4.3 Considering Sustainability

Introduction

As you build your institution's open education initiative, it's helpful to plan proactively for sustainability as you grow and scale. SUNY's OER Field Guide for Sustainability Planning¹ Links to an external site. suggests conceptualizing sustainability around three core areas: Infrastructure, Resources, and Culture. The framework around these areas is robust and was built upon an initial framework developed as part of the Achieving the Dream OER Degree Initiative. Each of the components that fit within the three areas is illustrated through examples from a wide range of higher education institutions. It is clear through reading the field guide that there is no one right way to go about building, scaling, and sustaining your open education initiative, but being thoughtful and strategic about resource deployment will help.

Image from SUNY's OER Field Guide for Sustainability Planning Links to an external site.

Required Reading

This brief case study² Links to an external site.demonstrates how the State University of New York (SUNY) System worked with the rpk GROUP to make their OER initiative scalable and sustainable, and it provides an example of how the customized resources SUNY created as they developed their OER sustainability plans. Think about what resources your institution may have to adapt or create as you seek to implement and grow open education on your campus.

Optional Reading and Resources

As you peruse SUNY's OER Field Guide for Sustainability Planning Links to an external site., consider which areas you feel have already been sufficiently addressed at your institution, which you feel merit more attention and resources, and which you feel are in only nascent stages or have received no resources thus far. Notice the examples along with each component, and consider which area and corresponding components you would prioritize based on the maturity of the open education initiative at your institution. Please also consider the OER Sustainability Assessment Tool and the OER Sustainability Planning Guide on SUNY's OER Services website Links to an external site. as possible resources for sustainability planning.

The Regional Leaders in Open Education Links to an external site. (RLOE) Sustainability Workgroup developed the RLOE Sustainability Guide Links to an external site.³ to serve as a practical guide offering open education advocates "a range of activities and tactics that can be made to fit their environments and resources." The workgroup developed an OER in Higher Ed Infrastructure Examples spreadsheet Links to an external site. which collects concrete examples of existing practices from institutions and organizations in the US, Canada, the UK, and elsewhere organized around the ten component areas identified in the SUNY OER Sustainability Framework. This spreadsheet is designed to be a living document that open education practitioners can update with relevant examples. The Sustainability Guide also touches upon the importance of comprehensive communication strategies with an OER Advocate Guide for Institutional Engagement Links to an external site. and a sample communication chart based on the academic calendar.

Footnotes

1. OER Field Guide for Sustainability Planning: Framework, Information and Resources Links to an external site. by rpk GROUP for the State University of New York (SUNY) System is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Links to an external site..

2. Sustaining OER Across the State University of New York (SUNY) System: Capitalizing on State Investment by Creating an Educational Ecosystem Links to an external site. by Donna Desrochers & Katie Hagan is licensed under CC BY 4.0 Links to an external site..

3. RLOE Sustainability Guide Links to an external site. by the Regional Leaders in Open Education Links to an external site. Sustainability Workgroup is licensed under CC BY 4.0 Links to an external site..

Now that we have contemplated sustainability measures of successful OER programs, go on to test your understanding with a self test by selecting the Next button below.