For many faculty members, creating a more affordable classroom experience for students starts with a simple question: Where do I begin? 

That question is exactly what the Open Education Research and Planning Mini Grant at UTA Libraries was designed to help answer. 

The program allows faculty and staff to explore the world of Open Educational Resources, also known as OER, in a structured and collaborative way. OER gives professors the ability to create their own customizable textbooks and materials, which personalize learning. It also saves students money by giving options for courses with low or no cost textbooks. Truly fulfilling the promise of equitable and affordable education. 

Through guided workshops, research support, and community discussions, participants learn how to locate, evaluate, adapt, and potentially create free, openly licensed course materials to help reduce textbook costs and improve access for students. 
 
The process is not simply about replacing a textbook. It is about helping faculty rethink how learning materials can better serve students while building a roadmap that others across campus can follow. 

“We wanted to create something that helped faculty really explore the OER landscape in an organized way,” Megan Zara, OER Librarian, said. “At the end of the process, participants create a landscape brief that explains what they found, what worked, what did not, and what they would recommend moving forward. That way, the next person is not starting from scratch.” 

The landscape briefs, which will be published openly, allow future faculty members to benefit from the work already completed by previous participants. According to Zara, the project is designed to support long-term collaboration and the sharing of knowledge across disciplines. 

A Structured Journey for Faculty 

Dr. Ignacio Ruiz-Pérez, a professor of Spanish in the Department of Modern Languages, shared that he used the grant to continue developing materials for his advanced Spanish composition courses. Working alongside students and with support from UTA Libraries, he has been refining lessons and exercises that better reflect how his courses have evolved over time. 

“The process helped us detect what was outside and what to implement,” Ruiz-Pérez said. “Something I really appreciated was learning that OER is not only content. Exercises and materials online can also be part of OER and can be reused in different ways.” 

He credited the Libraries team for helping guide faculty through what can initially feel like an overwhelming process. 

“I think it is important that the Libraries keep these initiatives,” Ruiz-Pérez said. “The patience, support, and structure were incredibly valuable.” 

That support system became a recurring theme among faculty participants. 

Dr. Lori Ramirez, Clinical Assistant Professor, who focused her project on leadership courses, shared that the OER program helped her stop spending countless hours searching independently for affordable course materials that did not exist in one place. 

“What we found was there was not one textbook that covered exactly what I needed,” Ramirez said. “But through this process, I was able to compile resources together for students instead of relying on one expensive book.” 

Ramirez stated that the collaborative environment created by the mini-grant made a meaningful difference. 

“As faculty, even though we are surrounded by other faculty members, teaching can still feel like a lonely journey,” she said. “This was a structured journey where we worked through the process together, and that made a huge impact.” 

 
Supporting Student Success Beyond Affordability 
 

The program also introduced participants to resources and tools many had not previously explored. 

Hui Huang, Social Work Associate Professor, noted that the training sessions and organizational tools provided through the grant gave her team a clearer path forward as they developed materials for a graduate-level social work research course. 

“We care deeply about equity and accessibility in social work,” Huang said. “This project aligned very well with our professional values. Before this, we did not always know where to look for these resources. The guidance and organization helped us build a roadmap.” 

Huang added that working collaboratively with multiple instructors strengthened the process because faculty members could compare experiences, discuss student feedback, and evaluate materials together. 

The impact of OER extends far beyond affordability alone. 

Brianna Branscomb, Research Success Coordinator, who participated in the project while serving as coordinator for the CARES Grant, shared that the experience reinforced the idea that accessible learning materials can directly affect student success. 

“Lowering the cost of course materials make college more feasible and accessible for everybody,” Branscomb said. “A lot of students are already balancing work, bills, and school. Even removing the cost of one textbook can make a real difference.” 

Branscomb also noted that adaptable, customizable materials allow faculty to create content that feels more relevant and personal to students. 
 
The impact of OER also extends beyond affordability and into representation and connection within the classroom. 

“I learned not just about the free aspect of OER, but the ripple effects it can have across campus and in the classroom,” Yuliana Nguyen, Outreach & Open Education Manager, said. “Students deserve to see materials and case studies that reflect their own experiences and communities.” 

Nguyen said the experience helped deepen her understanding of how adaptable and customizable educational materials can help faculty create more meaningful classroom experiences for students. 

Building Resources for the Future 

That flexibility stood out to Lilia Kudelia, Visual Resources Curator, as well. 

Kudelia used the grant experience to improve a special topics seminar focused on contemporary art and archives. Through the program, Kudelia discovered additional open-access materials, multilingual resources, and digital tools that enhanced both her course development and her students’ digital literacy skills. 

“Very motivating,” Kudelia said when describing her experience with OER. “There was a lot of information at first, but through the resources I discovered, I felt motivated to continue exploring further.” 

The initiative reflects UTA Libraries' broader commitment to supporting student success through affordability, innovation, and collaboration. According to UTA Libraries, OER initiatives have already helped students save millions of dollars on course materials over the last several years.  

For the faculty and staff involved in the Open Education Research and Planning Mini Grant, however, the value goes beyond numbers. 

The program created a space where educators could learn together, share ideas, and build resources that will continue helping future instructors and students long after the grant cycle ends. 

“It has been a wonderful experience,” Zara said. “People trusted the process, engaged with the work, and shared feedback that will help others moving forward. That is what open education is really about.” 

For more information visit the Open Educational Research and Planning Mini-Grant website.