The Affordable and Open Educational Resources (AOER) Committee proudly announces the recipients of the 2024-25 OER Course Conversion and Renewal Grants. Funded by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, this program helps educators adopt Open Educational Resources (OER), increasing accessibility and reducing costs for students.

This year, faculty from the College of Natural and Health Sciences earned all awards, which provide $1,250 or $2,500 to support converting traditional course materials to OER or enhancing existing OER-based courses. Since the program began, 88 faculty members have participated, transforming 79 courses. Impressively, 47 recipients—over half—are from the College of Natural and Health Sciences.

2024-25 Grant Recipients:

Individual Awards:
- Amy Bekins (Biological Sciences): BIO 100 Exploring Biology  
- Abbie Ferris, Ph.D., (Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Dietetics): SES 220 Anatomical Kinesiology  
- Mariana Lazarova, Ph.D., (Physics and Astronomy): AST 109 The Cosmos  

Team Awards:
- Kristin Kang, Ph.D., Nancy Geisendorfer, M.A., and Robert Powers, Ed.D., (Mathematical Sciences): STAT 150 Introduction to Statistical Analysis  
- Ramesh Kumar Muralimanohar and Don Finan, Ph.D., (Communication Sciences and Disorders): CSD 555 Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of Communication  

OER are free educational materials that eliminate textbook costs, reducing financial barriers for students. In the 2023-24 school year, OER usage at UNC saved students nearly $482,000, according to AOER Committee data. Additionally, research shows that courses using OER at UNC have higher passing and completion rates than those using traditional materials.

The AOER Committee congratulates this year’s grant recipients for their dedication to improving affordability and equity in education at UNC. Their efforts advance student success and foster a more accessible learning environment.