Policy & Advocacy
SPARC advocates for policies at the local, national, and international level that promote openness in research and education. Listed below are SPARC's active policy priorities. Click here to see previous policies SPARC has advocated for.
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Oppose Section 552 That Will Block Taxpayer Access to Research
Open AccessThe U.S. House of Representatives released an appropriations bill containing language that would block implementation of the 2022 updated OSTP policy guidance (the Nelson Memo) that would ensure immediate, free access to taxpayer-funded research.
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2022 Updated OSTP Policy Guidance
Open Access · Open DataIssued on August 25, 2022, OSTP's updated policy guidance calls on all federal agencies to generate policies that eliminate the current 12-month waiting period for access to the outputs of federally funded research, including articles and data.
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NASA’s Updated Scientific Information Policy for Science Mission Directorate (SMD)
Open Access · Open DataOn December 8, NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) released an important update to its comprehensive Scientific Information Policy (SPD-41a) to provide guidance on the open sharing of publications, data, and software .
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Public Access Language in the U.S. Innovation & Competition Act (USICA)
Open AccessThe House and Senate are considering language that supports providing public access to taxpayer-funded research results in a larger package of competition legislation.
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California’s Zero Textbook Cost Degree Program
Open EducationCalifornia invested $115 million to develop Zero Textbook Cost degrees at the state's community colleges.
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Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Open Textbook Pilot Grant Program
Open EducationThe Open Textbook Pilot offers grants to U.S. Colleges and universities to expand the use of open textbooks. SPARC is working to renew and expand funding for this program.
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The Affordable College Textbook Act (H.R.1811/S.978)
Open EducationThe Affordable College Textbook Act seeks to reduce the cost of textbooks at U.S. colleges and universities by expanding the use of open textbooks.
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Stopping the Cengage/McGraw-Hill Merger
After intense opposition from stakeholder groups and a year of regulatory review, the Cengage/McGraw-Hill has been called off. The merger would have remade the textbook market as a duopoly, and its termination prevents significant harm to students.
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Environmental Protection Agency Rule on ‘Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science’
Open Access · Open DataEPA seeking public comments on a controversial new proposed rule on 'Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science'
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OSTP Requests for Information on Federal Scientific Integrity Policies
Open AccessSPARC responded to requests from the White Office of Science & Technology Policy for public input to improve federal scientific integrity policies.
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