March 3, 2015
Submit proposals now for Open/Alternative Textbook Initiative
Submitted by Sarah McGreer Hoyt
K-State Libraries announce a call for proposals for the Open/Alternative Textbook Initiative. Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. Friday, March 27.
Multiple awards of $2,000-$5,000 will be given to K-State faculty who develop open or alternative textbooks for their courses. Proposals are accepted from both individual faculty and from teams that teach several sections of the same course.
Successful proposals may involve the use of a range of resources across different media or the adoption and customization of an existing open access textbook. Applicants will not necessarily create an entire textbook, but rather an innovative set of learning resources, which eliminate traditional textbook costs.
The initiative was initially made possible through funding from Student Centered Tuition Enhancement, or SCTE, funds with supplemental allocations provided by K-State Libraries. In fall 2014, the offices of the provost and president committed funds to the initiative for two years.
Proposal requirements, submission and selection criteria, and examples of open texts already in use are available at the K-State Libraries website. Awards will be announced by approximately April 24 for the 2015-2016 academic year.
Questions about the initiative may be directed to Brian Lindshield, associate professor, human nutrition; Andy Bennett, department head and professor of mathematics; or Beth Turtle, associate professor, K-State Libraries.