The initiative provides funding for instructors to adopt, adapt, or create low-cost or free alternatives to expensive traditional textbooks and access codes. Priority funding will be given to projects that impact large numbers of students and/or center diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.
UCI Libraries financial incentives and guidance aim to eliminate barriers and increase the use of library licensed, or owned, materials including OER adoption. Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching, learning and research materials in any medium - digital or otherwise - that reside in the public domain or have been released under an open license that permits no-cost access, use, adaptation and redistribution by others with no or limited restrictions (UNESCO definition).
Initiative Impact - And Counting
4
Courses
$112,937
student savings
1,166
students
Objectives
Financial Support
Incentivize UCI instructors of record to implement the use of affordable course materials, including Open Educational Resources.
Cost Savings
Yield an average cost savings of 35% per course by adopting an existing or newly created OER or other affordable solution. Courses that are already zero- or low-cost may apply to keep content current and affordable.
Awareness via Creation & Use
Increase awareness around the use and creation of OER amongst instructors via the UCI Libraries initiative.
Bolster Course Reserves
Add more print textbooks and other physical materials to our Course Reserve system.
Eligibility
Please email oer@uci.edu for pre-submission consultation and include course name, number and current material cost. Each applicant must be the instructor of record. Courses can be at the undergraduate or graduate level.
Process
Once eligibility is confirmed, applicants will be invited to complete an application form to be reviewed by committee. Successful applicants will receive $1500 to transform a course to use OER or affordable course materials.
Deadlines
The initiative is no longer accepting applications. Please contact oer@uci.edu to ask questions or learn more about our continuing efforts to support open education at UC Irvine.