“OER FACULTY GRANT” PROCEDURES
The Clark College Open Educational Resources (OER) Steering Committee has received Guided Pathways funding to encourage the use and development of OER on campus. A portion of this funding provides direct support for Clark faculty working to eliminate textbook costs for their students by incorporating OER and other Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) materials* into their classes.
Eliminating textbook costs for your course may involve adopting, adapting, or creating OER, or adding supplementary OER resources to your course such as case studies, lab manual, videos, assessment tools, etc.
The purpose of OER Faculty Grants is:
- To facilitate and promote professional development for the adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER) and other Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) materials into their courses through payment of a stipend based on the Special Assignment Rate currently in place at Clark College
- To build capacity at Clark College for creating and adapting OER that are up to date and appropriate for Clark College curricula
- To demonstrate Clark College’s commitment to student needs for both low-cost materials, and well-designed curriculum that meets pedagogical standards.
The project is administered by the OER Steering Committee.
Successful applicants will receive a stipend to support OER/ZTC work. Examples of OER/ZTC projects include, but are not limited to:
- Adapting/Adopting/Remixing OER for your course
- Creating OER
- Course conversion: Eliminating textbook costs for students by transforming your course to only use OER and other ZTC materials
- Improving the accessibility of an OER for your course or department
- Developing an open pedagogy assignment
- Reviewing pre-existing OER
Don’t see something on this list that represents your OER/ZTC project? That’s great! Please apply and let us know what you’re thinking.
The amount each recipient receives will be based on several factors, including scope of the project and alignment with goals of the OER Steering Committee.
Eligibility
All Clark College faculty are eligible to apply for and receive an OER Faculty Grant. Faculty members, individually or jointly, may submit grant proposals.
Application Process
Application for the OER Faculty Grant must include the following:
- A Completed application form.
- Sign-off by your department chair.
Expectations of Grant Recipients
- Attend a planning meeting with Clark’s OER Fellow to develop a project plan.
- Attend the Winter 2024 or Spring 2024 Open Education Community of Practice
- Willingness to share experiences with colleagues in your department, at Clark College events (such as OER workshops or events), or through communications activities arranged by the OER Steering Committee.
- Working with the OER Fellow, you will meet a minimum of two additional times: at the halfway point and at the end of the project. The purpose is to share progress, ask for assistance, and define next steps.
- If your project involves creating OER, it includes publishing your OER “openly” with a Creative Commons license and in accordance with accessibility standards. With the OER Fellow you will make a plan for sharing your OER.
- Plans to (re)use open educational resources and/or ZTC materials in courses in the future.
In Kind Support
Grant recipients will benefit from the expertise of a variety of campus resources who can assist with identifying and evaluating suitable OER, provide instructional expertise, support in technology and educational media, text editing and layout, and with the application of Creative Commons licenses.
Evaluation of Applications
Applications are encouraged for a variety of topics and mediums. Successful applicants will meet one or more of the following criteria:
- The project addresses issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.
- The project includes curation and customization of open educational resources that will be freely and openly shared throughout and beyond Clark College.
- The project demonstrates the impact on student experience in the form of high-quality materials, maximum access (e.g., Creative Commons licenses), open and innovative pedagogy, and cost savings to students.
- The project includes plans to re-use open educational resources in courses in subsequent academic terms.
For questions, assistance in formulating your Project Plan, or completing the form, contact Zoe Speidel, Clark's OER Navigator.
*For definitions and more information about OER and ZTC materials, please see our About OER page.
