UC to Launch a New Academic Press
The University of Cincinnati announced recently the formation of a new academic press. With a dual publishing focus on social justice and community engagement, the mission of the University of Cincinnati Press is to cultivate and disseminate scholarly works of the highest quality for the enhancement of the global community.
“It is a historic and exciting moment for a great research university like the University of Cincinnati to join the elite group of institutions that operate an academic press,” said President Santa J. Ono. “Becoming an active participant in scholarly publishing will further the university’s Third Century goals, notably in the areas of leveraging research and scholarship, strategic recruiting and community engagement.”
In addition to publishing both print and e-books, the University of Cincinnati Press will be a leader in the exploration of new modes of academic work. These may involve scholarly and creative works in digital media, web based digital scholarship, multi-authored databases, library special collections and archives, as well as future exploration of emerging, new modes of the university’s intellectual outcomes.
“With the Press’s dual focus on social justice and community engagement, the university has the opportunity to advance both the theoretical understanding of social justice and its applications in the world by publishing scholarly works in the field,” said Beverly Davenport, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “This research-based approach to examining global issues embodies the university’s commitment to investing in faculty and interdisciplinary problem-solving that erase boundaries and embrace creative, bold ideas.”
The operations of the Press will be located in and supported by the University of Cincinnati Libraries. “The new Press will serve as a major component of the emerging scholarly publishing ecosystem hosted by UC Libraries in partnership with others,” said Xuemao Wang, dean and university librarian. “Alongside the Scholar@UC digital repository, our work in digital humanities and digital scholarship, online journals, eLearning course materials and other programs, the Press will provide a formal, peer-reviewed publishing enterprise serving authors and readers world-wide.”
The first priority in the establishment of the University of Cincinnati Press is the selection of a director. This individual will lead the editorial and administrative functions of the Press, as well as begin to work with and seek authors for publication.
The Press will leverage the strength of the university’s faculty by attracting both authors and readers from around the world in the fields where the University of Cincinnati has distinctive expertise. “Through the cultivation and dissemination of high quality scholarship, the Press will play a significant role in advancing knowledge and enhancing the prestige of the University of Cincinnati as a major research university contributing to scholarly communication on a global scale,” said Sally Moomaw, associate professor of early childhood education and chair-elect of the University Faculty.
“The establishment of the Press will benefit the university as it will attract faculty and students, deepen relationships within the community, alumni and donors, and foster collaborations with other academic institutions around the world,” said H.C. Buck Niehoff, former member of the UC Board of Trustees and member of the task force that explored the possibility of creating an academic press. “It will provide a lasting legacy as UC celebrates its bicentennial in 2019.”
