Faculty across the University of Nevada, Reno have several opportunities this spring to explore, adopt and help shape the growing ecosystem of open educational resources (OER). Whether they are interested in experimenting with new instructional materials, redesigning a course around openly licensed content, gaining institutional support for OER innovation, or connecting with colleagues statewide, this semester offers multiple entry points tailored to a range of teaching and disciplinary needs.

As many instructors know, the rising cost of commercial textbooks and digital access fees continues to create barriers that affect students’ academic progress and well‑being. In a 2023 University Libraries study, students identified access to free and low‑cost textbooks as one of the most important services supporting their success. The Associated Students of the University of Nevada (ASUN) and the University Faculty Senate have both passed resolutions affirming the importance of OER in promoting equitable access to learning materials. These combined efforts reflect a growing commitment—campus‑wide and statewide—to reducing cost burdens while improving the adaptability and pedagogical alignment of course resources.

Open Educational Resources Professional Development Grant

All University faculty members teaching a course in the 2026–27 academic year are encouraged to apply for the next round of the Open Educational Resources Professional Development Grant Program. This competitive program provides awards ranging from $1,500 to $4,500 to support the transition from traditional commercial textbooks to high‑quality OER.

Faculty may apply for the grant through Friday, Feb. 27. Applications are evaluated based on the number of students served, the strength and clarity of the proposal, the likelihood of OER adoption in future course iterations, and the availability of accessible and appropriate materials.

Grant recipients will participate in asynchronous training designed to help instructors thoughtfully redesign a course around OER. Participants will then adapt one course for implementation during the 2026–27 academic year, gaining hands‑on experience with open licensing, content evaluation, and best practices for integrating OER into instruction at an R1 institution.

Explore OER with Sylla

Along wth the OER grant, faculty can also use Sylla, a new tool that makes it easier than ever to explore potential OER for your classes. Sylla allows faculty to search for openly licensed materials using course descriptions, learning outcomes, or an existing textbook as a starting point. Faculty can just upload their syllabus and let Sylla do the rest of the work (don’t worry – it doesn’t keep them!) The tool identifies relevant OER and related materials, streamlining the discovery process that can otherwise feel time‑consuming or overwhelming. Sylla is open to all faculty, regardless of whether they apply for the OER grant, and can be a helpful starting point for instructors curious about what high‑quality alternatives already exist in their field.

Register for the ExplOER Nevada Symposium

Faculty interested in learning more about OER — from pedagogy to statewide initiatives — are invited to register for ExplOER Nevada, a free, virtual symposium taking place Friday, March 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The symposium brings together educators from across Nevada's higher education institutions and is open to anyone interested in open education. This year’s theme is Reimaging Learning Beyond the Textbook.

This year’s program will feature presentations from faculty at both UNR and UNLV who have successfully implemented OER in their courses, sharing practical strategies, challenges, and measurable impacts on student learning. The event will also include a keynote address from Karen Cangialosi, professor emeritus at Keene State University and a nationally recognized open education leader. Cangialosi co‑founded the RIOS Institute and has been deeply involved in regional and national OER networks, leading major initiatives that expanded OER adoption in STEM fields and across institutional curricula.