Six Penn State Commonwealth Campuses recently honored faculty members for their exceptional dedication to open education through the fourth annual Open and Affordable Educational Resources (OAER) Champion Awards. The recognition celebrates educators who have significantly contributed to reducing student costs and enhancing learning by adopting, adapting, or creating open and affordable course materials.
This initiative, part of Penn State’s broader commitment to accessible education, highlights the vital role faculty play in transforming the academic experience. By replacing traditional high-cost textbooks with open educational resources (OER) or low-cost alternatives, these awardees have helped eliminate financial barriers that often hinder student success.
Campuses participating in this year’s awards include Penn State Beaver, Berks, Brandywine, DuBois, Greater Allegheny, and Schuylkill. Faculty at these locations have implemented innovative teaching methods and redesigned courses to incorporate free or low-cost materials—without compromising quality or academic rigor.
Recipients were commended not only for saving students money, but also for promoting inclusive and flexible learning environments. Their use of openly licensed resources allows for customized content tailored to course objectives and student needs, fostering greater engagement and accessibility.
The OAER Champion Awards serve as both recognition and inspiration, encouraging more faculty to consider open education strategies. As textbook prices continue to rise, the shift toward OER is gaining momentum across higher education institutions, and Penn State remains at the forefront of this movement.
By celebrating the efforts of faculty committed to affordability and equity, Penn State reinforces its mission to provide high-quality education for all. These awards reflect a growing culture of collaboration and innovation, where access to knowledge is not limited by cost, but expanded through shared resources and community-driven
efforts.
