In conjunction with The Center for Teaching and Learning, and The Faculty Development Committee, The RSC Libraries are accepting applications for the 2022-23 Open Educational Resources (OER) grant program to promote faculty members’ adoption of OER in Fall 2022 or Spring 2023 courses. 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.

The Faculty Development Committee will review faculty applications and select 5 recipients of the $500 grant, subject to approval by the Provost. If the application is approved the maximum award is $500 and the minimum $250.

Timeline for 2022-23 OER Grant:

• Applications should be submitted using this form by Friday, March 25, 2022.

• Grantees will be notified by email no later than Friday, April 29, 2022.

• Stipends will be distributed in two phases: Half of the award the onset of Summer 2022 and half at the end of the semester (Fall 2022 or Spring 2023) where the open resource was used.

Expectations for OER Grantees:

• 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, 2022, grantees will submit objective reviews of sources considered for adoption in a Fall ’22 or Spring ’23 course or a report on development of new OER if applicable. Reviews should be emailed to vertor@sage.edu and anderj6@sage.edu, indicating 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.

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