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Open Access Publishing

This guide provides resources and information about Open Access including an overview, publishing, current Lehman CUNY OA policies, and a glossary.

Lehman Cambridge University Press Transformative Agreement

Transformative agreements are contracts negotiated between institutions (libraries, national and regional consortia) and publishers that transform the business model underlying scholarly journal publishing, moving from one based on subscription to one in which publishers are remunerated a fair price for their open access publishing services. (Source: Plan S)

The Library has entered into a transformative agreement with Cambridge University Press (CUP) effective January 2025. 

The Lehman Cambridge transformative agreement (TA) allows for open access (OA) publishing and subscription access. 

This  agreement means we have access to 400+ Cambridge Journals including perpetual access to all volumes published from 2023-2025.

  • Faculty and campus affiliates can publish articles with open licenses in a Cambridge journal without paying an Article Processing Charge (APC).
  • Faculty are strongly encouraged to submit their pre-print and final works if they publish with open licenses in Lehman's Institutional Repository-CUNY Academic Works. See the About Academic Works Page on this research guide for more information.

FAQs about Lehman Cambridge University Press Transformative Agreement

How do I get the APC waived?

For the APC to be waived, the article must -

  1. Have a corresponding author affiliated with Lehman College. Authors must use their @lehman.cuny.edu email address to qualify for the APC waiver. You may also need to use an ORCID when submitting your article. The agreement also covers emeriti faculty and graduate students.
  2. Be original research—eligible article types are research articles, review articles, rapid communications, brief reports, and case reports. 
  3. Be accepted for publication in a CUP journal covered by the agreement. 
  4. Be accepted for publication from January 1, 2025. 
  5. Upon acceptance, choose the Gold Open Access option in your author publishing agreement form and select a creative commons license.

What Cambridge journals can I publish Open Access in without paying an APC?

The Open Access Waivers and Discounts Tool is very helpful. 

Will the Library pay APCs outside the Cambridge agreement?

Because journal and database subscriptions consume a large portion of the library's budget, it cannot pay individual APCs.