Northern Michigan University has created an open educational resource (OER) Faculty Learning Community representing a broad range of academic departments as part of a two-year pilot program to increase OER use across campus and provide related professional development opportunities.
The nine faculty members will be guided in adopting and adapting OER materials for their courses. SISU: The Innovation Institute is funding the pilot, which aligns with the administration's commitment to make NMU more accessible.
“The open education resource movement is another way that faculty can remove barriers and support students,” said Leslie Warren, interim associate provost and dean of Library and Instructional Support. “Olson Library and the Center for Teaching and Learning are committed to working with NMU faculty to reduce textbook costs and make higher education more affordable. I'm proud of the OER groundwork that is being laid at NMU. Our faculty, librarians and instructional design staff are working hard to expand OER's availability to students, bridging equity gaps and helping more students complete their degrees.”
The nine members of the 2023-2024 OER Faculty Learning Community cohort, selected from a competitive application pool, are:
- Jon Barch, Psychological Science
- Yan Ciupak, Sociology and Anthropology
- Nancy Gold, English
- Mlado Ivanovic, Philosophy
- Kaycee Jacobson, Nursing
- Kathryn Johnson, History
- Lanae Joubert, Nutrition/Health and Human Performance
- Z.Z. Lehmberg, English
- Kathryn Newton, Chemistry
NMU's OER Working Group is led by the Lydia M. Olson Library and Center for Teaching and Learning, with faculty, staff and student representatives. If interested in serving in this group, please contact Emera Bridger Wilson (ebridger@nmu.edu).