. For current information about UC and Elsevier, see the actively maintained page.
Following UC’s break with Elsevier, messages of support from around the world pour in
On Thursday, Feb. 28, the University of California announced its separation with Elsevier, one of the world’s largest — and most profitable — publishers of academic research. In the days since, messages of support and congratulations have come pouring in from around the world. Here is a sample of the responses, by turns fiery, joyous, and heartwarming.
Statements of Support
- Association of Research Libraries (“ARL Supports University of California Libraries’ Commitment to Barrier-Free Access to Information“)
- Big Ten Academic Alliance (University of Illinois; Indiana University, University of Iowa; University of Maryland; University of Michigan; Michigan State University; University of Minnesota; University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Northwestern University; Ohio State University; Pennsylvania State University; Purdue University; Rutgers University; University of Wisconsin-Madison) “Sustaining Values and Scholarship: A Statement by the Provosts of the Big Ten Academic Alliance“
- California State University (California State University, Bakersfield; California State University, Fullerton; California State University, Dominguez Hills; California State University, San Bernardino; San Jose State University; California State University San Marcos; California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; California State University, Fresno; California State University, Sacramento; California State University, Long Beach; San Francisco State University; San Diego State University; California State University, Chico; Humboldt State University; California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; California State University, Los Angeles; California State University, Stanislaus; Sonoma State University; California State University, Northridge; California State University Maritime Academy; California; State University, Channel Islands; California State University, East Bay; California State University, Monterey Bay) “The California State University’s Council of Library Deans supports the University of California’s push for open access to publicly funded research”
- Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) and the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) “CARL and CRKN Support the University of California in Taking a Bold Stand for Openly Available Research“
- Duke University (“Enough is Enough: UC Leadership and the Transformation of Scholarly Publishing”)
- Iowa State University
- Louisiana State University (“LSU Libraries, Faculty Senate consider responses to rising journal costs”)
- Oberlin Group of Libraries (“Oberlin Group Statement on University of California and Elsevier“)
- Oregon State University (“OSU Libraries and Elsevier, one of the world’s major providers of scientific, technical and medical information”)
- SCELC (Statewide California Electronic Library Consortium) (“SCELC Supports the University of California’s Push for Open Access to Research“)
- Simon Fraser University CA (“SFU Faculty perspectives on open access and the University of California’s Elsevier cancellation”)
- SUNY University Faculty Senate (“Resolution: Support for SUNY Negotiations for a fair and reasonable contract with Elsevier,” from the Faculty Senate Plenary, October 10-12, 2019)
- Temple University (“Standing Up To Be A Force Of Change: Q&A with Joe Lucia of Temple University”)
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (“UC Support Statement”)
- University of North Carolina (“Statement on the UC System’s Termination of Elsevier Subscriptions”)
- University of Minnesota (“Creating sustainable, accessible scholarly publishing”)
- University of Washington
- William and Mary, Old Dominion University, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Virginia, James Madison University, Virginia Tech, George Mason University (“Statement from Deans and Directors of Virginia Research Libraries on the University of California System’s Termination of Contract with Elsevier”)
- Virginia Tech (“University of California v. Elsevier: Why It Matters to Virginia”)
- University of Virginia (“Six Things UVA Researchers Need to Know About the UC System Walking Away from Elsevier”)
- Virginia Commonwealth University (“Sustaining our Journal Collections”)
- Williams College (“University of California System and Elsevier: what the end of their negotiations means for Williams”)
Immediate community reactions
“With much admiration to UC for taking this brave stance. I hope and trust that other major and perhaps better-heeled research libraries — looking at you, Harvard and Yale — will follow in your footsteps. I cannot tell you how much this news lifted my spirits today. Bravo, and thank you!”
— David C. Murray, the humanities librarian at the College of New Jersey
“I’m so glad that your team has drawn these lines in the sand with Elsevier and stuck to them. Having been involved in 2001 in a process in which an editorial board resigned en masse from a Kluwer journal and set up its own journal (JMLR), a journal which quickly and sustainably became a top-tier journal in computer science, I am dismayed that it is now twenty years later and we are still beholden to the Elseviers. Maybe this act of yours is the beginning of the end.”
— Michael I. Jordan, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science and statistics at UC Berkeley
“This is such an exciting moment for open access. The UC system’s refusal to pay the exorbitant fees for an Elsevier subscription represents a pivotal point to change the culture of academic publishing — one that individual academics cannot accomplish alone. With this decision, the UCs now join the ranks of Germany and Sweden to stand against Elsevier in pursuit of greater openness of our science and academic work.”
— Stacy Shaw, a graduate student in the Department of Psychology at UCLA
“This is a bold move that University of California took. But a necessary one! With sufficient global alignment through initiatives like OA2020 and Plan S, we are moving towards the tipping point and (will) be able to transform scholar publishing for the better.”
— Marc Schiltz, the president of Science Europe
“I hope that you will be able to convey my gratitude to President Napolitano and the UC faculty leadership and negotiating teams related to the Elsevier contract and open access publishing.
— Joseph E. Kerschner, dean of the School of Medicine at Medical College of Wisconsin
The important, and I would say courageous, actions taken by the UC will have a ripple effect across the planet and improve research and communication of research findings for the rest of time.”
“I was so proud to see UC taking a bold and courageous stand to disrupt the academic publishing world. There are risks involved (as you undoubtedly appreciate), but someone had to take this on.”
— Peter Menell, a professor in the UC Berkeley School of Law and co-director of the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology
“As a long-time supporter of open science, I am thrilled to see the University of California standing up to Elsevier.”
— Mark Warschauer, a professor of education at UC Irvine
“I just wanted to tell you again how proud I am that the UC stood up to Elsevier, those money-grubbing parasites. I’ve long been thrilled about being at UCI because of the difference we make in students’ lives. … Now I have a new reason to brag about the UC. By standing up to Elsevier, we are doing something real to change this terrible system of profit-driven academic publishing for the better. … I am so glad — just bursting with happiness and pride — that we are using our collective weight and influence to disrupt this insane system where universities subsidize giant, massively profitable corporations.
— Barbara W. Sarnecka, a professor of cognitive sciences at UC Irvine
Thank you, thank you, congratulations and bravo!”
“The united front, from the president’s office to line faculty and librarians, is what makes this outcome so impressive. One can only imagine the blood, sweat, and tears all of you have devoted to these negotiations over the past months. … When UC joint governance works this well, it is truly something to be celebrated! I’m proud to be part of this community.”
— Christine Borgman, a professor of information studies at UCLA
Faculty perspective: Video interview with UC Berkeley Professor Randy Schekman
Faculty perspective: News interview with UC Davis Professor Dennis J. Ventry, Jr.
A ‘transformative agreement’: Social media reacts to UC cutting Elsevier subscription
UC ends subscriptions with Elsevier in push for open access
Page content last updated June 25, 2020
Tags: Elsevier, Publisher Negotiations
