Open and Affordable Textbook Program: AY2025-2026 Application

Please consider submitting an OAT proposal. All applications will be scored based on a rubric defined by the OAT team. 

Timeline:

• The call for proposals will close at 11:59PM on Friday, April 11, 2025.
• Awards will be announced by Friday, May 9, 2025.
• Awards will be distributed during the semester of implementation.

Available Awards:

• Individual Instructor Awards: eight $1,000 awards for undergraduate and graduate courses
• Course Coordinator Awards: three $3,000 award for courses managed by course coordinators

Eligibility:

• Individual Instructor Award: applicant must be teaching a course with a textbook requirement. 
• Course Coordinator Award: applicant must be a coordinator for a course that has a textbook requirement, with at least six sections using the same redesigned syllabus. 

Application Details Requirements:

• Submitter and basic contact information
• Course number and title (if multiple, list all)
• Sections offered per semester
• Planned implementation semester
• Current textbook use in the curriculum and cost
• Proposed open textbook or affordable materials (full citation)
• Provide copies of the original and revised course syllabus
• What do you hope to achieve with this award? How will you assess the impact on student learning? What challenges do you anticipate? How do you plan to overcome these challenges? 
• What library or other support will you require?

AI Integration in OER (Optional)

Proposals may include the use of AI to adapt OER in ways that improve learning experiences, such as:

• Adaptive Learning Platforms: Integrating AI-driven systems that personalize content delivery.
• AI-Powered Content Enhancement: Using AI tools to refine, structure, or add interactivity to existing OER.
• AI-Assisted Translations: Leveraging AI for multilingual accessibility to increase inclusivity.

Applicants considering AI should outline how AI will be used ethically and effectively while maintaining academic integrity.

Individual Instructor and Course Coordinator awards will be given to applicants on the basis of:

• Quality of open and affordable materials
• Pedagogical innovation
• Preparedness for implementation
• Overall savings to NJIT students
• Number of students impacted
• Sustainability of the project to applicable future courses
• Six or more sections (Course Coordinator Award) 

View the Award Selection Rubric

Matched funds will be award for incorporating AI into OER project on the basis of: 

• Relevance to overall OER goals
• Innovation and creativity 
• Ethical considerations
• Feasibility and implementation 
• Impact on student learning and accessibility

View the Optional AI Award Selection Rubric 

Individual Instructor and Course Coordinator awardees will be required to submit a narrative in the form of a final report detailing challenges and accomplishment including the below items:

• Provide a copy of the original and revised syllabus that demonstrates cost savings
• Consult with a designated librarian and instructional designer for content and course design support, licensing and copyright issues, technology, pedagogical, and research assistance (if needed)
• Use the redesigned OAT course syllabus in future semesters
• Submit a final report summarizing the challenges and accomplishments experienced by adopting OER materials, impact on your teaching, impact on student performance, and any lessons learned (to be submitted within one month after the conclusion of the course)
• Share survey (provided by the OAT team) with students toward the end of each semester in which OER materials are used
• Provide a comparative measure of learning outcomes prior to and following the adoption of OER
• Participate in outreach and dissemination about OER work through this project

Please contact us if you have questions about the application process. 

John Kromer, john.kromer@njit.edu, 973-642-4397

Michelle Kudelka, michelle.kudelka@njit.edu, 973-596-8499

Ask A Librarian, askalibrarian@njit.edu, 973-596-3210

• Tuesday March 11, 12-1 pm
  • Q&A about the OAT Program application and open discussion with former award recipient Matthew Bandelt.
  • Register here
  • Recording available: Here
  • Presentation slides available: Here
• Monday March 24, 12-1 pm 
  • Q&A about the OAT Program application and open discussion with former award recipient Maria Stanko.
  • Register here 
• Friday March 28, 12-1 pm
  • Workshop for OAT Program application process with project leads. No matter where you are in the application process, drop in for help. 
  • Register here