The AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library successfully concluded the Paywall to No Wall: Empowering HBCUs in Open Scholarship and Collaboration symposium, marking a major milestone in the Library’s ORCA grant–funded efforts to expand open access and open educational resources across the Atlanta University Center (AUC).

The symposium also featured invited presenters Dr. Muhsinah Lateefah Morris, Dr. Ivis Renee King, and Dr. Aaron Carter-Enyi, who shared perspectives on open knowledge practices, disciplinary publishing, and inclusive scholarly communication.

The symposium engaged 15 faculty participants across the AUC, fostering cross-institutional dialogue around open publishing, OER adoption, and equitable access to scholarship. Faculty participants represented a range of disciplines and collaborated closely with Library leadership to explore practical pathways for integrating open scholarship into teaching, research, and curriculum design.

This initiative was led through a coordinated effort by the Library’s Scholarly Communications and Digital Services teams. Brad Ost and Bryan Briones guided faculty engagement around open access publishing, data visualization, and repository services, while Christine Wiseman supported digital platforms and infrastructure. Project oversight and cross-campus coordination were provided by Terrence J. Martin, Assistant Director of Content & Collection Management Services.

Together, these efforts reinforce the Library’s commitment to advancing open scholarship across Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College, positioning the AUC as a collaborative leader in equitable access to research and teaching materials. Findings from the symposium will inform next-phase faculty support, training modules, and publishing workflows as the Library continues its transition from “Paywall to No Wall.”