September Newsletter: Open Education as a Solution
Open Education as a Solution
We launched the process to choose national priorities because we know that open education is a powerful solution to many problems facing education today. We didn’t realize just how many problems it has the potential to solve!
Since August, hundreds of community members have joined listening sessions, generating ideas for how open education can address issues on the minds of leaders and policymakers: curriculum that goes stale before a new commercial edition catches up, workforce readiness gaps that outpace how quickly new programs can launch, and general education programs that have no national standards and too often do not transfer. Check out the idea board for how open education can solve these and other challenges.
If you haven’t joined the National Priorities Process yet, now is a great time! You can attend an upcoming listening session or vote on ideas. We’re also starting to collect proposals for big projects that could help take open education to the next level, ahead of the National Summit, where this process will culminate this November.
Join Us at OEGlobal 2026!
Are you attending the OEGlobal Conference on October 7–9? The Open Education Association will be there in person and online, and we look forward to seeing you.
Stop by the Open Education Association exhibit table to say hello and collect some goodies.
Come to our session on Wed, Oct 7 at 12:25 PM ET where we’ll share lessons on how the association was formed.
Come to our informal social meetup at Eastern Edge Food Hall on Wed, Oct 7 starting at 6:30 PM.
Do you enjoy karaoke, or ahem, OEReoke? Stay tuned for details on Thu, Oct 8.
Not attending in person? We have one more free virtual registration to give away. The first association member to email contact@opened.org gets it.
Policy Spotlight: Utah
This summer, the Utah Board of Higher Education revised its learning materials policy to strengthen protections for students and expand support for faculty. The revised Policy R465 sets guardrails for automatic textbook billing programs, requiring institutions to prioritize “benefits to students over financial or other benefits to the institution.” The policy also requires that institutional affordability plans address how they will offer professional development and incentives for faculty who adopt, adapt, create, and share OER, and explicitly allows institutions to consider that work toward tenure and promotion. These provisions offer a strong model for states and systems considering updates to their own policies.
What We’re Listening To
This month's episode of the Open-Ed Mic podcast, featuring the association's own Nicole Allen, shares insights about advocacy and the future of open education. Check out past episodes featuring Daniel Williamson, Rajiv Jhangiani, and more.
Latest Resource
We offer a range of popular, field-wide resources. Check out our latest addition.
Member Recognition Request Page
Association members are part of a national network amplifying open education and the people behind it. This new page outlines ways the association can help you get the recognition, promotion, and support you deserve.
Member Spotlight: Award Edition
This month we are highlighting three Open Education Association members who were recognized by the OEGlobal Awards. View the full list here. Content reused under CC BY from oeglobal.org.
Jonathan Lashley
“Jonathan Lashley’s work shows what happens when open education is treated as a lasting public system rather than a collection of isolated projects. He has connected community, policy, funding and leadership in a way that others can genuinely learn from and adapt.” Award Winner Profile
Abbey Elder
“With a career dedicated entirely to making open education accessible, sustainable, and systemic, Abbey has spent over seven years building the infrastructure, communities, and policies that allow open education to thrive.” Award Shortlist Profile
Kisha Tracy
“Kisha Tracy has demonstrated a commitment to addressing social justice and inequities through innovative OER materials and the promotion of open education, especially through public scholarship.” Award Shortlist Profile
Upcoming Events
In addition to our list of upcoming events, check our conference list and webinar calendar for more offered by the community.
TODAY! OER as a High-Impact Practice: From Research to Action
🎥 Thu, September 24, 2026 • 2:00 PM ET • Public
September Information Session
💬 Tue, September 29, 2026 • 2:00 PM ET • Public
Affinity Conversation: Conference Planning in Open Education
💬 Wed, September 30, 2026 • 12:00 PM ET • Public
Sneak Peek: New Course Material Cost Research
💬 Thu, October 1, 2026 • 1:00 PM ET • Members Only
Meetup @ OEGlobal 2026
👥 Wed, October 7, 2026 • 6:30 PM ET • In Person
National Priorities Listening Session | October
💬 Wed, October 14, 2026 • 3:00 PM ET • Public
October Information Session
💬 Thu, October 15, 2026 • 1:00 PM ET • Public
Affinity Conversation: Course Marking for Open Education
💬 Tue, October 20, 2026 • 1:00 PM ET • Public
2026 Open Education Conference (OpenEd26)
👥 October 27–29, 2026 • Virtual • Registration Open
Open Education National Summit
👥 November 10–12, 2026 • Chicago • Application Only
Student Rights in the Era of AI: What It Means for Open Education
🎥 Recording Posted
Thanks for reading. We’ll be back next month with more updates and opportunities.
Not a member yet? Learn more. Already a member? Here’s where to start.
