Call for Proposals: Paid Faculty Course Material Conversion Program

Each semester, the University of Arkansas Libraries and Global Campus offer faculty compensation and support to reduce the cost of textbooks for their students by using open educational resources. The spring 2026 Call for Proposals is now open, and applications will be accepted through Monday, March 16.

Faculty can apply to the Open Educational Resources Course Materials Conversion Program to receive extra compensation. Successful applicants can receive $4,500 for adapting open educational resources or $7,500 for creating their own. Visit the Open Educational Resources webpage to learn more about the program and the differences between these two options.

"Investing in open educational resources strengthens both teaching and learning," said Jessica Morales, associate dean for Collections and Open Initiatives. "OER enable faculty to customize course materials for relevance and rigor while lowering textbook expenses. By adopting and creating OER, we support academic excellence through expanded access and reduced financial burdens, helping students stay engaged and focused on achieving their academic goals."

Potential participants may find the application on the OER Course Materials Conversion Program website and will have until Monday, March 16, to complete applications. Submitted project applications are reviewed and scored by the Open Educational Resources Team and the campus advisory group.

The OER Course Materials Conversion Program began providing funding to faculty in 2017. Since fall 2023, open educational resources supported by the program have impacted 32,373 U of A students and generated an estimated $2.6 million in textbook cost savings. In the 2025 calendar year alone, the program delivered more than $1 million in savings to 13,033 students. U of A-authored open textbooks created through this initiative are available on the university's Pressbooks website.

"Beyond the cost savings for students, open educational resources are easily edited or remixed, so faculty can align materials with course objectives and incorporate local examples or case studies that can increase student engagement," said Christine Rickabaugh, open education librarian. "I'm excited to be a part of this work!"