Growing Access, Growing Opportunity: ND OER Conference highlights momentum for affordable learning

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

More than 80 faculty, staff and students from across the North Dakota postsecondary institutions gathered at the North Dakota Heritage Center on April 9 for the annual ND OER Conference, a day dedicated to expanding access, reducing costs and strengthening collaboration around Open Educational Resources (OER).

“This year’s theme, ‘Growing Access, Growing Opportunity,’ reflected ongoing commitment to remove barriers for students, support teaching and learning and strengthen collaboration across our institutions,” said Claire Gunwall, NDUS director of academic affairs.

The day opened with a student panel moderated by Katie Fitzsimmons, where five NDUS students lead the conversation on access to OER. Sarah Kempel, Isaac Mauch, Briar Maudal, Celia Meza, and Eniola Soetan shared firsthand how OER has shaped their academic experience. Their message was clear: OER reduces stress, increases engagement and removes barriers that too often stand between students and success.

The conference highlighted hands‑on learning through breakouts and roundtables. Participants explored a wide range of breakout sessions and roundtable discussions, from introductory sessions like OER 101 to hands‑on exploration in the OER Petting Zoo. Faculty and staff also dug into topics such as building bookstore partnerships, developing degree pathways and creating open textbooks in emerging fields like neuroengineering.

The afternoon continued with sessions on accessibility, representation and discovery, reinforcing that OER is not only about lowering costs but also about ensuring materials reflect and support all learners.

Will Cross delivered a morning presentation on copyright and an afternoon keynote exploring the intersection of AI and open education. His message underscored the importance of empowering educators to navigate legal frameworks confidently while embracing new tools that can expand access to knowledge.

The conference builds on the momentum created by the State Board of Higher Education’s approval of Policy 462: Instructional Materials Access and Affordability, which took effect Aug. 1, 2025. The policy encourages the adoption of OER and other affordable alternatives, aligning with the Board’s strategic priority of student affordability. Since then, NDUS institutions have marked nearly 9,500 courses for students, an important step in transparency, access and affordability, and a strong reflection of the work happening across NDUS institutions.

“That SBHE policy implementation establishes a systemwide framework to improve how students access information about required course materials and the associated costs. At a high level, the policy responds to growing concerns about the financial burden of textbooks and digital materials on students, particularly those who are cost-sensitive, first-generation or balancing education with work and family responsibilities. By increasing transparency at the time of registration, the policy enables students to make more informed decisions when selecting courses,” said Gunwall.

Throughout the day, one theme resonated — OER is a shared effort. Faculty innovate, librarians guide discovery, students advocate for access and administrators build supportive policy frameworks. The ND OER Committee, recognized at the event for its leadership, continues to drive this collaborative work forward.

As the conference concluded, attendees left energized by new ideas, new partnerships and a shared commitment to expanding opportunity through open education. With growing statewide support and a community dedicated to innovation, North Dakota is well‑positioned to continue leading in OER adoption to ensure that learning remains accessible, affordable and open to all.