Overview
The Minitex Network for Open & Affordable Practices (MNOP) welcomes proposals for the MNOP OER Pathfinder Grant Program, an initiative to support educational institutions in Minnesota and South Dakota that are early on or emerging in their work with open education and OER—whether they’re starting from scratch, taking initial steps, or looking to spark new momentum to revitalize and build upon previous efforts. Funded through the 2025-2026 OER State Capacity Grants of the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) and administered by Minitex, this program will distribute 15 grants of $1,000 each to institution-based teams pursuing foundational OER work.
This initiative aims to spark creative approaches, foster collaboration, and lay the groundwork for sustainable support systems for open education across schools of all levels, particularly those with limited prior engagement or paused momentum.
Eligibility
Teams at the following types of institutions in Minnesota and South Dakota are eligible to apply:
- Colleges and universities (public, private, tribal, community, and technical)
- K–12 schools and school districts
Each applying team must include at least two members, but more is encouraged. While teams made up of individuals from different functional roles will receive priority in selection, this is not a requirement. Typical roles may include, but are not limited to:
- Librarians and media specialists
- Instructional designers or technologists
- Bookstore employees
- Student staff or student advocates
- Faculty, teachers, and staff
- Administrators
Institutions with minimal or no current OER infrastructure or formal programming are strongly encouraged to apply.
Award Amount and Use of Funds
Each selected team will receive a $1,000 grant. Here are just a few suggestions for how to use grant funds:
- Faculty, teacher, staff, or student stipends
- Development of workshops or awareness materials
- Event or meeting support
- Course redesign planning
- Local resource creation or adaptation
Funds will be disbursed at the start of the project. Final reporting is required (see Deliverables below).
Project Timeline
- Application deadline: September 23, 2025
- Award notification: September 30, 2025
- Grant period: October 1, 2025 – May 30, 2026
- Final report due: May 30, 2026
Deliverables
Funded teams will:
- Complete 2–3 self-determined deliverables from the following list:
- Develop OER Action Plan
- Develop Faculty/Teacher Development Workshop
- Develop Student & Faculty Awareness Campaign
- Develop Family/Community & Teacher Awareness Campaign
- Pilot OER or Zero-Textbook-Cost (ZTC) Course
- Develop a Cross-departmental Course Marking Workflow
- Develop a Cross-departmental Open Education/Affordability Committee/Working Group
- Develop a Peer or Departmental OER Champions Network
- Develop a Library, Learning Commons, or Media Specialist’s OER Resource Hub
- Develop your own deliverable (must be approved by grant administrator)
- Schedule and attend a kick-off meeting and check-in meetings (at minimum every two months) with the grant administrator
- Submit a 1-2 page final report
- Contribute to collective knowledge by sharing relevant materials to the MNOP Clearinghouse
- Present a 10-minute summary of outcomes at a regional wrap-up event (virtual)
Selection Priorities
Preference will be given to proposals that:
- Come from institutions with demonstrated need (e.g., no dedicated OER program, underserved populations, limited funding and/or staffing)
- Represent early-stage engagement with open education or revitalization of stalled efforts
- Involve multi-departmental teams that promote cross-campus collaboration
How to Apply
Submit your application using the online form no later than September 23, 2025. Your application must include:
- Team Lead: Name and contact information of the team member who will serve as the dedicated contact to MNOP.
- Team Composition: Name and institutional role of each team member. (can be adjusted later)
- Institutional Context: A brief description of your institution’s current engagement with OER and open education.
- Project Plan: A description (maximum 500 words) of your proposed activities, selected deliverables, anticipated impact, and plans for using the funds. (can be adjusted later)
- Commitment Statement: Confirmation of your willingness to complete the required deliverables and share outcomes publicly.
Contact
For questions or consultation, please contact:
Support and consultation will be provided as needed throughout the grant.
Proposal Review Rubric
- Institutional Need (10 points) Does the institution lack current OER infrastructure or programming? Does it serve underserved or rural populations? Does it lack dedicated staffing?
- Multi-Role Team Composition (10 points) Are multiple departments/roles represented on the team (e.g., library + faculty + student services)?
- Project Feasibility (10 points) Are the proposed activities realistic and achievable with $1,000? Are the deliverables clearly chosen from the provided list?
- Potential for Local Impact and Sustainability (10 points) Will the project lay groundwork for future OER activity at the institution? Does it address an identified challenge? What steps will be taken to make the efforts sustainable over the long term?
- Clarity & Completeness of Proposal (10 points) Is the submission clear, complete, and responsive to the application prompts?
Total Possible Points: 50
Proposals will be reviewed by a committee of Minitex staff and volunteers from the MN and SD MHEC OER Action Teams.
Apply online.