Gwen Morel, director of the THECB Division of Digital Learning, reported on open educational resources (OER) work, conferences and fellowship programs.
Morel said the division posted a request for applications for a regular OER grant competition that closed June 25; the agency anticipates funding about five projects with a projected total of $370,000 and will announce awards later in the month. The RFA solicited projects to adopt, modify, redesign or develop workforce-education courses that use only OER, with priority for high-demand community college fields.
Morel also reported that the Southern Regional Education Board’s Educational Technology Cooperative awarded a $710,000 grant program and that two Texas institutions — Laredo College and South Plains College — were among the awardees. She said the division’s OER fellowship program completed year‑two applications and announced a new cohort; the fellowship supports mentor relationships and capacity building for OER adoption.
On data, Morel said preliminary analysis of the OER landscape survey is underway and the division plans to publish the full report later this fall.
On events, Morel announced the agency’s annual Higher Ed 2025 conference in Austin in December, with a conference site and a STAR awards program for institutions; Texas Digital Learning Week is planned for November and the division’s Digital Learning Summit is scheduled for February 2026.
Morel said staff will circulate links and follow‑up materials to committee members and welcomed questions about the OER and digital learning initiatives.