Hello readers, and welcome to both a new year and a new phase for To Improve the Academy. As your editor, I am thrilled to announce that this is our first open access issue brought to you by our new publisher, Michigan Publishing Services. After careful consideration and many conversations, representatives from the POD Network determined that being an open access journal was not only beneficial for our readers (who have better access) and our authors (whose work is no longer obstructed by a paywall) but also most in line with POD’s current strategic priority of enhancing access to the organization and its resources.