Affordable Course Materials Initiative (ACMI)

The long-term goal of the stipend program is to cultivate and support the development of low-cost and zero-cost courses and the faculty who implement, adapt and develop, open educational resources in support of student learning. The program encourages the broad sharing of these resources to support Oakland University’s mission of student success and requires recipients to openly license any instructional material created or adapted using program funds.
 

Applicants are expected to convert one course (section) and are encouraged to work as a team. Course conversion projects require reworking the syllabus, locating and evaluating new materials, and often the creation of new slides and quizzes. The fabulous team of instructional designers in eLis are available to assist with integrating content into Moodle and creating new interactive materials.

**Applicants are encouraged to review the OER Guide and schedule an appointment to discuss their project before submitting an application. (Please contact Julia Rodriguez, ACMI Team Lead ~ juliar@oakland.edu). The number of stipends awarded will be determined by the number and type of qualified applications received. 

Stipend Categories:

• Adoption/Adaptation - $1,000 -  Replace required traditional textbooks and course materials by adopting and adapting an existing open textbook or OER course component. (Use of low-cost homework system paired with the open textbook is permitted. *Final cost to students must be less than $50.)
• Adoption/Adaptation with DEI/Social Justice Focus- $1,500 - Using a DEI or Social Justice Rubric to guide redesign of course to replace required traditional textbook and course materials by adopting and adapting an existing open textbook or OER course components. (Use of low-cost homework system paired with the open textbook is permitted. *Final cost to students must be less than $50.)
• Creation - $1,500 - $3,000 - Develop openly licensed materials. Create OER materials or open textbook for a current course to replace required costly course materials. (Total stipend amount determined by the scope of the project.)
• Revision/Innovation No-cost - $800 -  Replace a traditional textbook with articles, book excerpts, audio, or video that are licensed through University Libraries are available online at no cost, through open access or free in the public domain.  
• Revision/Innovation Low-cost - $500 - Replace a traditional textbook with articles, book excerpts, audio, or video available online at low-cost. (*Final cost to students must be less than $50.).
• Department/Program stipend to develop shared materials across sections -$TBD - Conversion of a multi-section course proposed by a program or group of faculty developing materials together.  (This type of award would be a payment directly to the program or department to cover the cost for a faculty course release or other types of expense.)

Faculty Eligibility

• All Oakland University faculty and instructors teaching a course in Fall 2024 or Winter 2025 are eligible to apply. 
• Faculty can apply as a team. Only one faculty leader should complete the application.   
• Team applications should include at least one instructor who has taught the course previously and one instructor who is the instructor of record for the course the semester the new material will be implemented.  
• Faculty previously receiving a stipend may re-apply for a new course or as part of a team. However, new applicants may be given preference. 

Course Information

• Projects are for courses using course materials costing more than $50, to convert courses to low or no-cost courses. 
• New courses may be considered as eligible. Contact ACMI coordinator directly before applying.  

Program Requirements: 

1. All stipend recipients must attend an orientation workshop and submit a work plan and timeline by the beginning of Summer I. 
2. An outcomes report must be submitted prior to the end of the first semester after implementation in the proposed course. 
3. Recipients are expected to mark their course in Banner with the appropriate cost designation each time the course is offered.
4. Recipients will be expected to share their experiences with OU colleagues either through department meeting presentations, participation in workshops, or publication. 
5. Recipients must openly license any instructional material created or adapted with a Creative Commons license and be willing to share it in an open education repository; such as OER Commons.

Application Evaluation Criteria

1. Feasibility of the applicant implementing the project within the project’s timeframe.
2. Project’s benefit for student learning. 
3. A plan for assessing the new content aligned to course outcomes.
4. Potential for the project to have a high impact on students.