Affordable Course Materials Summer Fellows Program

The Affordable Course Materials Conversion Summer Fellows Program is an incentive program designed to encourage Baylor University faculty to reduce the educational costs for their students by using library content, open educational resources (OER), or other low- or zero-cost materials. In particular, it is intended to encourage instructor experimentation in high-quality low- and no-cost learning materials for their students, especially through the use of OER. 

A Baylor University education is not an inexpensive undertaking. At least half of our students receive some sort of financial aid, and the segment of the student population that is considered Pell-Grant eligible typically hovers around 20% each year. As an institution, we have taken steps to reduce the financial pressures on our economically vulnerable students including renewed efforts to increase our scholarship endowments and establishing food pantries and other programs to ensure our students have ready access to sufficient amounts of healthy foods. Another source of financial stress highlighted as a priority concern is the rising cost of textbooks and other required course materials. 

Federal studies have indicated that textbook prices increase at a rate faster than other educational expenses (see more at the Bureau of Labor Statistics - https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2016/college-tuition-and-fees-increase-63-percent-since-january-2006.htm). Further, numerous studies by the Student Public Interest Research Groups have demonstrated how burgeoning textbook costs reduce affordability and access to essential materials for students, thereby diminishing their opportunities for academic growth and success. (See Recommendations to Faculty at https://studentpirgs.org/resources/textbook-faculty-recommendations/) 

Ultimately, our goal is to assist faculty in locating low- or no-cost resources for their required course materials by leveraging our resources and expertise strategically. One essential element that we consider a top priority is an appropriate utilization of open educational resources (OER) where possible. For an overview of OER, please see our guide at https://researchguides.baylor.edu/OER.

Since the grant funds must be used to develop low- to zero-cost materials to support courses, potential recipients must have teaching responsibilities in credit-bearing courses at Baylor. Qualified instructors of record include:

• Full-time Baylor faculty (tenured, tenure-track, clinical, senior lecturer, or lecturer)
  • NOTE: faculty on a 12-month contract will be awarded a negotiated workload reduction instead of a cash stipend
• Part-time Baylor faculty* 
• Graduate Student Teachers of Record (ToR)*

*Part-time faculty and graduate student applicants will need to provide proof of support from the appropriate department chair or program coordinator with administrative oversight of the course indicated in the proposed conversion. 

To ensure the proposed project aligns with the overall strategic goals and objectives of the aspirant Fellow's School or College, every applicant must obtain their Dean's approval and signature before submitting the application form to the Library.

To be considered for this grant, proposals must meet the following criteria:

• Applicants may only submit one (1) proposal per program cycle
• The applicant(s) agree to the expectations noted for the award level when selected.

To encourage the adaptation and creation of resources that remain free, accessible, and adaptable for subsequent users, the grant may NOT be used for:

• The adaptation or creation of a resource for commercial publication. 
• The adaptation or creation of open educational resources without the accompaniment of a Creative Commons license (where applicable). 
• The release of an open educational resource under a Creative Commons license that includes a "No Derivatives" provision (where applicable).
  • More information about Creative Commons licenses is available in our OER guide at https://researchguides.baylor.edu/OER/Overview