Are you looking for a way to enhance your teaching, save your students money, and contribute to the global knowledge commons? If so, consider applying for the OpenHawks grant program at the University of Iowa.
Over the last several years, OpenHawks has funded over 60 Open Educational Resources (OER) projects across a broad range of disciplines and saved students more than $1 million to date. Read more about the OpenHawks projects that received funding in 2023-2024.
What is OpenHawks?
OpenHawks is a campuswide grant program that funds instructor efforts to replace their current textbooks with OER for enhanced student success. This program, funded by the Office of the Provost and UI Libraries, is open to any faculty member or graduate student who teaches for-credit courses and medical residencies at the university. If you are concerned about the cost or quality of your existing textbooks and would like to explore OER, this might be just the program you need. There is a range of awards, from adoption to creation, depending on the type of project you’d like to complete. OER can include textbooks, course readings, simulations, games, quizzes, and many other tools or techniques used in education.
Why use OER?
There are many benefits of using OER in your courses, such as:
- Reducing costs for students – By using OER, you can help your students save money and reduce financial barriers to education.
- Improving student learning outcomes – Studies have shown that students who use OER perform as well or better than those who use traditional textbooks and are more likely to complete their courses.
- Tailoring resources to your students’ needs – Because OER are openly licensed, you can amend them, add local examples, even involve your students in editing them.
How to apply for OpenHawks
The program offers four types of grants, ranging from $500 to $10,000, depending on the scope and scale of the OER project.
The application deadline for the 2024-2025 academic year is Friday, April 26, 2024. To apply, you need to complete an online Qualtrics application. You can find more information about the application process, eligibility criteria, and evaluation rubric on the OpenHawks website.
Need help or have questions?
If you are interested in applying for the OpenHawks grant program, or if you have any questions about OER, feel free to contact Scholarly Communications Librarian Mahrya Burnett at mahrya-burnett@uiowa.edu. Don’t miss this opportunity to join the growing movement of OER at the UI and beyond. Apply for today and make a difference in your teaching and learning!