Open Educational Resources
In a recent national survey, 71 percent of undergraduate students in the United States reported being worried about meeting their course material costs for the current academic term, with 30 percent describing themselves as moderately or extremely worried (Bayview Analytics, 2023). The University Libraries assists instructors in replacing those materials with openly licensed alternatives through six program lines. Three carry extra compensation. Three provide staff support and project partnership. The Global Campus is a partner in implementation.
The Six OER Program Lines
Three funded lines and three supported lines, with intended participants and the assistance the OER team provides.
How to Apply
Application steps, required signatures, and the documents to submit. A consultation before applying is recommended.
How Funding Works
Funded projects are compensated at two milestones: completion of the resource, and adoption with a written reflection.
The Six OER Program Lines
Funded lines carry extra compensation tied to two project milestones. Supported lines bring the full attention of our team without direct funding.
The three funded lines share a common set of commitments: adoption in all of the sections of the course the participant teaches, publication under an open license, regular consultation with the Open Education Librarian, and a written reflection following adoption. Every line, funded or supported, requires a signed Memorandum of Understanding before work begins. These commitments are detailed on Policies and Commitments for OER Projects. The descriptions below address only what distinguishes each line.
| Program line | Best for | What you produce | Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| OER Creations | Subjects where no adequate open resource exists | A full open textbook or collection of course materials | Funded, milestone based |
| OER Remixes | Courses where good open resources already exist | A course ready remix that replaces the commercial textbook | Funded, milestone based |
| New Editions | Aging or misaligned U of A authored open resources | A clearly labeled new edition on a university supported platform | Funded, milestone based |
| Open Rebuilds | Online and distance courses ready for redesign | A rebuilt course with materials assembled in Pressbooks | Supported |
| Embedded Initiatives | Multi section or core curricula | Coordinated adoption or creation across a course sequence | Supported |
| Ad Hoc Special Projects | Cross departmental, time sensitive, or experimental work | Whatever the project calls for | Set case by case |
OER Creations
Authorship of a new open resource. The participant designs an original project covering the large majority of the course content, submitted as a complete textbook or collection of course materials sufficient to teach the course. The remainder may be adopted from existing openly published resources.
Appropriate when no adequate open resource exists for the subject and the participant is prepared to undertake original writing.
In addition to the commitments above, the OER team assists with:
- Confirming that no adequate open resource already exists
- A DOI where appropriate and indexing in the Open Textbook Library
- Accessibility review as chapters come together rather than at the end
OER Remixes
Adaptation of existing open resources. The participant selects one or more open educational resources and significantly remixes them to update the material or align it with course requirements. The remixed resource is published under an appropriate open license for reuse by others.
Appropriate when sound open material exists but no single title matches the course as taught.
In addition to the commitments above, the OER team assists with:
- Identifying candidate resources and reviewing attribution and license compatibility
- Pressbooks guidance for assembling the final resource
New Editions
Substantial revision of an existing University of Arkansas open resource. The participant leads a revision addressing accessibility remediation, structural reorganization, and content updates, resulting in a clearly labeled new edition on a university supported platform.
Appropriate when a University of Arkansas authored resource retains value but has become dated, no longer meets accessibility standards, or no longer reflects current course design.
In addition to the commitments above, the OER team assists with:
- A revision plan that names what is changing and why
- Accessibility review against current standards
- Clear edition labeling and version history
- Coordination with the original authors where needed
Open Rebuilds
Course redesign around open materials. A focused redesign conducted with Global Campus instructional designers. The OER team assists in evaluating resources, the instructor determines sequence, and materials are assembled in Pressbooks, frequently alongside library licensed links.
Appropriate when an online or distance course is already scheduled for redesign and the materials are to be addressed concurrently.
The OER team assists with:
- A scheduled sprint with instructional design partners
- Resource vetting help before you sequence the course
- Graduate assistant support for assembly and formatting
- Checking materials for accessibility and compliance before launch
Supported rather than directly funded. No application form is required. Contact the OER team at oer@uark.edu to begin. A Memorandum of Understanding is still required.
