Open Education and Textbook Affordability at Oregon Tech

The Oregon Tech Library's call for 2022 OER grant applications is now closed. For inquiries about future grant opportunities, please contact Kristin.whitman@oit.edu. New rounds of OER funding are often announced at the state level via Open Oregon, so there may be other opportunities available. 

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. 

2022 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 

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. 

For future calls for applications, check with KristinWhitman@oit.edu. 

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