For 2024, M.O.S.T. is seeking proposals for two grant programs. Learn more below. 
 

Faculty OER Grant Program
The Maryland Open Source Textbook (M.O.S.T.) initiative is seeking proposals for its Faculty OER Grant Program, which supports faculty efforts to increase access, affordability, and achievement for students at Marylands postsecondary institutions through the incorporation of open educational resources (OER) into teaching practice.

Available grants in 2024:

• Adopt/Adapt OER ($1,000 grant + Participation in the Lumen Circles Community of Practice)
• Create/Revise and Publish OER ($2,000 grant + Participation in the Rebus Textbook Success Program)
• OLI STEM Courseware Grant - Use & Evaluate Track ($1,500 grant + Participation in the NSF-Funded Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative (OLI) STEM Courseware Project) NOTE: Available for 2-year colleges only
• OLI STEM Courseware Grant - Use & Improve Track ($5,000 grant + Participation in the NSF-Funded Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative (OLI) STEM Courseware Project) NOTE: Available for 2-year colleges only

Institutional OER Grant Program
The Maryland Open Source Textbook (M.O.S.T.) initiative is seeking proposals for the Institutional OER Grant Program, which supports strategic institutional efforts to increase access, affordability, and achievement for students at Marylands postsecondary institutions through more systemic incorporation of open educational resources (OER) into teaching practice.

For 2024, selected institutions will be awarded $20,000 grants to support significant advances in OER adoption, scaling, and sustainability in support of student success. In addition, grantees will receive strategic planning and implementation support for their projects from M.O.S.T. in the form of consultations and regular monthly check-ins.

****Note: All institutional grants and faculty grants awarded to UMBC must be routed to the Office of Sponsored Programs prior to submission. Contact your unit's business manager or proposal development staff to discuss your application.

CAHSS faculty can request assistance from CARAT (Creative Achievement and Research Administration Team): https://carat.umbc.edu/request-assistance/ 

Deadline Extended! 
All proposals must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, March 8, 2024
 

Informational Webinar
An informational webinar about the 2023 M.O.S.T. OER Grant Opportunity was held on Monday, January 22, 2024.  Watch the Recording
 

Please feel free to share this information with interested faculty and staff. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at most@usmd.edu 

Thank you for your support in increasing access, affordability, and achievement for all Maryland higher education students through open educational resources (OER).
 

For 2024, M.O.S.T. is seeking proposals for two grant programs. Learn more below. 
 

Faculty OER Grant Program
The Maryland Open Source Textbook (M.O.S.T.) initiative is seeking proposals for its Faculty OER Grant Program, which supports faculty efforts to increase access, affordability, and achievement for students at Marylands postsecondary institutions through the incorporation of open educational resources (OER) into teaching practice.

Available grants in 2024:

• Adopt/Adapt OER ($1,000 grant + Participation in the Lumen Circles Community of Practice)
• Create/Revise and Publish OER ($2,000 grant + Participation in the Rebus Textbook Success Program)
• OLI STEM Courseware Grant - Use & Evaluate Track ($1,500 grant + Participation in the NSF-Funded Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative (OLI) STEM Courseware Project) NOTE: Available for 2-year colleges only
• OLI STEM Courseware Grant - Use & Improve Track ($5,000 grant + Participation in the NSF-Funded Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative (OLI) STEM Courseware Project) NOTE: Available for 2-year colleges only

Institutional OER Grant Program
The Maryland Open Source Textbook (M.O.S.T.) initiative is seeking proposals for the Institutional OER Grant Program, which supports strategic institutional efforts to increase access, affordability, and achievement for students at Marylands postsecondary institutions through more systemic incorporation of open educational resources (OER) into teaching practice.

For 2024, selected institutions will be awarded $20,000 grants to support significant advances in OER adoption, scaling, and sustainability in support of student success. In addition, grantees will receive strategic planning and implementation support for their projects from M.O.S.T. in the form of consultations and regular monthly check-ins.
 

All proposals must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, March 1, 2024
 

Informational Webinar
An informational webinar about the 2023 M.O.S.T. OER Grant Opportunity was held on Monday, January 22, 2024.  Watch the Recording
 

Please feel free to share this information with interested faculty and staff. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at most@usmd.edu 

Thank you for your support in increasing access, affordability, and achievement for all Maryland higher education students through open educational resources (OER).
 

• A brief CV (no more than 2 pages);
• A statement (~500 words) that offers:
• A description of the OER to be created during the Institute
• A description of how the OER will be used in a Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 course
• Concrete ways that students will contribute to, or co-produce, the OER project
• How your project represents marginalized knowledges, voices, or perspectives
• Your commitment to the principles of open pedagogy
• A plan to use the OER to model open pedagogy at the participants institution

For 2024, M.O.S.T. is seeking proposals for two grant programs. Learn more below. Note that all institutional and faculty grants awarded to UMBC must be routed to the Office of Sponsored Programs prior to submission. Contact your unit's business manager or proposal development staff to discuss your application.

