Stipend Opportunity
Raynor Library and campus partners are piloting a stipend program to advance awareness and use of free, open-licensed learning materials, also known as open educational resources (OER). Participating faculty who are interested in lowering the textbook cost burdens of their students, especially instructors in high-DFW courses, are encouraged to apply.
High textbook costs cause financial stress for students that can weaken their academic performance and push them to forgo buying course materials altogether. Commercial textbook publishers, unresponsive to this challenge, tend to withhold their textbooks from libraries. While OER options exist already for course materials in many subjects, faculty awareness of them is low. This new program will reward efforts to explore OER options with stipends of $850-$1000.
Who can apply?
Thank you for your interest. The stipend application is now closed.
Stipend Timeline
January 2026:
- Kick-off meeting at Raynor Library’s Beaumier suites, January 21 from 12-1 pm. Lunch provided.
February 2026:
- Pre-assessment survey
- Select from library-recommended list of titles
March & April 2026:
- Read your chosen OER book or book chapters
- Write a review of your chosen OER book or book chapters (guidance and rubric provided)
April & May:
- Write a reflection on your experience (guidance and rubric provided)
May 2026:
- Wrap-up meeting (time/date TBD)
- Post-assessment survey
This pilot grant program is made possible with funding from Marquette's Explorer Challenge 2.0.