The RSC Libraries are sponsoring the Open Educational Resources (OER) grant program for the 2023-24 academic year, in conjunction with the Center for Teaching and Learning and Faculty Development Committee. The $500 grant is intended to promote faculty members’ adoption of OER in Fall 2023 or Spring 2024 courses. Faculty grant applications for the 2023-24 academic year were reviewed by the Faculty Development Committee and approved by the Provost. Stipends will be distributed in two phases: Half of the award the onset of Summer 2023 and half at the end of the semester (Fall 2023 or Spring 2024) where the open resource was used.

OER are free teaching and learning resources with licenses that enable their reuse, adaptation and redistribution. The aim of the OER grant is to reduce the high cost of course materials-- a significant barrier to student learning and retention. The adoption of freely accessible, open educational resources lowers the cost of education and ensures that all students have equal access to content on the first day of class.

Congratulations to the 2023-24 OER grant recipients: 

Karen Balter 

Marisa Beeble 

Ken Howard 

Susan Jenks 

Expectations for OER grant recipients: 

• Grant funds will compensate the grantee for the time and effort required to replace commercial textbooks or other course materials with low-cost or no-cost resources. Funds may be used to create a new open educational resource, or to adopt existing OER “as is” or with modifications. Grant funds cannot be used to purchase commercial textbooks, ancillaries, or other resources. 

• Applications will be evaluated according to the criteria listed in this rubric.

• By August 1st, 2023, grantees will submit objective reviews of sources considered for adoption in a Fall ’23 or Spring ’24 course or a report on development of new OER if applicable. Reviews should be submitted using this form, and should indicate the source(s) chosen and reasons for adoption. Some of the criteria found here may be used in the review.

• Grantees will be asked to complete a brief assessment of the grant program, and to share their experience using OER with RSC faculty members through CTL events, May College, or other opportunities.

2022 OER Grant Awards:

Debra Collette

Kelli Tamvada

Jill Ensminger

Marisa Beeble

Deb Lawrence

Nathanael Green

Victoria Greenwood

Gabrielle Rounds

Julie McIntyre

Maureen Gokey

Tracy Egan-Lasek

Jennifer Morrill

Sara Schuman

Ali Schaeffing

David Baecker

Natasha Holmes

2021 OER Grant Awards:

Bobbi Gabrenya, Interdisciplinary Studies

Kristi LaMonica, Biology and Health Sciences

Dayna Maniccia, Interdisciplinary Studies 

Tonya Moutray, Interdisciplinary Studies 

Becky Bernhardt, Occupational Therapy 

Emilly Obuya, Chemistry 

Shealeen Meaney, Interdisciplinary Studies 

Thomas Gray, Chemistry and Biochemistry