Informed Author-Rights Workshop

• Format: Workshop
• Time: 60 min
• Stage: Developing an idea, Active research, Finishing a project
• Pathway: Academic scholarship

Why this

This workshop will position you to make informed publishing decisions as part of your knowledge mobilization strategy, whether you choose open access or a paywalled option. This session explains author rights, publishing agreements, granting agency requirements, open-access routes, DORA principles, and practical steps for depositing in Concordia’s repository, Spectrum.

Relevance for impact

Regardless of the publishing route you choose, author rights and licensing shape how communities can share, reuse, and access research. Meanwhile, open access supports greater reach and societal impact and aligns with Open Scholarship, Equity, and the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA). The point is to make informed decisions as part of building a knowledge mobilization strategy suited to you and your research communities, and to leave with personalized next steps for your current research project.

Who it’s for

Faculty who are preparing to publish as part of building a knowledge mobilization strategy. Relevant for Tri-Council grant applicants.

What you’ll learn / outcomes

• Integrate a knowledge mobilization strategy into your research practice.
• Understand copyright and author rights basics.
• Recognize rights retention and loss language in publisher agreements.
• Compare open-access routes in relation to funder requirements.
• Understand how to make the most of Spectrum and what versions are allowed.
• Choose publishing venues that align with your knowledge mobilization plan (consider using principles from the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).

Format

• 60-minute online interactive workshop
• Offered once a semester based on a minimum of 5 registrations

What to bring (recommended)

• Documentation on an active research project (i.e., notes, draft, manuscript)
• Target journal shortlist
• Any publisher agreements or submission guidelines

Relevant materials to review

• Copyright at Concordia Guide
• Open Access Publishing and More
• Senate Resolution on Open Science and Open Scholarship at Concordia University

Service provider

As the Scholarly Publishing Librarian, Dr. Rachel Harris leads and coordinates our open educational resources program and supports the growth and development of our open scholarship services at Concordia University. With a doctorate in art history and a terminal master's degree in information studies, Rachel engages with publishing history at the intersection of the visual arts and book history. Finally, as an educator, she believes in increasing access and diversifying our approach to inclusivity in higher education.