Affordable Content Grants: OER@UNO

Criss Library is excited to announce the next round of Affordable Content Grants @ UNO. This is a great opportunity to undertake a project that will help students while also allowing for increased customization of teaching materials for your course or courses. Since 2020, the program has awarded more than 100 grants to UNO faculty and instructors for projects which have collectively saved UNO students over $5 million, while decreasing drop-fail-withdrawal rates and improving student performance.

You can read about faculty experiences with these grants via past Textbook Mavericks honorees:

• The Faculty of the Grace Abbott School of Social Work
• Jaci Lindburg, Assistant Vice President for IT Strategy and Learning Technology at University of Nebraska System
• Cameron Logsdon, Stephanie Larsen, and Abbie Syrek, School of Communication
• Greg Morin, Angelika Stout, and the lecturers of Marketing 3200: Business Communications.

Read more about the student success impact of the Affordable Content Grants and other Open Nebraska programs here: Learn What Open Nebraska Does for Students.

Fall Deadline: Friday, Oct. 16 2026

Applications are now available in the NuRamp system! To apply, log in to the system using your NetID. You can find the “Open Internal Competitions” list: Affordable Content Grants: OER@UNO – Fall 2025. Applicants who are interested in viewing the full grant rubric can visit our OER Research Guide. Grant funds will vary based on the scope of the project with $1,500 - $3,000 for single section conversions and a maximum of $12,000 for large-scale, multi-section course conversions involving multiple faculty. Grant recipients will be notified by Friday, Oct. 30, 2026.

Who Can Apply?

Full or part-time faculty who are interested in converting their courses from traditionally published materials to low or no-cost materials are eligible to apply. We continue to encourage faculty who are interested in converting their general education curriculum to apply as well.

Why is Affordable Content Important?

In addition to the financial benefits for students, affordable content encourages a level playing field in which all students have access to materials on the first day of class. There is also research that indicates OER can help with retention and GPA, while increasing opportunities for creative pedagogical approaches.

What is Affordable Content?

Several options are available to faculty. Most of our grants are for zero-textbook-cost projects, meaning the transition of a course into one with no added materials costs for students. Some of our grants are awarded to projects which propose adopting what the Open Nebraska initiative classifies as a low-cost course, meaning the total cost of materials will be reduced to less than $40. We have occasionally awarded grants to proposals in which materials are adopted which exceed that figure, but only when the new materials still represent a substantial reduction in cost.

Who Do I Contact for More Information?

Stephen Craig Finlay is our campus OER Coordinator and would be happy to meet or answer questions by email, or phone (402.554.3211) or appointment.

About Criss Library

The Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library fulfills the UNO mission through dynamic services, highly qualified and adaptive personnel, unique and extensive collections, and accessible learning spaces and environments. With its location on UNO’s Dodge Campus, Criss Library provides UNO students, faculty and staff, and the Omaha community with the resources and materials needed to excel academically and professionally.