This survey was open January 30, 2026 through February 28, 2026 and received 168 responses.
Invitations to respond were sent to all UVM faculty (1) three times through Inside UVM, (2) once through a faculty-wide email, and (3) once in emails from deans. Graduate students received an invitation from the Graduate School.
What we asked:
Prices for academic journals and search tools continue to rise at exorbitant rates, a fact that will likely require cuts in library subscriptions. One especially expensive subscription ($242,000 per year) is Web of Science.
The library is thus considering replacing Web of Science (including its associated database Journal Citation Reports) with Scopus, a cheaper competitor ($82,000 per year).
This is a consequential decision for the Libraries, and we want as much faculty feedback as possible. The survey previously sent to faculty elicited too few responses to be meaningful, and we’re thus making a second effort to gather your thoughts.
If you use Web of Science (https://libraries.uvm.edu/webofscience), please try Scopus (https://libraries.uvm.edu/scopus) and let us know how well it would suit your needs.
Check if you are a graduate student.
I am a graduate student: 21 = 13% of total [87% of respondents were faculty]
My use of Scopus indicates that:
[Those with knowledge of Scopus & Web of Science: 119 = 71% of total]
Scopus is superior to Web of Science for my needs: 14 = 12%
Scopus is roughly equivalent to Web of Science for my needs: 57 = 48%
Scopus is inferior to Web of Science but sufficient for my needs: 15 = 13%
Scopus will not meet my needs: 33 = 28%
[Those without knowledge of Scopus]
I do not know enough about Scopus to determine whether it can meet my needs: 23 = 14% of total
[Those judging Scopus and Web of Science irrelevant to their work]
Neither Web of Science nor Scopus is relevant to my work: 26 = 15% of total
If we retain Web of Science, we will likely need to cancel a significant number of journals and other subscriptions to cover our projected deficit. Please indicate your preference should such a need arise.
I’d prefer keeping Web of Science, even if doing so requires cancelling subscriptions to journals in my field: 37 = 22%
I’d prefer to substitute Scopus for Web of Science if doing so would avoid cancelling journal subscriptions in my field: 131 = 78% 4
By Department and School:
Agriculture, Landscape, and Environment: 5
Keep Web of Science: 3
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 2
Anesthesiology: 2
Keep Web of Science: 2
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 0
Animal and Veterinary Sciences: 6
Keep Web of Science: 1
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 5
Anthropology: 2
Keep Web of Science: 2
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 0
Biochemistry: 0
Biology: 2
Keep Web of Science: 1
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 1
Biomedical and Health Sciences: 5
Keep Web of Science: 2
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 3
Chemistry: 3
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 3
Civil and Environmental Engineering: 4
Keep Web of Science: 1
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 3
Communications Sciences and Disorders: 0
Community Development and Applied Economics: 4
Keep Web of Science: 4
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 0
Computer Science: 1
Keep Web of Science: 1
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 0
Economics: 0
Education: 5
Keep Web of Science: 1
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 4
Electrical and Biomedical Engineering: 6
Keep Web of Science: 1
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 5
Emergency Medicine: 0
English: 1
Keep Web of Science: 1
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 0
Extension: 1
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 1
Family Medicine: 1
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 1
Geography and Geosciences: 5
Keep Web of Science: 1
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 4
Grossman School of Business: 8
Keep Web of Science: 3
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 5
History: 0
Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration: 1
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 1
Leadership and Developmental Sciences: 0
Mathematics and Statistics: 2
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 2
Mechanical Engineering: 1
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 1
Medicine: 33
Keep Web of Science: 1
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 32
Microbiology and Molecular Genetics: 5
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 5
Molecular Physiology and Biophysics: 2
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 2
Neurological Sciences: 3
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 3
Nursing: 2
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 2
Nutrition and Food Sciences: 2
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 2
Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences: 2
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 2
Orthopedics and Rehabilitation: 2
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 2
Pathology and Labortatory Medicine: 3
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 3
Pediatrics: 2
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 2
Pharmacology: 4
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 4
Philosophy: 0
Physics: 4
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 4
Plant Biology: 1
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 1
Political Science: 3
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 3
Psychiatry: 3
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 3
Psychological Science: 2
Keep Web of Science: 1
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 1
Public Health: 1
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 1
Radiology: 3
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 3
Rehabilitation and Movement Science: 1
Keep Web of Science: 1
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 0
Religion: 0
Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources: 18
Keep Web of Science: 7
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 11
Social Work: 1
Keep Web of Science: 1
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 0
Sociology: 2
Keep Web of Science: 2
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 0
School of World Languages and Cultures: 1
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 1
Water Resources Institute: 1
Keep Web of Science: 0
Substitute Scopus for Web of Science: 1