Open Educational Resources (OER): FAIR Fund

The Free and Accessible Instructional Resources Fund is available to provide teaching faculty with financial support of up to $1200 to enhance their courses through the integration of Open Educational Resources (OER) or Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) materials. Specifically, the funding is intended to assist faculty in hiring a student research assistant who can contribute to the development, adaptation, or implementation of OER/ZTC content within their course curriculum.

Funding is made possible through CBU’s Provost and is administered through collaboration with the Centre for Teaching & Learning and the Library and aims to reduce student costs, improve access to learning materials, and foster innovative teaching practices. Faculty are encouraged to use this opportunity to explore creative ways to incorporate open resources and to collaborate with students in meaningful academic work.

Applications will be on a rolling basis throughout the year with deadlines: Feb 17, May 28, July 7 and October 15 ( 2026). 

Below are examples of how funding can be used. In all cases, the assumption is that funds will go to student researchers. You can view Finance's Student Research Assistant Policy here. 

•  Create Digital Teaching Resources: Funds can support the development and integration of digital tools that offer multiple means of representation, helping educators present content in diverse formats to meet varied learner needs. Examples: Engagement Activities such as practice quizzes and flashcards (H5P) for an OER-based course. Configuring grade passback from pressbook to Moodle, and/or  Testing digital tools (e.g., Quizlet, Google Forms).
• Build Accessible Formats: Providing materials in multiple formats (PDF, HTML, audio). Ensuring documents are screen-reader friendly (e.g., proper heading structure, alt text for images). 

                   Caption and Transcribe Adding captions to videos and providing transcripts for audio content. 

                   Design for Universal Access:  Redesigning using high-contrast colors, readable fonts, and avoiding cluttered layouts. Ensuring  interactive content (quizzes, simulations) are keyboard-navigable.

• Adopt or Adapt OER Materials:  Modifying an open textbooks to better suit your course needs. Editing or reorganizing content to align with course outcomes. Adding local or discipline-specific examples and / or chapters. 
• Redesign Courses to be ZTC Redesigns a course to eliminate all textbook costs Examples Identifying and integrating free resources (articles, videos, open textbooks). Develop lecture notes, slide decks, or worksheets and publish them under a Creative Commons license. Record short video explainers or tutorials and upload them to YouTube or institutional repositories.
• Review Review an OER textbook for clarity, accessibility, and engagement. Accessibility + UDL Completing a structured review rubric. Suggesting improvements or identifying gaps
• Create an OER. CBU continues to support development of OER in subjects where there are none created or suitable for a course. 

To Apply please fill out this form 

Conditions : Material must prioritize institutional platforms (Moodle, pressbooks). Other platform requests must be included in your proposal with justification as to why existing platforms cannot support the project.  

Successful applicants must complete a mid project check in, and projects should be completed within 12 months of receiving awards.  A final report template is available below. 

Multi-phase projects will be considered; however, your proposal must fit within the defined phase and be completed within 12 months including the completion of the Final Report. Once this phase is successfully completed, future phases may be eligible to apply for additional funding. 

Funds Use : Applicants must demonstrate how the funds will enhance student access—either by reducing course costs through OER/ZTC materials or by improving accessibility using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles.

The Council of Atlantic Academic Libraries offers an annual grant to support creation / modification of OER in Atlantic Canada. Grants range from $1000 - $7000. 

Find Information and to Apply : https://atlanticoer-relatlantique.ca/grants/