Marian’s Beyond the White Coat recognized by the Library Publishing Coalition for student engagement and open-access innovation through PALNI Open Press
Marian University’s student-centered publication Beyond the White Coat has been recognized during the inaugural Library Publishing Showcase Week, a national celebration highlighting innovation and impact in academic library publishing.
Hosted Feb. 23–27 by the Library Publishing Coalition (LPC), Showcase Week featured nearly 40 projects from across the country that demonstrate how libraries are advancing open, equitable scholarship.
Beyond the White Coat, published through the PALNI Open Press, was selected for the Engaging Students — Learning Opportunities category. The publication is led by Marian editors Jillian Nicely and colleagues and offers students a platform to explore the human dimensions of health care, medicine, and professional formation.
The Open Press is an initiative of the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI), which supports member institutions in publishing open-access journals, textbooks, monographs, and digital projects. By removing barriers associated with traditional publishing platforms, PALNI Open Press empowers faculty and students to share scholarly and creative work broadly and affordably.
According to PALNI Scholarly Communications Director Amanda Hurford, the recognition reflects the strength of collaborative library publishing across Indiana institutions. Showcase Week participants were selected from submissions across the LPC community and represent innovative efforts to expand access, amplify diverse voices, and strengthen student learning through publishing.
The week also coincided with the launch of Library Publishing Creates, a new advocacy website that will continue to spotlight impactful projects nationwide.
For Marian University, the recognition affirms the institution’s commitment to providing meaningful, real-world learning opportunities that elevate student voices and contribute to the broader scholarly community.