Governor Greg Abbott has announced the allocation of over $2 million in state grants to nine higher education institutions in Texas, aimed at enhancing access to free online textbooks and course materials. This initiative is part of the state’s effort to support workforce training programs, including nursing, cybersecurity, electrical technology, and business, ultimately reducing educational costs for students.
The funding will be distributed through the Open Educational Resource Grant Program (OERGP), which is designed to help colleges and universities create openly licensed materials that students can access at no additional cost via the state’s Open Educational Resource digital library. Open Educational Resources (OER) encompass teaching, learning, and research materials that are either in the public domain or come with licenses permitting free use, adaptation, and redistribution.
The grants for the 2026–28 period include:
- Alamo Community College District: $285,000
- Collin County Community College District: $285,000
- El Paso County Community College District: $285,000
- Lamar Institute of Technology: $285,000
- Lee College: $285,000
- North Central Texas College: $285,000
- Texas A&M University-Kingsville: $15,000
- Texas State University: $285,000
- West Texas A&M University: $15,000
In total, these awards amount to $2.025 million. The competitive grant program, managed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, provides public colleges and universities with funding to develop courses utilizing open educational resources.
Governor Abbott emphasized the importance of this funding in supporting nursing and other workforce programs. “As we strengthen our workforce in nursing, cybersecurity, electrical technology, and business, it is critical that students have access to the resources they need to succeed in their chosen field,” he stated. “These grants will expand access to free learning materials to make education more affordable for Texans.”
Wynn Rosser, the Texas Higher Education Commissioner, noted that the initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden students face beyond tuition. “As every college student knows, the cost of textbooks and supplies can put a dent in their bank account,” Rosser remarked. He added that the program has significantly reduced expenses for thousands of students by expanding the state’s online collection of free course materials.
The groundwork for Texas’ Open Educational Resource Program was laid by the state legislature and Governor Abbott in 2018. Since its inception, the program has benefitted over 33,000 Texas students, saving them an estimated $3.5 million in textbook expenses, according to the governor’s office.
