Title: Getting Buy-In: How to Plan Inclusive Open Access Sessions Short title: Planning Inclusive Open Access Sessions Instructors: Barbara Bordalejo, PhD, Sessional Lecturer, English, University of Saskatchewan; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8255-0265 Emily Kilcer, Scholarly Communication Librarian, University at Albany, State University of New York; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4141-5646 Amanda Page, Scholarly Communications Consultant, New York; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5345-1193 Description: Advocacy is a core element of scholarly communication (SC) work, particularly when it comes to promoting open scholarship and new modes of communication. SC officers must know their audience and strike the right balance between educating their community and advocating for transformations the community may not be ready to embrace. A fundamental understanding of matters related to advocacy, negotiation, diversity, accessibility, equity, and inclusion is essential both to reach varied audiences and to encourage richer, more open and more accessible resources. This course presents strategies for developing effective SC-related communications ranging from “elevator” pitches to full-length workshops. We implement a variety of pedagogical methods, including lectures, active participation through in-class discussion and live polls, and group and individual exercises. Students are invited to bring examples of real-life scenarios to try with communication strategies covered in class. The class includes dynamic exercises and discourse, and encourages active participation based around the development of soft skills. This course presents strategic solutions to problem-solving, including relevant programs, tools, and technologies. Part 1: Advocacy-based Meetings, Conversations, and Project Work The course begins with an introduction to strategic thinking in communication, the foundation for all forms of scholarly communications outreach and advocacy. We cover the different types of crucial outreach activities and how to apply strategic thinking to these modalities, and discuss how advocacy work is contextual. Class conversation includes topics related to equity, diversity, and inclusion, implicit bias, privilege, accessibility, and negotiation. Exercises and discussion will include concepts of understanding how cultural constructs impact advocacy, relationships, behavioral change, privilege, and buy-in. Part 2: Advocacy-based, Inclusion-Focused Events, and Technical Labor This part of the course builds upon Part 1 by introducing students to more in-depth techniques to strategically customize communications and advocacy-driven messages, and to include deliberate methods in presentations and public communications. Additional considerations for facilitating events with audiences of various sizes will be covered, as well as tips for building and tracking campus champions and partners, use of technology platforms, and rights and legal frameworks and considerations for use in advocacy or inclusion work. During this session, discussion and exercises will include strategic solutions focused on technologies, tools, and platforms that help scaffold advocacy-based initiatives.