PALNI recognizes affordable learning champions with 2024 Open Educator Award

Pictured: Arbin Thapaliya, Franklin College

INDIANAPOLIS—The Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) has named nine faculty members from its supported institutions as recipients of the PALSave Open Educator Award for the 2023-24 academic year. The award recognizes innovation and excellence in support of higher education, textbook affordability, and student success.

As part of the PALSave: PALNI Affordable Learning Program, these individuals have been key players in the creation and adoption of Open Educational Resources, or OER—a move that reduces costs for students, improves access to required texts, and increases student success and retention. 

“We are extremely proud to recognize this year's Open Educator Award honorees,” says Amanda Hurford, PALNI Scholarly Communications Director. “High textbook costs continue to be a barrier to education, yet these individuals work tirelessly to make course materials more equitable and accessible to all students. With each of PALNI’s 24 supported institutions participating in PALSave, faculty and staff are reshaping the educational landscape, ensuring that every student, regardless of circumstance, can learn, thrive, and succeed. They have built a community of champions for affordable learning, and we’re excited to see their efforts benefit students now and well into the future.”

This year’s Open Educator Award recipients include:

Dhabih Chulhai, University of Indianapolis

Patrick Eggleton, Taylor University

Seth Hopper, Earlham College

Kim LaComba, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Andrea Mescall, Franklin College

Jennie Mitchell, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Glené Mynhardt, Hanover College

Alan Overstreet, Anderson University

Arbin Thapaliya, Franklin College

Honoree Statements

Dhabih Chulhai
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
University of Indianapolis

“Having grown up underprivileged, I understand what it feels like to have the cost of textbooks become a barrier to education. I am dedicated to making sure that this is not the case for my students. The availability and use of OER represent a turning point for equitable access to education.”

Patrick Eggleton
Professor of Mathematics
Taylor University 

“Too often I have entered classes apologizing for the cost of the textbooks or other resources required for the students. I am thrilled to provide students with OER. I have found many of these resources to be of high quality—often better than resources I've had students purchase. I have been a huge advocate of OER, and have created materials of my own—typically combining other open resources into something that is personalized for my courses. I think the students appreciate the results.”

Seth Hopper
Associate Professor of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy
Earlham College

“Today’s students come to college with more financial pressures than ever before. At the same time, there have never been so many high-quality free textbooks. Using resources like OpenStax Astronomy helps me reach more students, while they focus on the content instead of the cost."

Kim LaComba
Director of Ph.D. in Global Leadership Program and Associate Professor of Global Leadership
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

“Open educational resources encourage academic creativity in curriculum design while also keeping affordability in mind for students. Providing quality OER is always my goal and this is achievable!”

Andrea Mescall
Assistant Professor of Accounting
Franklin College

“I chose to use OER because it reduces financial barriers for students, ensuring equal access to high-quality educational materials, which is crucial in this economy. This approach fosters a more inclusive learning environment and promotes academic success.”

Jennie Mitchell
Emerita Professor
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College 

“I am honored to receive the PALSave Open Educator Award. I’ve deliberately chosen open textbooks and/or created materials for my classes because I believe the cost of books has become a significant barrier to student success. According to the Education Data Initiative, 90% of professors say textbooks and course materials cost their students too much…Yet, only 8% of professors have initiated textbook cost-saving programs for students. I wholeheartedly commend the PALSave program and their diverse initiatives at enhancing education’s affordability and accessibility.”  

Glené Mynhardt
Associate Professor of Biology
Hanover College

“I've been so lucky to have the support of PALSave to enhance my own teaching. Making open educational resources available to all students and using them meaningfully has really enhanced what I'm able to do in the classroom by encouraging creativity in course design and student engagement.”

Alan Overstreet
Academic Director, School of Theology and Christian Ministry
Anderson University

“A big factor in my decision to use quality resources that students can access for free is cost. The cost of education was challenging for me as a student and it continues to be a challenge for the students with whom I work today. I do not have to sacrifice quality in order to use the variety of ebooks and online resources that are available, and choosing materials for which students do not have to pay eliminates one obstacle in their educational path.”

Arbin Thapaliya
Associate Professor of Physics
Franklin College

“During my college years, I struggled immensely with navigating the challenges of textbook affordability and accessibility, and I try my best to make sure that students do not have to face the same barrier that I did. Every class I teach at Franklin College utilizes an open textbook and I am committed to keeping it that way for as long as I can because it makes both me and my students happy. I am very grateful to PALSave for supporting not only my commitment to open textbooks but also for supporting faculty from both FC and other institutions in Indiana. Thank you, PALSave!”

About PALSave

Funded through grant support from Lilly Endowment, Inc., PALSave combats the rising costs of textbooks by supporting faculty adoption and creation of open and affordable course materials. 

Some of PALSave’s initiatives include:

• Offering workshops and stipends that give educators the resources they need to transform courses using materials that are entirely free to students
• Providing textbook creation grants
• Offering publishing support, and more. 

Data consistently shows that textbook costs affect the academic decisions students make. According to the College Board, the average full-time, on-campus undergraduate at a four-year school was asked to budget $1,250 for books and supplies during the 2023-24 academic year. When students are unable to meet that financial obligation, they are forced to seek out insufficient alternatives or skip buying course material altogether. PALSave works to provide a proactive solution to these barriers by helping faculty adopt openly licensed and fully customizable OER into their courses.

Concluding the final year of the 5-year Lilly Endowment grant supporting this initiative, PALSave has far exceeded its initial goals. Highlights of the program’s successes include:

• $2,277,117 cumulative savings to date, exceeding PALNI’s original goal of $1 million
• 37,233 students impacted, saving on average $61.03 each
• 99% of students reporting a positive or neutral impact on studies and grades with OER
• 877 faculty reached with educational workshops 
• 323 courses transformed to include OER  
• 46% of redesigned courses indicating grade improvement 
• 789% return on investment with course redesign funds 
• 100% of PALNI institutions participating in PALSave

For more information, visit the PALSave: PALNI Affordable Learning Program website: www.palni.org/palsave.

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About Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family — J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Eli — through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. More information can be found at www.lillyendowment.org.

About the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana

The Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) is a non-profit organization that supports collaboration for library and information services for 24 colleges, universities, and seminaries throughout the state. From its inception in 1992, the PALNI collaboration has been a key avenue for its supported institutions to contain costs while providing more effective library services. More recently, PALNI has adopted a model of deep collaboration that pools resources and people as a tool to expand services while containing costs. Simultaneously, PALNI is expanding collaboration within its institutions and with external library partners to address challenges and build cost-effective services. Visit www.palni.org for more information.

PALNI Supported Institutions 

Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary | Anderson University | Bethel University | Butler University | Concordia Theological Seminary | Christian Theological Seminary | DePauw University | Earlham College | Franklin College | Goshen College | Grace College | Hanover College | Huntington University | Manchester University | Marian University | Oakland City University | University of Saint Francis | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | Saint Mary’s College | Saint Meinrad’s Seminary and School of Theology | Taylor University | Trine University | University of Indianapolis | Wabash College