OER Workforce Development & Collaborator Grant

The Open Educational Resources (OER) Grant Program administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is a competitive state-funded initiative intended to support the adoption, modification, redesign, and development of courses that use only open educational resources (OER). The authority for the program is established through the General Appropriations Act, House Bill 1, Article III, Section 44, 88th Legislative Session Regular Session, with implementing regulations codified in Texas Administrative Code Title 19, Part 1, Sections 4.230 through 4.238. The 2025-2027 funding cycle under RFA 02061 specifically targets Workforce Education Course Manual (WECM) courses that support high-demand workforce fields in Texas. The grant program is administered by the Division of Digital Learning within THECB and is designed to reduce educational costs for students while expanding access to high-quality openly licensed instructional materials. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to encourage Texas public institutions of higher education to create or substantially improve openly accessible course materials that fully replace commercial textbooks and paid instructional content. Eligible projects must involve complete OER-based courses using materials that are either in the public domain or distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution license. The program prioritizes projects supporting Community College Finance Program FY26-FY27 High-Demand Fields and projects that contribute to Z-degree pathways in which students can complete academic programs without textbook costs. Priority consideration is also provided to specific workforce education courses in respiratory therapy and welding disciplines, including Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Intermediate Pipe Welding, Advanced Pipe Welding, and related fabrication and welding curriculum areas. Applicants proposing full course curricula with comprehensive instructional materials may also receive additional evaluation points during the review process. THECB expects to award two types of grants under this opportunity. Development Grants provide up to 50000 dollars to support the development or substantial revision of OER for one or more eligible courses. Applicants requesting technical assistance through subcontracting or subawards may receive up to an additional 40000 dollars, for a total potential award of 90000 dollars. Development and Collaborator Grants provide up to 75000 dollars and require cross-institutional collaboration involving at least one additional Texas public institution of higher education serving as collaborators and peer reviewers. These collaborative projects may also request up to an additional 40000 dollars for technical assistance support, resulting in a maximum possible award of 115000 dollars. THECB anticipates awarding approximately six Development Grants or four Development and Collaborator Grants depending on available appropriations and evaluation outcomes. The grant period begins upon execution of the Notice of Grant Award or August 1, 2025, whichever occurs later, and concludes on August 31, 2027. Grant funds may be used for instructional design, faculty stipends above standard salary, student worker support, project management, professional development, editorial guidance, digital media production, software development, and content digitization directly related to OER course development. Funds may also support subcontracting and technical assistance services associated with content production. However, the RFA prohibits the use of funds for indirect costs, foreign travel, alcohol, food and beverages, real property, costs incurred before the grant period, and equipment expenses exceeding twenty percent of the total project budget. OER Grant Program funds also may not be used to supplant existing institutional funding or duplicate projects previously funded through earlier state OER or GEER grant programs. Institutions receiving awards are required to post completed materials in the state OERTX repository and ensure that all resources remain freely available to students other than optional printing costs. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is restricted to Texas public institutions of higher education as defined by Texas Education Code Section 61.003(8). Eligible entities include public technical institutes, public junior colleges, public senior colleges and universities, medical and dental units, and public state colleges. Collaborative applications are encouraged, but one institution must be identified as the lead applicant and fiscal entity responsible for grant administration and reporting. Institutions may submit up to two applications under the competition provided the applications do not propose development for the same course or group of courses. Applicants must demonstrate how their projects will support student learning outcomes, improve affordability, maintain accessibility compliance, incorporate effective instructional design principles, and sustain OER implementation beyond the grant period. Applications must also include plans for peer review, continuous improvement, and collection of performance metrics related to student success, cost savings, faculty adoption, and course completion outcomes. Applications were required to be submitted electronically via email to OERGP@highered.texas.gov by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on June 25, 2025. The inquiry deadline for applicant questions was June 18, 2025. A Notice of Intent to Apply was not required for participation. Applicants were required to complete several mandatory forms including the Certification of Application Information, Project Narrative, Project Work Plan, Project Budget, and Performance Measures and Outcomes forms. The project narrative was limited to five pages and required detailed responses regarding course implementation, instructional materials, accessibility planning, assessment alignment, anticipated student cost savings, peer review methodology, sustainability planning, and expected outcomes. Applicants also needed to identify the academic terms during which developed courses would be taught and provide baseline and projected data for required performance measures. Applications were reviewed competitively through an initial screening process followed by evaluation by qualified reviewers using formal scoring criteria outlined in Appendix C of the RFA. Reviewers evaluated project quality, instructional design, feasibility, sustainability, affordability impact, staffing capacity, assessment methodology, and alignment with OER program goals. Additional points were available for applications addressing designated priority courses, high-demand workforce programs, Z-degree pathways, and development of full course curricula. Award announcements were anticipated in August 2025, and successful applicants were required to complete multiple interim and final narrative and expenditure reports during the grant period. Awardees were also required to complete OER Core Elements training, post materials to the OERTX repository, maintain records for audit purposes, comply with Texas Grant Management Standards, and adhere to FERPA confidentiality and accessibility regulations. Questions regarding the funding opportunity were directed to Elizabeth Tolman at OERGP@highered.texas.gov or by phone at 512-427-6101.

Clearly quantify projected student savings and enrollment impact because reviewers heavily score affordability and scale. Emphasize sustainability beyond the grant period, alignment between learning outcomes and assessments, and strong instructional design practices. Projects supporting high-demand workforce fields, Z-degree pathways, full course curricula, and specified priority WECM courses may receive additional evaluation points. Ensure accessibility compliance, peer review processes, and measurable evaluation metrics are thoroughly documented.