Delays in Availability of Faculty Journal Articles: Local Effects of Open Access Policies.

This study examines the availability of open access (OA) faculty journal articles from three regional public universities in 2015, focusing on natural sciences, social sciences, and health sciences. A sample of 101 peer-reviewed articles was analyzed to assess the timing and extent of OA availability, revealing that 43% of articles were openly accessible within ten months of publication. The study found significant differences in OA availability among institutions and disciplines, with health sciences showing lower OA rates than other sciences. The findings highlight the impact of publisher embargoes and repository practices on OA dissemination and suggest further research to better understand institutional and disciplinary variations in OA behavior.