Given annually as part of the PALSave: PALNI Affordable Learning Program, the Open Educator Award recognizes outstanding teaching faculty, open educational resource (OER) champions, and innovators in the realm of textbook affordability and student success on PALNI campuses. Individuals can nominate their colleagues or can self-nominate for the award. Honorees are selected based on criteria established by the PALSave team and announced in summer/fall. 

Potential awardees might include:

• Faculty or staff who are passionate champions for Open Education Resources (OERs)
• Faculty or staff who have created their own open materials for a course, or for a wider audience
• Faculty or staff who are engaging students with innovative open pedagogy

Any outstanding teaching faculty advocate or adopter of OER can be considered.

Nominations are typically held in June with the honorees announced in July of each year. The PALSave team will put out a call for nominations via the PALNI Community, PALSave email distribution lists, and other channels. For questions about the process, email the PALSave team.

Now in its fourth cycle, the Open Educator Awards have recognized many individuals from across PALNI's 24 supported institutions. View past honorees:

• 2021-22

• 2020-21

• 2019-20