CAHSS faculty can request assistance from CARAT (Creative Achievement and Research Administration Team). 

Faculty OER Grant Program
The Maryland Open Source Textbook (M.O.S.T.) initiative is seeking proposals for its Faculty OER Grant Program, which supports faculty efforts to increase access, affordability, and achievement for students at Maryland’s postsecondary institutions through the incorporation of open educational resources (OER) into teaching practice.

Available grants in 2024:

• Adopt/Adapt OER ($1,000 grant + Participation in the Lumen Circles Community of Practice)
• Create/Revise and Publish OER ($2,000 grant + Participation in the Rebus Textbook Success Program)
• OLI STEM Courseware Grant - Use & Evaluate Track ($1,500 grant + Participation in the NSF-Funded Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative (OLI) STEM Courseware Project) NOTE: Available for 2-year colleges only
• OLI STEM Courseware Grant - Use & Improve Track ($5,000 grant + Participation in the NSF-Funded Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative (OLI) STEM Courseware Project) NOTE: Available for 2-year colleges only

Institutional OER Grant Program
The Maryland Open Source Textbook (M.O.S.T.) initiative is seeking proposals for the Institutional OER Grant Program, which supports strategic institutional efforts to increase access, affordability, and achievement for students at Maryland’s postsecondary institutions through more systemic incorporation of open educational resources (OER) into teaching practice.

For 2024, selected institutions will be awarded $20,000 grants to support significant advances in OER adoption, scaling, and sustainability in support of student success. In addition, grantees will receive strategic planning and implementation support for their projects from M.O.S.T. in the form of consultations and regular monthly check-ins.
 

All proposals must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, March 1, 2024
 

Informational Webinar
Join us on Monday, January 22, 2024 from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET for an Informational Webinar to learn more about the grant requirements and expectations for successful grants. We will also answer any questions about the grants at that time. Register for the Informational Webinar
 

Please feel free to share this information with interested faculty and staff. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at most@usmd.edu 

Thank you for your support in increasing access, affordability, and achievement for all Maryland higher education students through open educational resources (OER).
 

DoIT's Manager of Online Learning, Dr. Susan Biro, has been selected to serve on the Quality Matters Academic Advisory Council (QMAAC) for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2024. The Council provides guidance to and oversight of the programmatic directions and initiatives of Quality Matters.

QMAAC members represent an institution or organization's interests and viewpoint to QM; provide guidance on QM to ensure QM's long-term sustainability and success; help to review new initiatives and act in an advisory role for new projects; and disseminate QM-related information, materials, and opportunities to others. 

Biro came to UMBC in May 2019 as Coordinator, Online Learning with more than 20 years of experience in distance education, including accreditation, program management, faculty support, and online student support and retention. 

"I was introduced to Quality Matters early in my higher education career," said Biro. "QM has been an integral part of how we do the important work of supporting faculty in designing effective online and hybrid learning environments. It's an honor to have been selected and I look forward to working with my QM colleagues on initiatives and projects."

Biro currently serves as one of UMBC's QM Coordinators. She is also QM-certified as a Course Review Manager, a Peer Reviewer, and Independent Online APPQMR Facilitator.

About the QM Academic Advisory Council

Created in 2004 during the grant phase of Quality Matters, the Council has evolved in purpose and composition. The QMAAC's 15 members include representatives of QM subscriber schools, QM senior staff, and online and blended learning leaders who provide a national perspective. 

The Council is chaired by Dr. Morris Thomas, Assistant Provost for Digital and Online Learning and Director, Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Assessment at Howard University. 

Biro is one of five new members selected to serve on QMAAC. The others are Julian King, M.Ed., Instructional Designer & Quality Matters Coordinator, Center for the Advancement of Learning, University of the District of Columbia; Katherine McAlvage, Ph.D., Associate Director, Faculty Development and Support, Oregon State University; Antoinette R. Miller, Ph.D., Professor and Department Chair, Psychology, Clayton State University; and, Alicia Reed, Director of eLearning and Instructional Innovation Center, Laredo College.

About Quality Matters at UMBC

A total of 18 faculty have earned Quality Matters certification of their online or hybrid courses following rigorous peer reviews as part of the Quality Matters Impact (QMI) program. To date, more than half of the QM-certified courses in the University System of Maryland are from UMBC.

For more information about Quality Matters at UMBC, including course reviews, please contact Dr. Susan Biro (sbiro@umbc.edu).