Open Textbooks/Open Educational Resources: Funding

OSU faculty and instructors teaching transferable courses with open educational resources (OER) in the 2025-2026 academic year may be eligible to apply for open textbook development/adoption funds available through the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE). Open educational resources (OER) are research, teaching and learning materials intentionally created and licensed to be freely accessed, shared, retained, and in many cases, modified at no additional cost to the end user.

See the August 15, 2025 OCO OER Teaching Grants News Release for more information. The deadline to complete the submitted and signed MOU for consideration is January 30, 2026.

FY26 OSRHE OER Faculty Grants Flier

OSRHE funds are available for courses whose instructors are using OER and do not require students to purchase or rent commercial resources such as textbooks, subscriptions, or access to supplementary homework or discussion platforms. Funds awarded vary by project level.

Level 0 ($500)

Refresh an OER already in use for the course, create ancillary materials for existing OER in use, or collaborate with others teaching the same course with OER.

Level 1 ($1,000)

Adopt a new, single OER textbook directly available to students at no cost.

Level 2 ($1,500)

Remix/revision of two or more existing OER into a new research, teaching and learning resource.

Level 3 ($3,000)

Full authorship of an OER for areas in which none are available.

Faculty and instructors with projects qualifying for funding levels 1-3 may also apply for add-on funding.

Option A ($500)

Create ancillary materials such as homework. learning activities, and assessments.

Option B ($500 each, up to 3)

Engage teaching collaborators to support the OER project. Teaching collaborators are faculty and instructors teaching the same course using OER.

Option C ($250)

Include a project collaborator such as an OSU faculty or staff instructional designer, librarian, or accessibility specialist to aid in the curation, organization, implementation, and alignment of your OER project.

Funding will be disbursed from OSRHE to the faculty and instructors' teaching institution.

Step 1: Express interest and apply

• Complete the FY26 OSRHE OER Grant Interest Form (one per course).
• Watch recording that outlines the FY26 MOU.
• Complete the OER Grant Application Form to create the MOU (one per course).
• Once you have completed the MOU and it has been signed by all parties, return the MOU to Tracey Romano, tromano@osrhe.edu, for consideration.
• If awarded, receive executed MOU with official award email.

Step 2: Submit Verification of Adoption

• Awardees submit verification of OER adoption to request award disbursement.
• Early disbursement is available by February 25, 2026, with final disbursements occurring after the final verification deadline of April 30, 2026.

Step 3: Teach Your Course

• Finalize your OER course materials and communicate to the bookstore that you are using OER and no textbook purchase is required.
• Teach with your OER no later than Summer 2026.
• Survey the impact of OER use on your course through performance metrics and learner feedback.

Step 4: Submit Your Report

• Refer to the final OER impact report template within the OER Funds MOU
• Submit a final project report via Smartsheet by Sept. 1, 2027.

For more information:

Kathy Essmiller | kathy.essmiller@okstate.edu

Tracey Romano | online@osrhe.edu