Partnership for Affordable Learning Materials (PALM)

Funds are available to support Affordable Learning projects in awards up to $10,000. Applications accepted through March 3, 2023. Review proposal elements and selection criteria.

The Libraries at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities & University of Minnesota Duluth are establishing an ongoing program to incentivize Affordable Learning course revisions through the adoption of openly-licensed instructional resources and Libraries materials in place of traditional commercial textbooks.

• This program will involve training and discussion in a faculty cohort with the expectation that instructors revise their syllabi to design and teach a course in which required materials cost students less than $40, with a strong preference for courses that are cost-free.
• Libraries professionals are available to assist in the selection of Libraries-licensed materials, existing Open Educational Resources (OER) material, and the creation of new OER objects.
• Priority will be given to applications involving high enrollment courses. All current faculty and instructors teaching courses at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and Duluth campuses are invited to apply.

Before applying, interested parties are strongly encouraged to review the Open Educational Resources & Affordable Learning guide and schedule a consultation with Micah Gjeltema, Open Education & Affordable Content Librarian. 

Applications should be sent to lib-palm@umn.edu

Individual Grant Categories

Grants will be paid as university funds rather than personal income to reduce taxation and maximize funding impact. Funds will be disbursed in two installments, once upon commitment and once upon project completion.

Adoption: The instructor replaces a commercial textbook with an existing OER textbook and/or compiles a Reading List using Libraries materials to teach a course requiring <$40 of material costs for students, with a strong preference for courses that are cost-free. Award up to $1,000.

Adaptation: The instructor updates and augments an existing OER textbook to tailor it to UMN courses and learning objectives. The final product is distributed with a Creative Commons license. The instructor uses this adapted text and optional Libraries materials to teach a course with no required material costs for students. Award up to $2,500.

Creation: The instructor develops a new and novel textbook tailored to UMN courses and learning objectives. The final product is distributed with a Creative Commons license. The instructor uses this newly created text and optional Libraries materials to teach a course with no required material costs for students. Award up to $5,000.

Departmental Grant Categories

Departmental Grants apply to projects impacting three or more course sections. Awards go to the individuals responsible for the project as university funds.

Adoption: The department replaces a commercial textbook with an existing OER textbook and/or compiles a Reading List using Libraries materials to teach a course requiring <$40 of material costs for students, with a strong preference for courses that are cost-free. Award up to $3,000.

Adaptation: The department updates and augments an existing OER textbook to tailor it to UMN courses and learning objectives. The final product is distributed with a Creative Commons license. The department uses this adapted text and optional Libraries materials to teach multiple courses with no required material costs for students. Award up to $5,000.

Creation: The department develops a new and novel textbook tailored to UMN courses and learning objectives. The final product is distributed with a Creative Commons license. The department uses this newly created text and optional Libraries materials to teach multiple courses with no required material costs for students. Award up to $10,000.