ProQuest paywalling theses when OA fee paid?

[Gail Clement]

Hello ETD Colleagues,

Recent reports from a Univ of California SF graduate student details his extensive troubles getting ProQuest to open up his theses for which he paid the OA fee. (See attached screenshot showing an excerpt from Daniel Himmelstein's postings)

It would be helpful to learn how many ETDs submitted to PQ under the PQOpen service have been paywalled. Transparent and honest business practices are key to sustaining trust in vendors who charge APCs for OA -- predatory publishing is a growing concern for academic and research authors, including graduate students!

- Gail Clement

[Shari Hill Sweet]

Gail,

Thank you for alerting us to this issue; I'm not currently aware of this particular problem affecting Notre Dame students, but I'll take a look when I have a chance. 

We currently upload PDFs to the PQ FTP repository and then mail the paper microfilming agreements in batches as they're processed. Our recurring issue with ProQuest (going on at least 2 years now) is that I no longer receive receipt confirmations when they receive our submissions, and I no longer receive invoices when the services are rendered. Eventually I do receive a past due notice, though, and then I have to request that the email me any open invoices. I still have open orders for May 2016 graduation.

-Shari Hill Sweet

Univ. of Notre Dame