Rutgers University Libraries Issue OAT Program Awards for 2025–2026

The Open and Affordable Textbooks (OAT) Program awards research funds to Rutgers instructors who make their courses more affordable by using low-cost materials, library content, or open educational resources in lieu of pricey textbooks.

Following a universitywide call for applications during the spring semester, the Libraries have granted 19 OAT Program awards for the 2025–2026 academic year. These awards are projected to lower the cost of course materials for 3,183 Rutgers students and provide an estimated savings of $395,654. This is in addition to the 64,595 students who have saved a cumulative estimate of $13.14 million since the program’s inception.

“The OAT Program continues to build community around the need for open educational resources across the university,” said Consuella Askew, vice president for university libraries and university librarian. “NJPIRG students at Rutgers have championed the issue of textbook affordability and helped raise awareness about the OAT Program from the beginning, and a growing cadre of Rutgers faculty are placing a priority on course material affordability. We look forward to working with this year’s recipients as they bring their projects to fruition.”

This year’s OAT Program awardees, listed below, represent all four main Rutgers divisions: Rutgers University–New Brunswick, Rutgers University–Newark, Rutgers University–Camden, and Rutgers Health.

Course Redesign Award

The following instructors were selected to receive $2,500 in research funds to redesign their courses using low-cost materials, library content, or open educational resources. 

• Jesse Bayker, Department of History, Camden College of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers–Camden
• Michael Carniol, Department of Accounting and Information Systems, Rutgers Business School–Newark and New Brunswick
• Lauren Daniel, Department of Psychology, Camden College of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers–Camden
• Nathan Fong, School of Business–Camden, Rutgers–Camden
• Surya Teja Gavva, Department of Computer Science, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers–New Brunswick
• Calvin Lai, Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers–New Brunswick
• Roie Levin, Department of Computer Science, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers–New Brunswick
• Peng Liu, Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers–New Brunswick
• Laura Lomas, