Earlier this year, the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI) announced the availability of Open Educational Resources (OER) Grants through the Secretary of State and Illinois State Library. This is an opportunity for libraries to coordinate the development of OER. This grant provides funding for the development of textbooks and ancillaries as open educational resources to ultimately reduce students’ costs and encourage student success. The open license allows faculty to adapt the materials to meet local needs. A $150,000 grant was awarded to the University Library to support many faculty with funds to create OER, an effort that was coordinated by the Scholarly Communication and Publishing unit.

The supported faculty include Andiara Schwingel, Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health; Amir Malvandi, Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering; Krystal Hodge, Assistant Professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition; Shelly Johnson, Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health; Rachel Garthe, Associate Professor in the School of Social Work; Mattox Beckman, Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science; and Chrysafis Vogiatzis, Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial and Enterprise Systems and Director of Professional and Online Education.

“The University Library is excited to help create OER with these funds to better support students across the university with access to educational materials at no cost,” writes Sara Benson, Copyright Librarian and Associate Professor at the University Library. The University Library wishes the faculty great success in their projects.