UNM and Open Educational Resources
UNM’s Open Educational Resource (OER) initiative seeks to provide faculty members with the support they need to adopt low and no-cost textbook and class material solutions for their courses when it aligns with their instructional objectives and academic freedom. When possible, we would like to partner with other higher education institutions and the State of New Mexico to identify resources and support for faculty initiatives in this area.
Open Textbook Pilot Program
The library is gearing up for its first Open Textbook Pilot Program. You will find the program highlighted in the UNM Newsroom. Through this program, faculty who hold the rank of Lecturer, assistant professor, associate professor, or professor are eligible to submit proposals for the funding of their own OER projects. Proposals from graduate students or graduate assistants are also eligible. The application will close on Oct. 1, 2023.
You can find more about the Open Textbook Pilot Program on the OER Grant Program Libguide. There you will find:
- Details on the submission process
- Links to register for informational sessions
- The form to apply for the program
You can also learn more about OER at UNM by making an appointment with the OER Librarian, Jennifer Jordan.
Saving Students Money
The estimated amount of money students spend on textbooks and supplies in the United States is over 14 billion dollars annually, and Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicates that these costs have risen by 4 times the rate of inflation over the last decade. Populations of students who cannot afford to buy or rent textbooks choose not to buy them at all, negatively impacting their education.
The following video explains the equitable and enduring effects of Open Educational Resources.
Legislative initiatives in many other states have shown significant return on investment in both dollar terms and student achievement.
For faculty ready to begin exploring, this linked OER Library Guide is a good starting point. From there, you can contact CULLS' OER Librarian for more details.
OER Initiative Highlighted on University Showcase
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
University Showcase hosted by KUNM News Director Megan Kamerick recently featured OER Librarian Jennifer Jordan to discuss OER how open educational resources can benefit students by slashing the costs of textbooks. Click the image above to listen to the archived broadcast. That also features UNM professors and OER Champions Therese Baca-Radler, Dave Dixon, Cash Clifton, and Zachary Sharp.
Explore OER Developments
Interested in keeping up with the latest developments in OER at UNM? Click the button at the bottom of this page to join the OER Initiative's mailing list. We will send information about upcoming OER-related opportunities, workshops, and events.
