UK Libraries is now accepting applications for the OER Grant Program. The application window is open until March 31, 2025.
The grant program supports the adoption and creation of open educational resources (OER) for use in UK courses. OER are class materials – including textbooks, assignments, podcasts, slides, videos, and more – that are free for anyone to use, share, or revise. Because of the flexibility enabled by Creative Commons licensing, OER can be adapted and combined to suit the specific needs of a course.
Available to students at no cost, OER increase access to higher education by eliminating the financial burden of traditional commercial textbooks. Since its launch in 2016, the program has awarded 82 grants across 42 departments (see a full list of past grantees).
Want to hear from past grantees? Register for the OER Author Panel! This virtual event is an opportunity to hear from UK faculty about their experiences creating OER. The panel will take place on March 5, 2025, 2pm-3pm.
The program accepts applications for a range of project types and sizes. Projects must be one of the following:
In addition to funding of $500-$3,000 (depending on the size of the project), grantees will receive tailored project support from the Affordable Course Content Librarian. This support can include the following:
Submissions are welcome from all academic disciplines. Grant applicants must be full-time UK instructors (including faculty, adjunct faculty, and lecturers) who will be teaching a UK course between August 2025 and December 2026. Project teams of multiple people are welcome.
For in-depth information on eligibility, timelines, the application process, and project requirements, please visit the OER Grant Program page. There, potential applicants can also find the selection committee’s rubric and a copy of the submission form that may be used for planning purposes.
Informal information sessions will be held virtually through the early spring semester. These sessions have no presentation component and potential applicants are invited to drop-in at any time during the hour to ask questions or get feedback on project ideas.
Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to schedule a one-on-one consultation with the Affordable Course Content Librarian before submitting their final proposal.
For any additional questions about the program or the application, please reach out to ACCLibrarian@l.uky.edu.
