These grants provide a financial incentive for Western ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§ University faculty and instructors to switch to free, high-quality online resources rather than using a traditional textbook, or to create their own open educational resources.
Adoption Grant
University Libraries is now accepting grant applicatons from Western faculty and instructors to adopt an open textbook or open course content. Adopting an open educational resource not only provides cost savings to students but also allows the customization of content to meet your students' learning needs. It can also be specifically tailored to your teaching style and course development needs.
Applicants must be teaching a spring, summer or fall 2025 course to be eligible.
A maximum of ten $1,000 grants will be awarded to faculty and instructors. Grant applications for undergraduate courses with high enrollment will receive priority consideration.
Applications open: Oct. 1, 2024
Proposals due: Nov. 8, 2024
Recipients notified by: Dec. 6, 2024
Creation Grant
University Libraries is now accepting grant applications from Western faculty and instructors for the creation of an original, openly licensed textbook. Creating an open educational resource not only provides your students with high-quality learning content but it helps students everywhere. Developing resources with this level of reach and impact can be a valuable addition to your professional profile.
Recipients must complete the open textbook creation project within 18 months of the announcement of the award.
A maximum of two $3,500 grants will be awarded. The grant amount is awarded per project. If there are multiple authors for one open textbook, the grant amount is divided between them.
Applications open: Oct. 1, 2024
Proposals due: Nov. 8, 2024
Recipients notified by: Dec. 6, 2024
Western students have saved an estimated $1.3 million* in textbook costs in courses funded by the OER grants.
*Savings calculated based on estimated course enrollment and textbook costs in grant applications since launching in 2019. Enrollment and cost may vary per class.
Background
Colleges and universities have developed open textbooks and course content in response to concerns about the affordability of traditional textbooks. Textbook prices have risen 1,041% since 1977, higher than medical costs and the Consumer Price Index.
Many students who can’t afford their textbooks have found a simple, but concerning solution—they don’t buy them. According to in 2018, 64% of students did not purchase a required textbook. In addition, 42% of students took fewer courses and 22% dropped a course due to textbook costs. Open textbooks and course content provide an alternative to expensive textbooks.