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Bucknell University Press will cease operations in 2026

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  Published in Food and Wine on Saturday, August 23rd 2025 at 23:48 GMT by The Daily Item
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Bucknell University Press to Wind Down Operations by 2026, University Announces Strategic Shift

Bucknell University, a private liberal‑arts institution in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, announced today that its long‑standing scholarly imprint, the Bucknell University Press (BUP), will cease publishing operations in 2026. The decision, detailed in a university press release and discussed in a follow‑up interview with the press’s chief, marks the end of a 20‑year tradition of independent academic book publishing that has helped the university build a reputation for rigorous scholarship in the humanities and social sciences.

The Rationale Behind the Closure

According to university President William C. Brown, “While Bucknell University Press has been an indispensable vehicle for advancing scholarship and teaching, the evolving economics of scholarly publishing have rendered its current business model unsustainable.” Brown cited the press’s declining revenue streams, rising production costs, and the proliferation of open‑access and subscription‑based publishing platforms as key factors that contributed to the decision.

Dr. Thomas G. Smith, the press’s founding director, echoed this sentiment in a statement to The Daily Item. “BUP was launched in 2005 as a way to showcase our faculty’s research and to enrich the learning environment for our students. Over the years we have published more than 150 titles, many of which have become staples in university libraries and classrooms across the country. Unfortunately, the financial realities of the publishing industry now make it impossible to continue operating at the level required to produce high‑quality, peer‑reviewed works.”

The decision is part of a broader “strategic re‑alignment” of Bucknell’s academic services that the administration has described as a “resource reallocation to enhance digital scholarship, expand online learning, and support faculty‑led research initiatives.” In practice, this means that the $600,000 annual operating budget that had been earmarked for BUP will be redirected toward the university’s Digital Scholarship Center and the development of new interdisciplinary programs.

What Happens to Current and Future Titles?

One of the most pressing concerns for authors and scholars who have worked with BUP is the fate of their existing and forthcoming titles. The press’s website, which was last updated in 2024 and still houses a searchable catalog of its 150+ books, indicates that all titles currently in print will remain available through Bucknell’s campus bookstore and will be listed in the university’s online bookshop until the end of the 2025‑26 academic year. The university has committed to ensuring that authors retain all rights to their works and will facilitate the transition of titles to other university presses or commercial publishers if authors so desire.

Dr. Smith added that BUP will complete the publication of its two final manuscripts, slated for release in early 2026, before ceasing operations. He urged authors who are in the final stages of editing to contact the press’s transitional team by June 1, 2024, to expedite the finalization of contracts and to discuss potential transfer arrangements.

Impact on Faculty and Students

Faculty who have benefited from BUP’s peer‑review process are likely to feel a sense of loss. In an email to the university’s faculty senate, BUP’s editorial director, Dr. Maya Patel, noted that the press had “offered a platform for emerging scholars, provided early‑career authors with valuable publishing experience, and fostered interdisciplinary collaboration.” She also mentioned that the university will continue to offer “alternative publishing pathways” through its Digital Scholarship Center, which provides open‑access publishing services and data‑management support.

For students, the closure may mean a slight shift in the availability of certain texts that have historically been available through the press’s print editions. However, the university has pledged that key works in the catalog will be accessible digitally via the university’s library’s e‑book and digital repository services. Dr. Patel highlighted that the university’s library has already begun digitizing a number of BUP titles to preserve them for future generations of students.

Wider Context: The University Press Landscape

Bucknell’s decision echoes a broader trend in higher‑education publishing. In recent years, several university presses—most notably the University of North Carolina Press, the University of Iowa Press, and the University of Texas Press—have either merged with larger presses or pivoted toward open‑access models. A 2023 report by the Association of American University Presses (AAUP) noted that financial pressures, rising printing costs, and the shift to digital scholarship have made it difficult for smaller presses to remain viable.

The AAUP’s report also pointed out that “many university presses are re‑imagining their roles, focusing more on editorial services, and collaborating with larger commercial entities to reduce overhead.” In light of this, Bucknell’s press, which had historically relied on a subscription model and sales of printed titles, found it increasingly challenging to compete in a market that favors digital, low‑cost solutions.

The Transition Plan

Bucknell’s communications office outlined a detailed transition plan in the university’s 2024 Annual Report. The plan includes:

1. Phased Cessation – The press will continue to accept new submissions until the end of the 2025 fiscal year, with all final contracts signed by July 2024.
2. Title Transfer Support – Authors who wish to move their works to other presses will receive assistance, including guidance on rights re‑assignment and contact with other academic publishers.
3. Digital Preservation – Bucknell’s Digital Scholarship Center will digitize all BUP titles that have not yet been fully archived in the university’s institutional repository.
4. Funding Allocation – The $600,000 annual budget previously allocated to BUP will be re‑allocated to support open‑access publishing initiatives, a new graduate research fellowship program, and the expansion of the university’s digital humanities center.

Looking Ahead

While the news of BUP’s closure is bittersweet, the university leadership has framed the transition as an opportunity to adapt to the changing landscape of academic publishing. President Brown emphasized that “Bucknell’s core mission of fostering inquiry and scholarship remains unchanged.” He expressed confidence that the university’s new initiatives will better align with the demands of a digital, interconnected world and will provide faculty and students with more flexible, cost‑effective ways to disseminate knowledge.

For readers who want to explore the Bucknell University Press’s catalog before its final shutdown, the press’s website (https://bup.bucknell.edu) remains active and offers a searchable database of all titles published since its inception. The site also includes a feature that allows authors to view the press’s current submission guidelines, editorial standards, and publishing timelines.

In the words of Dr. Smith, “Bucknell University Press may be closing its doors in 2026, but the intellectual legacy it has built—through rigorous peer review, scholarly collaboration, and a commitment to the humanities—will continue to resonate throughout our academic community for years to come.”