Governance Roadmap

Background

The Open Education Association (OEA) is a newly established nonprofit organization working to strengthen the U.S. open education field through strategic coordination, advocacy, and collaborative action. OEA was founded through the Open Education Association Development Project, made possible by a grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation to strengthen national coordination on open education. The organization’s structure and priorities were developed through two years of extensive community consultation and collaboration.

This Roadmap provides an initial framework for community participation and programmatic governance during OEA’s startup phase between now and December 31, 2026. It outlines OEA’s proposed mission, principles, and objectives, and describes the structure for membership, committees, and leadership. It also sets goals and timelines for adopting formal policies to carry this structure forward.

By December 31, 2026, the Roadmap will be replaced by policy documents adopted by OEA’s Board of Directors in consultation with the Steering Committee, membership, and broader community.

Strategic Vision

Mission, Vision & Guiding Principles

The Open Education Association has adopted preliminary mission and vision statements, as well as a set of guiding principles that articulate the organization’s values. Final statements will be adopted by October 1, 2026 as part of this Roadmap.

Vision

  • The Open Education Association envisions a world where openness throughout our educational systems removes barriers to knowledge and fosters opportunity, participation and growth for all

Mission

  • The mission of the Open Education Association is to strengthen and connect the U.S. open education field through strategic coordination, advocacy, and collaborative action

Guiding Principles

  • Serve as a connector between individual practitioners, institutional leadership, and policymakers to build shared understanding and momentum

  • Operate at a national scale while being attentive to the local and regional realities that shape education

  • Act in partnership with the broader field, ensuring our activities meet needs and do not duplicate existing work

  • Create space for meaningful participation by individuals throughout the open education ecosystem

  • Provide value to members while staying true to the ethos of open sharing and service to the broader field

  • Promote transparent communication and regular feedback loops to foster responsiveness and trust

  • Prioritize integrity and care in our work to avoid replicating harmful structures, while acknowledging that many are built into the systems we navigate

Strategy & Activities

Strategic Objectives: Over the next five years, OEA seeks to fulfill its mission by working toward the following objectives:

  • Increase the visibility of open education in key forums that influence decision-makers

  • Expand investment in open education and access to funding opportunities for creators and practitioners

  • Build shared infrastructure to support sustainable, scalable open education work

  • Enhance the recognition of open education as a scholarly practice and professional field

  • Respond strategically to barriers that hinder open education or reinforce closed systems

Activities: Over the next year, OEA will advance its strategic objectives by prioritizing the following activities:

  • Serve as a national voice to promote and advocate for open education in U.S. higher education 

  • Connect and coordinate with members and the broader field in service of achieving greater collective outcomes

  • Offer strategic programming that addresses needs articulated by members and the broader field

  • Curate and disseminate information about open education, making it easy to find and use by newcomers, Members and the broader field

  • Establish itself as a sustainable, independent nonprofit organization with a strong membership base

Governance and Management

Steering Committee (Programmatic Leadership)

The Open Education Association’s programmatic activities are guided by a Steering Committee representing perspectives from OEA’s Membership and the broader field. The Steering Committee currently serves as an informal successor to the Open Education Association Development Project Steering Committee, continuing with its responsibilities and composition. As part of this Roadmap, the OEA Board of Directors will adopt a charter formalizing the Steering Committee’s responsibilities, selection and succession by April 1, 2026. 

Steering Committee Responsibilities

  • Provide strategic guidance on programmatic activities to ensure alignment with strategic objectives, guiding principles and community needs

  • Collaborate with staff to review plans, activities, and communications

  • Conduct outreach and invite perspectives from within and outside the community

  • Advocate for OEA within personal and professional networks

  • Advise on the development of long-term sustainability and community governance plans

  • Model and ensure accountability to OEA’s Participation Standards

  • Report findings and recommendations to the OEA Board of Directors

Initial Composition

  • Voting Seats: Eight voting seats representing a broad range of perspectives in U.S. higher education, which must be filled by members in good standing

  • Ex Officio Seat: The principal investigator on the Hewlett Foundation grant, voting only in the case of a tie

  • Non-Voting Seats:

    • One project manager representing SPARC

    • One liaison representing DOERS

    • One liaison representing the regional interstate higher education compacts

    • One liaison representing the Open Education Conference

    • Any additional seats created by vote of the Steering Committee

Appointment and Vacancies

  • Six Voting Seats are filled by the six voting members of the Development Project Steering Committee 

  • The Steering Committee will vote to fill the remaining Voting Seats from among OEA’s Members by December 31, 2025 

  • Liaisons are appointed by their respective constituencies

  • Vacancies in Voting Seats are filled by vote of the Steering Committee

  • Any committee member may resign by giving notice, and the Steering Committee may vote to remove a committee member for non-participation, violation of participation standards, or lapse of membership

  • All Steering Committee appointments and removals are subject to approval by the Board of Directors

  • All current terms end on December 31, 2026, or when successors are confirmed, whichever occurs later

Decision-Making

The Steering Committee strives to operate by consensus. When consensus cannot be reached, actions are approved by a simple majority vote of voting members present, provided a quorum of at least 50% of voting seats is present. The Steering Committee may adopt additional rules of procedure as needed.

Board of Directors (Fiduciary Governance)

The Open Education Association is incorporated in the District of Columbia as a nonprofit corporation and is recognized as a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Board of Directors provides fiduciary and legal oversight for OEA. As part of this Roadmap, the Board of Directors will work with the Steering Committee to develop updated governance procedures in alignment with OEA’s Bylaws by December 31, 2026.

