Even if your own university’s press doesn’t specialize in your area of study, they can be an excellent resource for learning and support.
Many university presses are involved in some sort of outreach with their parent institution throughout the year, such as hosting public Q&As about publishing for early-career scholars. It is also common to find press staff willing to take the time to offer insider advice about the state of your book proposal or suggest what presses or editors might be good fits for your work.
Your university’s press can also be a great resource for new faculty and your students. Consider bringing in someone from your press for a dedicated publishing workshop or to speak to undergraduate or graduate students in courses like creative writing or marketing, as well as for career prep groups. Many university presses also offer internships and other employment opportunities for students at their institution.
And conversely, what can you do for your university’s press? Consider serving on their editorial board, following their social media pages, attending their author events at a local bookstore, or sharing their work with your students and colleagues. And even if your institution doesn’t have a press, reach out to the university presses in your area! Your engagement with peer review, social media promotion, and author events is welcomed and important. By supporting your university’s press, you help strengthen the landscape for academic publishing everywhere!
—University Press of Kansas, September 2025