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Open Educational Resources (OERs)

Educational materials made freely and legally available on the Internet for anyone to retain, reuse, revise, remix, and redistribute.

Affordable Content Grants: OER@UNO

Spring 2024 grants are now open for applications!

Update: Spring Deadline extended!

Spring Deadline: Friday,  April 05 April 12, 2024, by midnight. 

Applications are now available in the NuRamp system! To apply, log in to the system using your NetID. You can find the “Open Internal Competitions” list:  Affordable Content Grants: OER@UNO – Spring 2024. Applicants who are interested in viewing the full grant rubric can visit our OER Research Guide. Grant funds will vary based on the scope of the project with $1,250-$2,750 for single section conversions and a maximum of $11,000 for large-scale, multi-section course conversions. Routing is due by Friday, April 19, and applicants will be notified by Tuesday, April 30. 

Who Can Apply?

Full- or part-time faculty who are interested in converting their courses from traditionally published materials to low or no cost materials are eligible to apply. We continue to encourage faculty who are interested in converting their general education curriculum to apply as well.

Why is Affordable Content Important?

In addition to the financial benefits for students, affordable content encourages a level playing field in which all students have access to materials on the first day of class. There is also research that indicates OER can help with retention and GPA, while increasing opportunities for creative pedagogical approaches.

What is Affordable Content?

Affordable Content is anything that is no cost to students. This can include any of the vast OER resources available, library eBooks and journal articles, free content available online,

content you’ve created, and more! In order for courses to qualify for the grant, total costs to students must be less than $40/semester.

Who Do I Contact for More Information?

Stephen Craig Finlay is our campus OER Coordinator and would be happy to meet or answer questions by email (sfinlay@unomaha.edu) or phone (402.554.3211).

 

Advice for Successful Applications

While there is no single factor that weighs more heavily in favor of an application than others, the committee would like to share factors that have been common across awarded projects:

  • The committee has tended to prioritize projects where a plan was detailed, but where the actual work of converting the course has not yet been done. For projects where affordable content has already been adopted, demonstration of how this grant would grow the project and/or how you would be an advocate for affordable content on our campus.
  • Very high impact in terms of cost savings, as determined by a number of factors including cost of the current textbooks, reaching a large number of students, regularity in course offerings, and a high percentage of current materials being converted to affordable materials.
  • Full, detailed answers to all questions, especially in regards to how the project will address the goals of the initiative. Answers that familiarized the committee with department culture and/or shared the thought process behind the answers were particularly helpful.
  • For projects where affordable content has already been adopted, demonstration of how this grant would grow the project.
  • For projects with courses that have multiple sections taught by multiple instructors, a discussion of how others are interested in adopting content you've collected or created, or evidence of a coordinated effort.
  • Potential for department/college/university growth