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OPEN ACCESS

Claudia Mora, GSA President ability to pay. Authors will still be able to have their papers
made available to the public and worldwide geologic commu-
In the May 2015 issue of GSA Today, GSA Council nity immediately upon publication by paying an article
announced its commitment to making GSA journals processing charge (APC) for open access of $2,500 for non-
(Geology, Geosphere, Lithosphere, and GSA Bulletin) open members or $2,400 for GSA Members. No additional color
access to the scientific community, with the intent of page charges will be assessed to Geology authors paying the
beginning with Geology in 2017. The spring 2016 Council open access APC. The GSA Foundation is seeking endowment
meeting was scheduled to be a decision point on whether to funds to cover required publications fees for those who cannot
implement the plan in 2017 or wait, given various budget afford to pay (e.g., authors from countries and institutions
uncertainties. After careful deliberations, Council voted to unable to afford it).
delay open access to Geology for the public and the worldwide
geologic community but instead to provide free online access Free online access to Geology for GSA Members is likely to
to Geology for all GSA members beginning in January 2017. reduce demand for print subscriptions, but a print option will
This is a significant new membership benefit. The decision is still be available in 2017 for those willing to cover the added
also intended as a prudent approach to initiating full open costs of printing and shipping.
access for GSA journals in the future.
We plan no changes to the rigorous peer review and editing
Another change for Geology papers published beginning that uphold the quality of Geology and other GSA journals. The
January 2017 is that color page-charges will be replaced with a impact factor of Geology is currently among the highest in the
flat fee of US$1,750, and authors will be able to publish unlim- geosciences, and it should increase as the move toward full
ited color figures. No article will be rejected for lack of an open access makes its articles easier for the global scientific
community to read and cite.

GSA TODAY | JULY 2016 Geology – GSA Bulletin – Geosphere – Lithosphere
Special Papers – Memoirs – Field Guides – Reviews in Engineering Geology

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