The UNE Library supports openness in two crucial—but often confused—ways: Open Access publishing (OA) and Open Educational Resources (OER). Together, these efforts have saved UNE authors and students hundreds of thousands of dollars in 2025, while expanding access to research and learning materials.
Open Access. vs. OER – What’s the difference?
These terms are often used interchangeably, but they serve different purposes:
- Open Access
- Makes scholarly research articles and books free to read online. It increases the visibility and impact of UNE research but does not always allow reuse or modification.
- Open Educational Resources
- Freely available, openly licensed teaching materials—such as textbooks and course content—that faculty can adapt and customize for their classes.
If you’re unsure whether a resource qualifies as OA or OER, we are happy to help—reach out!
Open Access Publishing Read and Publish Agreements
Through Read and Publish agreements with Elsevier and Oxford University Press (OUP), UNE authors can publish open access without paying article processing charges.
In 2025, UNE faculty and students published 5 articles with Elsevier and 1 with Oxford University Press, saving $22,155 in publisher fees!
Learn more about Open Access Publishing and our read and publish agreements.
A new agreement with Taylor & Francis launches in January!
Open Educational Resource Grants
Grants available through the Davis Family Foundation help faculty reduce textbook costs while maintaining high-quality course materials. The following mini-grants have been awarded:
- 7 Textbook Review Grants were awarded ($2100 total)
- 7 OER Adoption/Modification/Creation grants were awarded ($10,500 total)
- 1 OER Research Grant was awarded to Dr. Yang Kang in the College of Dental Medicine for “Equity, Efficacy and Outcome: OER in Dental Clinical Research Education.“
We estimate that faculty adoption of OER has saved UNE students $430, 721!
