[OERCommittee] FW: Request for letter of support

Mon Nov 2 11:41:28 CST 2020

HI OER Committee, I know that some of your institutions have already submitted an institutional letter of support for the grant. If you are working with your institutional leadership on a letter, the absolute deadline to send a letter to Anne to be included in the grant proposal is this Wednesday (11/4) at Noon. Thanks, Elizabeth

"Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), any written communication to or from university employees regarding University business is a public record and may be subject to public disclosure."

From: CARLI-OER <carli-oer-bounces at carli.illinois.edu> On Behalf Of Craig, Anne
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2020 7:57 AM
To: carli-oer at carli.illinois.edu
Subject: [CARLI-OER] Request for letter of support
Importance: High

Greetings!

Our application for the US Department of Education Open Textbooks Pilot Grant https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/09/15/2020-20379/applications-for-new-awards-fund-for-the-improvement-of-postsecondary-education-open-textbooks-pilot<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.federalregister.gov_documents_2020_09_15_2020-2D20379_applications-2Dfor-2Dnew-2Dawards-2Dfund-2Dfor-2Dthe-2Dimprovement-2Dof-2Dpostsecondary-2Deducation-2Dopen-2Dtextbooks-2Dpilot&d=DwMFAg&c=OCIEmEwdEq_aNlsP4fF3gFqSN-E3mlr2t9JcDdfOZag&r=gkww5RHyaBy_G9oVJUR38cDJDZdHw9CUer3rgG7G3z8&m=eimNOPtAq4vu-Z39MejMdfa_Dk3j_Utb79KJvwfAUJM&s=royAKGa6FkJH8aTSbLYR-pDRJKpp3-SjsX066yr8_fQ&e=> is in need of letters of support.

Brief Abstract- Draft

Illinois SCOERs (Support for Creation of Open Educational Resources) is a true statewide enterprise. The three-year, $2 million project features two sub-grant cycles for CARLI member institutions and will result in open, Creative Commons licensed, accessible textbooks and ancillary teaching and learning materials that will be created for introductory-level classes in the area of healthcare and human development. Ancillary learning objects (learning aides/material supplemental to the textbook) to support student learning and achievement will be included. 3D printing will feature prominently in the learning objects; its use, wide availability, and characteristics as a learning tool make it an easily propagated method to enhance student success. 3D printing prevalence lowers student access barriers to technology. Importantly, the project will inaugurate a coordinated OER program and infrastructure in Illinois that will be a strong foundation for the future of OER.

The Illinois SCOERs consortium includes CARLI member institutions (127 members total/119 Institutions of Higher Education), the Illinois Community College Board, the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Heartland Library System, the Reaching Across Illinois Library System, the Illinois State Library, the Illinois Library Association, and the Health Sciences Librarians of Illinois. Also included in the consortium is the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services to ensure access in a variety of formats, including audio and Braille. At a high level, the value of Illinois SCOERs can best be articulated by its motto: student success through OER awareness, advocacy, implementation, growth, and adoption. Illinois SCOERs will provision the creation of a new holistic support model for OER creation and use in Illinois.

Note: Early budget drafts indicate that we would have about $500,000 for each of the two program years for sub-grants to members.

Letter of support
We are asking for your support in the form of a letter that we will forward on with our application. These letters could be from anyone that will be involved with or touched by this project, from your librarians, your administrators, and even your students.

Of course you may say whatever you would like if you choose to write a letter supporting the application. Some letter writers find it helpful, however, to have some points to think about when composing. The following are only suggestions.

What to say/highlights to hit

  *   Your organization stands for social justice and that you acknowledge that OER is one way to address equity issues for higher education.
  *   A concerted, coordinated OER effort is important for higher education and Illinois; my organization supports the openly licensed creation, adoption, adaptation, dissemination, and use of these textbooks and other learning materials.
  *   Your confidence in CARLI's ability to lead a project of this scale as exemplified by the simultaneous migration of 89 members to a single library services platform (I-Share), and the management of CARLI Counts, the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian IMLS grant.
  *   If the grant is awarded, your organization will:

  *   Contribute to promoting awareness of the Illinois SCOERs project throughout your constituency.
  *   Contribute to the overall success of the grant. If asked, your organization will serve on sub-grant committees and advisory committees.

*         Comment about more general support that you can pledge if Illinois is awarded the grant (be an OER advocate on your campus, support other OER efforts in the state, etc.).

*         Having senior leadership on campus included in your letter's signatures is very helpful.

*         Ask students to write letters!

How to submit a letter of support:
Letters of support must be included in our grant submission package; therefore, please send them to me to be compiled and included in our package.

  *   Address it to (but do not send it to): US Dept. of Education; Open Textbooks Pilot Grant Program
  *   Salutation: Dear Grant Review Committee
  *   Deadline: November 1, 2020
  *   Email your PDF to me, Anne Craig abcraig at uillinois.edu<mailto:abcraig at uillinois.edu>

Anne Craig
Senior Director, CARLI
The Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois
100 Trade Centre Drive, Suite 303
Champaign, IL 61820
217-300-0375
abcraig at uillinois.edu<mailto:abcraig at uillinois.edu>
Pronouns: she, her, hers

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