Walsh awarded $25K grant from Institute of Museum and Library Services

This one-year grant will help with the implementation of the Open Education Resource (OER) Program by allowing Walsh to offer institutional support and education to faculty on transitioning course materials to an OER format. The goal of OER is to provide students equal access to affordable course materials through the transformation of traditional textbooks and curriculum to an online format that is low or no cost to students.

Starting this semester, members of Walsh’s library team will educate key staff and faculty in the selection, development and deployment of OER materials. The OER implementation will begin in two initial academic departments: Business Communications and Marketing and Doctoral/Interdisciplinary.

Walsh business communications professor Jen O’Meara, Ph.D., welcomes the shift to OER and increasing student learning while eliminating many of the financial and access barriers for students. “It doesn’t make sense for students to pay for a book when much of the same information is freely available. Using OER gives us the ability to customize content and save students money,” said O’Meara.

Faculty will work with the library staff and departmental cohorts to provide feedback to understand the impact on student engagement and learning outcomes while Walsh instructional designers will assist with the transition of assignments and course design.

Walsh was one of 10 schools, libraries and universities in Michigan to receive this grant. Others include Alpena County Library, Capital Area District Library, Central Michigan University Libraries, Ferris State University Library, Menominee County, Presque Isle District Library, Taylor Community Library, Traverse Area District Library and Warren Public Library.

For more information about Walsh, visit www.walshcollege.edu.

ABOUT WALSH
Walsh is an all-business, private, independent, not-for-profit, fully accredited college offering undergraduate, graduate and doctoral business and technology degrees, as well as certificate programs. Founded in 1922, Walsh is one of Southeast Michigan’s largest graduate business schools, offering classes in several locations and online. Our internationally and nationally-ranked programs integrate theory and application to prepare graduates for successful careers. Walsh degree programs include accounting, finance, information technology, human resources, management, marketing, taxation and other fields. For more information, please visit www.walshcollege.edu.

Walsh is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org) and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs (www.acbsp.org).

ABOUT IMLS
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.