The University of Vermont Press, relaunched in 2023 under UVM Libraries, is building momentum as a diamond open access, digital publisher of peer-reviewed scholarly books and journals. This model ensures all content is free for readers and, just as importantly, free of processing charges for authors to publish their accepted work. The press, formerly existing as an imprint (or division) of the University Press of New England, which closed in 2018, focuses on topics with broad appeal and continues to expand its reach, advancing UVM’s commitment to accessible, high-quality scholarship. 

“The UVM Press bucks an emerging pay-to-publish (charge-the-author) trend in open access publishing,” said Bryn Geffert, dean of libraries. “Too many open access presses simply shift the burden of payments from readers to authors, thus creating new inequities. The UVM Press charges zero fees, for authors or for readers.” 

Geffert said that when he arrived at UVM in 2019, he began developing a proposal for a university press after having successfully started an open access press for books at Amherst College. While developing the proposal, he was approached by Eric Roy, associate professor for the Gund Institute for Environment, about developing a diamond open access journal for the American Ecological Engineering Society (AEES). This conversation kicked off the press’s first project. 

Integral to this first project was Aimee Diehl, editorial director for UVM Press journals. “AEES asked us for a more formal proposal to illustrate exactly what creating and maintaining a diamond open access journal would look like,” Diehl said. “Once AEES decided that this project was something the entire organization could support, we signed an agreement to formalize our partnership.” 

During its 2022 annual conference, AEES launched the Journal of Ecological Engineering Design website and announced its first call for manuscripts. In June 2023, AEES celebrated the publication of its first peer-reviewed article. 

Since then, the journals division of the press has added two more journals: the Journal of Black Military Studies, published in partnership with the Society for Black Military Studies, and Middle Grades Review, published in partnership with the Middle Grades Collaborative. UVM Press has also joined the Association of University Presses. 

“As a division of both a land-grant university and a research library, UVM Press has a responsibility to get information out to all people in ways that break down barriers for both author and reader,” said Diehl. “By partnering with small scholarly societies that otherwise might not have the personnel or resources to publish their own journals, we’re making producing and accessing scholarship more equitable.” 

Flashing forward to January of 2024, the press was building momentum in its journals division and was ready to add a division of books—something that was in the plans for the press from the jump. 

“We knew from the beginning that the press should have both a journals division and a books division, thus cultivating the two primary mediums for published scholarship,” said Geffert. But launching one or several series of books is a major undertaking. Geffert explained that because the AEES partnership thrived, and confidence grew, the press hired a books editor soon thereafter.  

Thomas Krause, editorial director for books, joined the team in 2024. He explained that, together, he and Geffert wanted to match what most university presses do with the books they publish: reflect their faculty research portfolio and the university’s values. 

“In alignment with the university’s vision, we place an emphasis on planetary health,” said Krause. “An example of one book we signed that aligns with this vision is a book about city design and walkability.” 

Krause is also working with the Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families on a family health and wellness manual. For practitioners working in small, private practices without funds to purchase expensive medical texts, such open access manuals can be game-changing, providing practitioners and patients crucial literature without charge. 

Building on this commitment to accessible scholarship, Krause is launching a book series inspired by UVM's esteemed Janus Forum, known for fostering civil, rigorous debate on pressing issues, and a dedication to the proposition that engaging, thoughtful, reasoned, and respectful discourse is possible even in this era of intense partisanship. Each volume will feature scholars presenting opposing perspectives and engaging in thoughtful rebuttals. Topics include medical aid in dying, nuclear energy, student loan forgiveness, hate speech, capital punishment, universal basic income, wealth taxes, standardized testing, and Mars colonization. Recruitment is underway for the next round of books, including debates on legalized sports betting. 

The University of Vermont Press is steadfast in its commitment to the press tagline: Free for readers. Free for authors. Free for collaborators. “I am proud to work at a land grant institution that translates its commitments to the citizenry at large by making scholarship freely available to everyone, everywhere, regardless of means,” said Geffert. “The press is a prime example of UVM’s commitment to serving the public.” 

Learn more about accessing publications by or publishing with the UVM Press.