OER Program Invites Faculty Proposals to Create, Adapt and Update Open Course Materials

U of A faculty members are invited to submit proposals to create, adapt or update open educational resources (OER) through the University Libraries' OER Program. OER are free, openly licensed teaching and learning materials that instructors can use, adapt and share. The fall 2026 call for proposals opens Monday, Sept. 28, and applications are due Monday, Oct. 26. 

Formerly known as the Course Materials Conversion Program, the program was reframed this summer to better reflect the ways faculty can use, create and maintain open course materials. Its six program lines support individual and collaborative projects that reduce course material costs and support student learning. 

"The time we spent reframing the OER Program this summer helped us more clearly define the variety of ways U of A faculty can use or create OER," said Christine Rickabaugh, open education librarian. "I'm excited to see what else we can develop to support our students." 

This fall's call for proposals includes three funded project types: 

• OER Creations: Up to $7,500 to develop a new open textbook or substantial collection of course materials when suitable OER do not already exist. The resulting resource should replace a commercial textbook or serve as the primary materials for a course. 

• OER Remixes: Up to $2,000 to select, combine and adapt existing open resources into a cohesive collection aligned with a course's learning objectives. This option is designed for faculty who have identified useful open materials but need to organize or adapt them to replace a commercial textbook. 

• New Editions: Up to $5,000 to substantially revise an existing U of A-authored open resource. Projects may incorporate new scholarship, updated examples, structural changes or accessibility improvements and should go beyond routine corrections or minor updates. 

Funding amounts may be adjusted based on a project's scope, complexity and anticipated impact. Ad hoc special projects that do not fit the standard categories may also be considered, with support and any funding determined individually. 

Rickabaugh and the OER team works with faculty throughout their projects, providing assistance with finding or developing materials, copyright and licensing questions, Pressbooks and accessibility. Faculty are encouraged to contact oer@uark.edu before applying to discuss their ideas and support needs. 

"Open educational resources offer benefits on both sides of the classroom: students gain more affordable access to course materials, while faculty gain greater control over their curriculum and the creative flexibility to adapt, remix and design resources around their students' needs," said Rachel Blume, director of Collections & Open Resource Strategies. 

Other program lines provide support rather than direct project funding. Open Rebuilds incorporate OER support into online or distance courses being developed or redesigned with Global Campus. Embedded Initiatives support coordinated use of open materials across multiple sections or course sequences. Faculty interested in these options can contact the OER team. 

To apply, download the OER Program application and submit the completed form, required materials and signatures to oer@uark.edu by Oct. 26. Visit the OER Program website for program resources and links to project descriptions, funding information and application guidance.