Applications now open for next round of Dean's OER Grant Initiative

KU Libraries is accepting proposals for the Dean's OER Grant Initiative, which supports faculty in adopting open educational resources (OER) in high-enrollment courses. 

The initiative, launched by the university’s Deans Council with a $225,000 investment from the Office of the Provost, aims to reduce textbook costs for students and improve retention by targeting courses with high DFW rates (grades of D, F, and withdrawals) and costly required course materials.  

Proposals are being accepted now with anticipated review to begin on November 4. If faculty are even considering a project for Spring 2027 or a later semester, now is a great time to reach out. KU Libraries can help think through whether suitable OER exist for courses before partners commit to anything. 

Fall's Inaugural Cohort 

During the fall 2026 semester, three inaugural projects are moving from proposal to practice. Selected teams of instructors spent the summer working closely with KU Libraries staff and other campus partners to prepare their courses for OER implementation this fall. Together, they identified OER, navigated Creative Commons licensing, and developed the supplemental course content. 

What's Available 

Grants are awarded for 2–3 projects per semester and include: 

$5,000 + $5 per enrolled student (up to 200 students) for individual proposals 

$10,000 + $5 per enrolled student (up to 200 students) for collaborative proposals 

Funding for faculty stipends, summer salary, GTAs, and other implementation needs 

Hands-on support from KU Libraries and campus partners throughout the process, including CODL and CTE, from identifying potential OER before you apply, to course re-design and verifying the accessibility of course materials 

Who Should Apply 

The Initiative is designed for high-enrollment courses that generally align with KU Core 34 requirements and are new to OER adoption. Priority is given to project proposals that: 

Provide significant cost savings for students 

Focus on adopting existing OER content (creation of supplemental materials is acceptable) 

Commit to teaching or supervising the course for three years 

Maintain the content beyond the initial grant period 

Address all sections of a course or, if not comprehensive, as many sections as possible 

Get Ready to Apply 

Interested faculty don't need to wait to apply to start the conversation. KU Libraries staff are happy to help identify potential OER materials and talk through what a proposal could look like. Learn more at the KU Libraries' Dean's OER Initiative page or contact oer@ku.edu.