Board Responsibilities

  • Work in cooperation with staff and the Steering Committee to set OEA priorities and strategy

  • Work to build the capacity of OEA as an independent nonprofit organization

  • Sustainably manage funds, including grant resources and member dues

  • Oversee staff, contractors, subgrantees, and vendors to ensure legal compliance and completion of grant deliverables

  • Exercise all other rights and obligations under the organization’s Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and applicable law

Initial Composition

The founding Board of Directors that incorporated the organization was selected for their experience in nonprofit management, knowledge of the project, and capacity to take on substantial responsibility without additional compensation for this role. The Board intends to establish a transparent appointment process and succession plan as part of its updates under this Roadmap. 

Staff (Project Management)

OEA is primarily funded by a two-year grant from the Hewlett Foundation to support national coordination on open education. The work of the Open Education Association Development Project was housed at SPARC, and OEA will continue to receive staffing, project management, and operational support from SPARC under a subgrant agreement. As part of this Roadmap, OEA will develop a staffing and organizational sustainability plan by October 1, 2026 to be implemented by the grant end date, December 1, 2026.

Staff Responsibilities

  • Implement OEA programs and activities, guided by the Steering Committee and Board of Directors

  • Provide facilitation and logistical support to the Steering Committee, membership, and community 

  • Provide day-to-day management of organizational operations, systems, and communications

  • Any other responsibilities delegated by the Board of Directors

Membership

Members 

Membership in OEA is a programmatic designation that recognizes individuals as aligned with the organization’s mission, vision and principles. OEA has established initial Membership Terms & Conditions, which grant membership on an annual basis that renews on a 12-month cycle. As part of this Roadmap, OEA will conduct a review of these terms, as well as the benefits and criteria below, and adopt any revisions by October 1, 2026. 

Benefits

  • Eligibility to serve in working groups, committees, and leadership positions

  • Access to all OEA programs, resources, events, and publications 

  • Access to a members-only website, member directory, and email list

  • The right to publicly identify as a member of OEA

  • Representation in OEA’s advocacy efforts

Eligibility

  • May be in any occupation or role, which need not relate directly to open education  

  • Must support the mission, vision and purposes of OEA through their professional activities, personal activities or beliefs

  • Generally will reside in the U.S. or have substantial professional activity in the U.S. (as OEA’s work focuses in the U.S.)

  • Must pay dues annually in order to remain in good standing

Supporters 

OEA also offers a programmatic designation for people who support OEA’s mission and vision but do not become members. Supporters are not considered members but are welcomed as part of the OEA community.

Benefits

  • Access to all publicly-shared programs, resources, events, and publications 

  • Representation in OEA’s advocacy efforts

Eligibility

  • May be in any occupation or role, which need not relate directly to open education  

  • Must agree to the mission, vision, and principles outlined in this Roadmap, as well as the terms and conditions

  • May reside or work anywhere in the world

  • Must re-confirm support annually 

Community Engagement

Individuals

OEA will provide multiple pathways for engagement by individuals, including programmatic structures such as committees and working groups. In general, the Steering Committee will guide the creation, scope, and composition of these structures, which will be used to engage community members in shaping OEA programming and organizational development.

Committees

  • Committees are standing groups that guide and oversee implementation or decision-making of a specific program or topic

  • By default, membership in committees is open by application to any OEA member, and selections will be made to ensure qualifications and representation

  • In general, each Committee will have a chair and vice chair and will strive for consensus-based decision-making

Working Groups

  • Working groups are time-bound, informal groups charged with achieving a specific goal, which may include developing a resource, planning an event, designing a program, or conducting research

  • By default, membership in working groups is open to any OEA member who signs up and maintains the standard of engagement

  • In general, working groups will have a member lead or co-leads but may also be staff-led

Working Sessions

  • Working sessions are standalone events organized for the purpose of inviting community  input and collaboration on decision-making

  • By default, participation is open to both OEA members and the public, but may be limited on a case-by-case basis

Other Structures

  • The Steering Committee and Board may create additional structures as needed or as requested by members 

Organizations

While OEA’s foundational membership comprises individuals, collaborating and coordinating with organizations is essential to achieving OEA’s mission. As part of this Roadmap, OEA will consult with organizations within the open education field to explore potential structures that could support national coordination without duplication of effort. Individuals who work at organizations in the open education space are also welcome to participate as OEA members themselves. 

Participation Standards

OEA seeks to create a collaborative and respectful environment for everyone involved. As part of this Roadmap, OEA will develop and adopt a formal Code of Conduct by October 1, 2026. Until such time, these participation standards apply to all members, supporters, Steering Committee and Board members, committee and working group participants, staff, and contractors.

Participants are expected to:

  • Treat others with respect and professionalism

  • Contribute actively and fulfill commitments

  • Support the mission, vision, and guiding principles outlined in this Roadmap

  • Disclose real or perceived conflicts of interest

  • Encourage participation from a wide range of voices

  • Communicate openly and share information transparently

  • Follow agreed-upon processes for decision-making and feedback

  • Maintain a safe and harassment-free space for participation

Failure to meet these standards may result in corrective action, including removal from leadership roles or termination of membership. Reports regarding conduct may be submitted to any Steering Committee or Board of Directors member. 

Open Education Conference

The Open Education Conference Board has appointed OEA as administrative organizer beginning with the 2026 Open Education Conference. OEA commits to supporting the Conference’s Strategic Vision and continued operation as an international event that welcomes all who share the values of open education. As part of this Roadmap, the Board of Directors will work with the Conference Board to establish a charter that provides for the Conference’s programmatic governance by April 1, 2026.

Implementation

This Roadmap was approved by the Board of Directors on October 23, 2025. OEA commits to engaging the membership and broader community in the process of completing this Roadmap. The Board of Directors and Steering Committee will provide periodic, transparent updates on our progress, with the goal of completing all activities outlined herein by December 31, 2026.

Questions: contact@opened.org