The Undergraduate Student Government (USG), in partnership with the Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and the University Library, has launched the USG Faculty OER Leadership Award Program. This initiative aims to honor faculty members who excel in using open educational resources (OER) within their classrooms and are advocates for open course materials.
The award acknowledges faculty efforts in integrating open textbooks, free educational resources, or creating open educational materials. Three selected faculty members will receive a $500 award and be recognized at the USG Gala scheduled for the end of April.
Nominations can be made by colleagues and students for courses taught from fall 2023 to spring 2025. The deadline for submitting nominations is April 9, with awards announced by mid-April.
"We encourage you to take this opportunity to recognize faculty who have made a meaningful impact by making learning more accessible and affordable," said Karen Colley, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Rhea Ballard-Thrower, University Librarian and Dean of Libraries; Haider “Asa” Asad, Undergraduate Student Government President; and Nathan Thokkudubiyyapu, Undergraduate Student Government Director of Student Success also expressed their support for celebrating those advancing open education at UIC.