Associate Professor Larissa Garcia and Assistant Professor Dee Anna Phares were notified that their proposal had been selected for funding in the amount of $29,992. The grant will support activities that promote and implement the use of OER across the university community.
Open Educational Resources are freely accessible teaching, learning, and research materials that can be adapted, shared, and redistributed at little or no cost. These resources, which include textbooks, syllabi, videos, curricula, and software, are typically available online through open licenses or the public domain. By replacing expensive traditional textbooks, OER can dramatically reduce the financial burden students face each semester.
University leaders say the impact of the initiative goes far beyond cost savings.
“The cost of textbooks and other educational materials have long presented a significant obstacle to many students’ completion of a college education,” said Fred Barnhart, Dean of University Libraries. “NIU Libraries and the university as a whole focus on promoting student success, and the creation and distribution of Open Educational Resources accomplish this. They help make college more affordable for students.”
The award reflects a growing movement among colleges and universities nationwide to expand access to affordable course materials while improving educational equity. With this new funding, NIU Libraries plans to continue advancing innovative teaching resources that support both faculty and student success.
