Karen Colley Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs | University Of Illinois At Chicago
The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) has announced the continuation of its Open Textbook Faculty Incentive Program, which aims to encourage faculty members to use open educational resources (OER) instead of traditional textbooks in undergraduate courses. The initiative is part of UIC’s broader effort to address student concerns regarding the rising cost of course materials.
This year, up to $20,000 will be available for UIC faculty who teach undergraduates. To participate, faculty must adopt or adapt existing OER materials or create new openly licensed content. Proposals detailing how instructors plan to implement these resources are due by February 20, 2026, with awards expected to be announced by mid-March.
According to UIC, many students experience financial challenges that can hinder their academic progress. The university notes that research indicates textbook costs can negatively affect learning outcomes and student success. By providing free electronic open education materials, UIC hopes to reduce these barriers.
“The funding for this program encourages faculty to use open educational textbooks and other open education resources as alternatives to traditional textbooks for undergraduate courses. This incentive program is part of UIC’s student success initiative and was developed in response to student concerns about the high cost of course materials,” said Karen J. Colley, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
UIC’s program offers funds directly to teaching faculty or their departments as an incentive for adopting OER in their classes. These digital materials are freely accessible and can be legally shared or modified.
To promote awareness and share experiences from previous participants, an informational session will take place at noon on November 18 in the Idea Commons at Daley Library. Attendees will learn more about OER and hear testimonials from past recipients and students about the impact of these resources on their studies. Refreshments will be provided during the event.
The Office of the Provost and the University Library sponsor this initiative. For additional details or questions about participation, individuals may contact Amina Malik, digital publishing librarian at amalik36@uic.edu.