UH Libraries OPEN Program: Advancing Affordable and Open Education
This post is part of a week-long series contributed by UH Libraries Research Services in recognition of International Open Access Week 2026.
Rising textbook costs can create barriers to student success, making course affordability an important consideration for both students and instructors. University of Houston Libraries addresses this challenge through the Open Education Incentive (OPEN) Program, an initiative that supports the adoption of open educational resources (OER) and open educational practices across the University.
Texas OER Core Elements Course: OER is for Sharing by Guila Forsythe
Originally launched as the Alternative Textbook Incentive Program, the OPEN Program has expanded to provide multiple pathways for faculty to engage with open education. The program helps instructors replace costly commercial textbooks with free or low-cost alternatives, develop openly licensed learning materials, and explore innovative teaching practices that enhance student learning.
One component of the program is the Textbook Affordability Incentive, which provides funding for instructors who replace required commercial textbooks with OER, library-licensed materials, or other freely available resources. Awards are based on factors such as projected student impact, textbook costs, and project feasibility.
The program also includes an Open Educational Practices Incentive, which supports faculty who create openly licensed learning objects or implement renewable assignments that allow students to contribute to openly shared knowledge. These projects encourage collaboration, creativity, and engagement while producing resources that can be reused and adapted by other educators.
For instructors new to open education, the OER Professional Development Incentive offers guided training through self-paced learning modules focused on understanding and implementing OER. Participants who complete the program receive a certificate and a financial incentive from UH Libraries.
The impact of the OPEN Program extends beyond faculty development. Recent award-winning projects have removed tens of thousands of dollars in textbook costs for students while expanding access to high-quality educational materials. By supporting affordability, innovation, and open sharing of knowledge, UH Libraries helps create a more accessible learning environment for the UH community.