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Open Education and Textbook Affordability at Oregon Tech

Initiatives and actions at Oregon Tech in regards to open education, OER, and textbook affordability

Oregon Tech Library OER Grant

2024 Library OER Grants

The aim of the Library OER Grant program is to increase equity for our students by reducing the cost and increasing the accessibility of course materials. Recent research shows that using free or low-cost course materials can decrease drop/fail/withdrawal rates, especially among financially vulnerable student groups

2024 grant amounts vary based on the complexity of each project: 

  • $1,000 for adopting affordable (under $40) or open course materials. 

  • $1,500 for adapting existing open course material to fit the needs of your course. 

  • $2,000 for the creation of new free or open course materials. 

This work must take place over the summer of 2024, and grant stipends will be paid in September of 2024.

Please apply by March 15th. Decisions will be announced March 22nd.

Apply to adopt or adapt existing OER materials 

Apply to create new OER materials 

If you’re unfamiliar with open educational resources, introductory material will be provided as part of this program, and the library can connect you to whatever resources you need, including publishing platforms such as Pressbooks for free and open materials. 

Questions? Please contact cate.guenther@oit.edu. For state grant opportunities, also check Open Oregon

Textbook Heroes

Thank you to our Textbook Heroes! The following faculty participated in the OER Program at Oregon Tech during the 2023-2024 academic year:

  • Amber Lancaster, Communication
  • Andrea McCracken, Communication
  • Caroline Doty, Med Lab Science
  • Dawn Taylor, Med Lab Science
  • Ed Clint, Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Jared Emard, Management
  • Kenneth Davis, Mathematics
  • Rachel Speaks, Manufacturing & Mechanical Eng Tech
  • Riley Richards, Communication
  • Ross Wagstaff, Natural Science
  • Sharon Beaudry, Management
  • Terri Torres, Mathematics

Thank you to our Textbook Heroes! The following faculty participated in the OER Program at Oregon Tech during the 2022-2023 academic year:

  • Dawn Bailey, Psychology
  • Sharon Beaudry, Management
  • Rachel Edwards, Chemistry
  • Amber Lancaster, Writing
  • Travis Lund, Chemistry
  • Susan Rausch, Writing
  • Riley Richards, Communications
  • Derrick Speaks, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering

Thank you to our Textbook Heroes! The following faculty participated in the OER Program at Oregon Tech during the 2021-2022 academic year:

  • Addie Clark, Chemistry
  • David DeRoche, Art
  • Andria Fultz, Public Speaking
  • David Johnston, Physics
  • Jesse Kinder, Physics
  • Amber Lancaster, Professional Writing