OER/ZTC Certificate

Affiliated with UAA? Enroll yourself and get started!

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Affiliated with APU? Contact D'Arcy Hutchings (dlhutchings@alaska.edu) to enroll.

Faculty who are aware of open educational resources (OER) and OER initiatives like UAA Textbook Affordability are more likely to make the switch from commercial materials to OER or other zero-cost course materials (or ZTC, the acronym for "zero textbook cost") (Spilovoy, et al.). The goal of this Certificate program is to increase awareness of OER/ZTC and ensure faculty have the essential knowledge needed to successfully transition courses to OER/ZTC -- all with the smallest time commitment and maximum flexibility possible -- in an effort to increase the number of ZTC courses at UAA and APU. You can preview program content on the Curriculum tab.

You may be eligible to receive a $300 award for successful completion of the OER/ZTC Certificate program. See more information below.

This program was designed for faculty of all ranks, types, and disciplines who teach one or more courses at UAA or APU. That said, UAA and APU staff and faculty who do not teach may find value in completing the program, particularly if they provide any support to teaching faculty in the areas of textbook selection, creation of course materials, course design, etc.

Everyone who completes the Certificate program will receive recognition for completion (e.g., digital or print certificate of completion; letter of recognition; name listed on this website). However, to be eligible for the $300 award upon completion, you must be:

• Tenure-track, tenured, or non-tenure-track faculty; or a pre-approved staff member or adjunct faculty member **
• A current employee at UAA (any campus) or APU when you complete the certificate and when the award is distributed through payroll (may be up to 6-8 weeks after official completion date; if you will be off contract at the time of payment but have a contract signed for the following semester, you will still receive payment) AND
• Someone who has not already received compensation for completion of the Textbook Affordability Fellows (formerly Textbook Transformation Fellows) intensive at UAA

Funding for a high but limited number of certificates is available for FY 2023-2024. We anticipate being able to fund everyone eligible. Eligible participants must successfully complete the program by the deadline for payment to be guaranteed. Additional funding may or may not be available in future years.

** In circumstances where a staff member or adjunct faculty member plays an influential role in course materials selection or development, they may also be considered for a funded award for Certificate completion. Contact D'Arcy Hutchings for consideration.

You can complete the Certificate program at any time.

If you wish to receive payment (see eligibility restrictions above), the Certificate program must be successfully completed by May 20, 2024. Funding for a limited number of certificates is available for FY 2023-2024. We anticipate being able to fund everyone eligible. Eligible participants must successfully complete the program by the deadline for payment to be guaranteed. Additional funding may or may not be available in future years.

We strongly recommend completing the Certificate requirements well in advance of the deadline in case any revisions to the submissions are deemed necessary.

This program was developed by UAA Textbook Affordability co-chairs D'Arcy Hutchings (Associate Professor, Library) and Dr. Veronica Howard (Associate Professor, Psychology) with assistance from Zoe Dietz (student employee). It is managed by D'Arcy Hutchings. This work complements the Alaska Open Education Initiative, a UAA Textbook Affordability project funded by U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). The core structure of this program was inspired by the UAA Online Teaching Certificate program by Kathryn Schild.

Funding for the Certificate awards is provided by the UAA/APU Consortium Library using funds earmarked for textbook affordability efforts.

This page and the OER/ZTC Certificate program curriculum/Blackboard shell is © 2021 by D'Arcy Hutchings and Veronica Howard and is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0, except where otherwise noted.