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In spring 2018, created a grant program to fund open educational resource (OER) initiatives at public universities and colleges in Colorado. In spring 2021, continued state support of OER for another five years, and in spring 2026 further continued the state level OER program. º£½ÇÖ±²¥ Denver has been fortunate to receive eight years of grant funding, totaling $760,000.

These funds have been used to increase faculty awareness of OER and increase OER use at º£½ÇÖ±²¥ Denver, resulting in up to $10 million dollars of student savings through Spring 2026.

At the 2026 Colorado OER Conference, held Friday, May 29, 2026, at Arapahoe Community º£½ÇÖ±²¥, º£½ÇÖ±²¥ Denver faculty and departments received .

• Open Education Legacy Award 2026 Recipient: Dr. Emily Ragan, Metropolitan State University of Denver

Dr. Ragan has been a driving force behind Colorado’s OER movement. A founding member of the Colorado OER Council and longtime chair of the º£½ÇÖ±²¥ Denver OER Task Force, she has led faculty training, grant initiatives, course marking efforts, and statewide advocacy. Under her leadership, º£½ÇÖ±²¥ Denver students have saved an estimated $10 million in textbook costs (2018–2026). Dr. Ragan has also helped position º£½ÇÖ±²¥ Denver as a statewide leader in ZTC pathways and played a critical role in advancing Colorado’s open education ecosystem.

• Outstanding ZTC Advocate: Dr. Jonathan Dyhr, Metropolitan State University of Denver
  Chair of the Colorado OER Council, Dr. Dyhr has led course redesign efforts that saved hundreds of students up to $143,000 in a single academic year. His leadership has expanded OER adoption across biology programs and supported ZTC degree development.

• Outstanding ZTC Innovation: Carolyn McGary, Metropolitan State University of Denver
  Through immersive, narrative-driven OER experiences, McGary has eliminated textbooks in key courses and created interactive learning environments—such as the Intergalactic Facilities Alliance—that engage students in real-world problem-solving.

• Outstanding ZTC Instructor: Brian Healy, Metropolitan State University of Denver
  A leader in communications studies, Healy has spearheaded a ZTC pathway, launched faculty learning communities, and helped establish Colorado’s first OER student club, expanding awareness and adoption of open resources.

• Outstanding ZTC Workforce Development: School of Hospitality, Metropolitan State University of Denver
  With a focus on a critical sector representing approximately 12% of Colorado’s workforce, the program is advancing ZTC pathways while ensuring students retain access to relevant, up-to-date materials throughout their careers.

• Outstanding Zero Textbook Cost Programs
  • Bachelor’s Degree: B.A. Communications Studies, Metropolitan State University of Denver

• Exceptional OER Project: Advanced Social Work Ethics, º£½ÇÖ±²¥ Department of Social Work and Auraria Library
  The project developed a new OER textbook and OER workbook for social work courses. The collaborative authorship process—bringing together faculty, a librarian, an accessibility expert, and a student contributor—strengthened the quality of the resources and developed expertise in OER creation.