Apply Now for an ALX Grant
ALX awards grants to instructors who want to transform their courses using open and affordable materials. Any course at The Ohio State University is eligible for consideration–from small seminars to large, multi-section general education courses. Grant winners will begin work on March 1, 2021, and will implement their revised courses in the ’21-’22 academic year.
This year, ALX is offering its traditional high and low support grants and syllabus review grants in partnership with University Libraries, plus our new Racial Justice and Content Camp grants. Please note that for this cohort, grant award amounts have been simplified and department matching funds are not required.
Grant Options Highlights
| Grant Type | Award | Includes | Deliverable | Budget required? | Course materials cost reduction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Support | $5,000 | Dedicated project manager | Replace 100% of course content with freely available course materials | Yes | 100% |
| Low Support | $1,000 | Monthly check-ins via email | Replace 100% of course content with freely available course materials | No | 100% |
| Syllabus Review | $500 | Collaborate with a liaison librarian | Replace 25% of course content with freely available course materials | No | 25% |
| Racial Justice | $500 | Monthly check-ins via email | Racial justice curriculum (no change to subject-specific content required) | No | None |
| Content Camp | $500 for team lead, $250 for team members | Dedicated project manager | 1,000-question test bank in Quiz Exchange | No | None |
Grant Options Details
- High Support Grants: $5,000 grant funds and personalized project management support; Winners commit to making 100% of course materials available at no cost to students.
- Low Support Grants: $1,000 grant funds and light project management support; Winners commit to making 100% of course materials available at no cost to students.
- Syllabus Review Grants: $500 grant funds and a close review of an existing syllabus with the Affordable Learning Instructional Consultant; Winners commit to saving students at least 25% of existing course materials cost.
- Racial Justice Grants: $500 grant funds and light project management support; Grant winners work to include materials that address diversity, equity and inclusion in a course, focused on encouraging student reflection and discussion on race and racism, and incorporating diverse voices and course content from historically marginalized scholars.
- Content Camp Grants: Grant funds available to Team Leads ($500) and Contributors ($250) to collaboratively author and review a test bank for one course; Each team will require one team lead and 4-6 additional contributors. Team leads may apply before the full team is assembled.
Begin the application process today by sharing your affordability project idea. Let us know what your goals are, how many students your project will impact and how much you expect your students to save. The Phase 1 application initiates the conversation to help us understand your needs in terms of support—financial and otherwise. Phase 2 of the application process will look more closely at project specifics.
Express your interest in an ALX grant by December 21, 2020.
You can read about examples of successful work on our Faculty Grants page. Reducing the cost of college is at the core of ALX’s mission, but these projects also encourage teaching innovation and fulfill Ohio State’s land-grant mission by creating and sharing open educational resources. A sixth cohort in 2020 was also focused on increasing diverse voices in course materials, and grant winners incorporated assignments, resources and approaches for teaching students about issues facing Black Americans and other marginalized groups.