Last Update on: 01 August 2023

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1. Purpose
2. Scope
3. Definitions and Acronyms
4. Objectives
5. Eligibility Criteria
6. Benefits
7. Application Documentation
8. Review and Evaluation
9. Acknowledgments
10. Implementation, Compliance, and Reporting
11. Compliance and Performance Indicators
12. Document Amendment Information

1. PURPOSE

The purpose of these guidelines is to support the administration of the Open Access Charges (APC) and Mandatory Page Charges.

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2. SCOPE

1. These guidelines apply to the payment of mandatory open access fees, and mandatory extra page charges, or other mandatory charges required by publishers to disseminate research outputs online.
2. These guidelines apply to all KFUPM faculty and researchers.

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3. DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS 

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4. OBJECTIVES

1. KFUPM recognizes the importance of supporting its faculty and researchers toward publishing in high-quality journals as well as in open-access journals.
2. The Open Access Fees and Mandatory Page Charges support encourage faculty and researchers to publish their research outcomes in high quality journals by covering mandatory open access fees/extra page charges requested by journals.

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5. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 

5.1 Applicant Eligibility

1. Faculty members and researchers at KFUPM are eligible to apply for Open Access Fees and Mandatory Page Charges Support
2. Applicants are eligible where their paper has:
   • a majority of authors affiliated to KFUPM; or
   • at least 50% and the first/corresponding authors from KFUPM.

Where this applicant's eligibility criteria are not met, the support will cover partially up to the percentage of KFUPM authors. 

5.2 Publication Eligibility 

1. Faculty members and researchers at KFUPM are encouraged to carefully select their open-access journal before submitting their scholarly work.
2. Organizations such as the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA) and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) provide guidance to faculty members and researchers selecting open-access journals of integrity. Some of the indicators of a reliable open-access journal are reputable editorial board, the integrity of the peer review process, and a clear policy on conflicts of interest.
3. This program provides support where a paper is accepted for publication in a Q1 or Q2 journal as per the Journal Citation Report by Clarivate (https://jcr.clarivate.com/jcr/home), noting that:
   • Ranking reported in the Journal Citation Report at the time of publication will be considered.
     
4. The maximum number of applications that can be submitted within a fiscal year are as follows:
   • One paper for any active KFUPM faculty & researchers
   • Two additional papers for affiliates with interdisciplinary Research Center, subject to:
     • availability of funds in the baseline fund; or
     • availability of funds in the respective internally-funded research grants.
   • For affiliates or non-affiliates with externally-funded projects, no limits, subject to availability of funds through the external grant.
5. The maximum amount reimbursed towards extra page charges will be USD $1500 per fiscal year as a total sum.
6. The full budget allocation for payment can be utilized, up to a maximum of one year from the non-IRC project end date, subject to the availability of funds under the specific budget head “Publication”.
7. The Support of journals published by MDPI will be only once per fiscal year.

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6. BENEFITS

1. The support will provide a maximum of USD $3,000 for Top 10% Q1 journals.
2. For other Q1 journals, the support will provide a maximum of USD $2,500.
3. For Q2 journals, the support will provide a maximum of USD $1,500.
4. For recipients affiliated with an Interdisciplinary Research Center, one paper fee paid will be charged to the University's Internal Fund, and the additional two paper fees paid will be charged to the respective Interdisciplinary Research Center.
5. For recipients not affiliated with an Interdisciplinary Research Center, fees paid will be charged to the University's Internal Fund.
6. For recipients affiliated with an Applied Research Center, fees paid will be charged to the respective Applied Center.

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7. APPLICATION DOCUMENTATION

The applicant should submit the invoice, receipt, and bank statement, and the paper itself.

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8. REVIEW AND EVALUATION

The request for a support will be considered and the applicants advised accordingly.

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9. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Proper acknowledgment of KFUPM affiliation and any research grant support (along with the project number where applicable) in all publications and other outcomes is mandatory. In the case of multi-project acknowledgment, the support will cover partially up to the percentage of project contributors.

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10. IMPLEMENTATION, COMPLIANCE, AND REPORTING

1. DR shall implement these guidelines.
2. DR shall monitor the allocation of funds for open access fees and mandatory page charges.
3. Non-compliance with any provision in these guidelines shall be reported to the DR. 
   

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11. COMPLIANCE AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

In monitoring and reviewing the implementation of these guidelines, the following compliance and performance indicators shall be used:

1. Number of KFUPM authors supported each year;
2. Total funds allocated each year to cover open access fees and mandatory page charges;
3. Number of publications in Q1 journals as per the Journal Citation Report by Clarivate each year;
4. Number of publications in Q2 journals as per the Journal Citation Report by Clarivate each year.

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12. DOCUMENT AMENDEMTN INFORMATION

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