University Libraries invites applications for the '21-22 Alternative Textbook Grant
This message has been approved by Devin Soper, Director of Digital Research and Scholarship at the University Libraries, for distribution to faculty and staff.
University Libraries invites applications for the Alternative Textbook Grant for upcoming courses. FSU Libraries are accepting applications for courses in Spring 2022 and Summer 2022, but encourage applications be submitted by October 1, 2021 in consideration of the October 12 FSU textbook reporting deadlines.
During FY 21-22, ten grants of $1000 each are available to instructors who are interested in adopting these or other open educational resources (OER) for their courses with no cost to students. There may be additional funding for instructors looking to create new OER, such as open textbooks, compiling notes, lab manuals, etc. If you are interested in pursuing this opportunity, please review the grant requirements and submit a short online application form. Successful applicants will enroll in an asynchronous Canvas module and receive individual consultations to assist them in implementing OERs in their courses.
FSU Libraries encourage instructors to explore open textbook or library-licensed e-book textbook alternatives during this transition to online teaching, which are always free or affordable. Students may be experiencing greater financial stress than usual at this time. These options will increase first-day access to required course materials and save students time and money during this stressful time.
The cost of college textbooks has risen at 300% the rate of inflation since 1978, with a 90% cost increase over the last decade alone. Students increasingly report not purchasing textbooks due to high costs, a trend which is proven to negatively impact student learning outcomes.
To help address these concerns, the Alternative Textbook Grant program seeks to support faculty in replacing commercial textbooks with openly licensed alternatives that are available at no cost to students. In addition to ensuring free access for students, these “open textbooks” also give instructors the freedom to revise and adapt content to suit the needs of their course.