Embedded Initiatives
Program level coordination of open materials. Adoption or creation is coordinated across a sequence of courses with multiple instructors and embedded in the program's own planning.
Appropriate when the decision rests with a program rather than an individual instructor, as with University Perspectives or Composition and Rhetoric.
The OER team assists with:
- Planning with program leadership rather than a single application
- Shared materials that work across many sections and instructors
- Ongoing consultation as the curriculum changes
Supported rather than directly funded. No application form is required. Planning begins with program leadership, and a Memorandum of Understanding is executed once scope is agreed.
Ad Hoc Special Projects
Projects of demonstrated value that fall outside the other five lines. Scope, expectations, and level of support are established case by case by the OER team, allowing the program to respond to opportunities a standard structure would exclude.
Appropriate when a project is cross departmental, time sensitive, or exploratory, and of clear benefit to the University of Arkansas community.
Process:
- Submit a brief written description of the project and the population it serves
- Scope, support, and any compensation are agreed before work begins
- Approved projects receive the same team and resources as any other line
Reviewed by the Open Education Librarian with the OER team. No application form is required. A Memorandum of Understanding is executed once scope is agreed.
How to Apply
A consultation with the Open Education Librarian before applying is recommended. The process is identical for all three funded lines.
- Contact the OER team at oer@uark.edu to meet with the Open Education Librarian and confirm the appropriate program line.
- Complete the application form and required supplemental materials, and obtain the appropriate chair, department head, or dean signatures.
- Submit the completed and signed application to oer@uark.edu by the posted deadline.
- Applicants may be interviewed by the OER team during the review period.
OER application form
Sample Memorandum of Understanding
Open Rebuilds, Embedded Initiatives, and Ad Hoc Special Projects do not use the application form. Contact the OER team at oer@uark.edu to arrange an initial consultation. All three still require a signed Memorandum of Understanding before work begins.
How Funding Works
Funded projects are compensated at two milestones. No deliverable is required before work begins other than the signed Memorandum of Understanding.
| Milestone | What you do | Payment |
|---|---|---|
| Milestone one | Complete the resource and publish it under an open license | First payment |
| Milestone two | Adopt the resource in the classroom and submit a written reflection | Second payment |
Before You Apply
Before you apply, take a look at the policies and commitments for OER projects. The criteria used to evaluate proposals are available there as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Select a question to open the answer.
Which lines are funded?
OER Creations, OER Remixes, and New Editions carry extra compensation paid at two milestones. Open Rebuilds and Embedded Initiatives receive full staff support without direct funding. Ad Hoc Special Projects are determined case by case.
What happened to the Course Materials Conversion Program?
The program continues under a clearer structure. Creation is now OER Creations and adaptation is now OER Remixes. The remaining categories of OER work the Libraries already supported are now named and documented as well.
Do I have to use the resource in every section of the course?
Adoption is required in all of the sections of that course the participant teaches. The program cannot require other instructors to adopt the resource, and their sections do not affect a participant's eligibility or compensation.
What is the difference between a creation and a remix?
A creation is original authorship undertaken when no suitable open resource exists. A remix selects and significantly adapts sound open materials that already exist.
Can an existing U of A open textbook be updated?
Yes. New Editions is the established route for accessibility remediation, structural reorganization, and content updates to an existing University of Arkansas open resource.
What if my project does not fit neatly into one line?
Contact the OER team at oer@uark.edu. Ad Hoc Special Projects exists for proposals that fall outside the other five lines, and a consultation is the fastest way to determine the appropriate placement.
When do I get paid?
Compensation is issued in two parts. The first follows completion and publication of the resource. The second follows classroom adoption and submission of a written reflection.
Can I work on an OER project while receiving extra compensation for something else?
Not concurrently. University policy limits an employee to one service activity at a time for extra compensation. See Service Activity and Extra Compensation for the procedure if this applies.
Contact
Direct questions to the OER team at oer@uark.edu. Include the course number and the materials currently in use, and the team will identify the appropriate program line and the next steps.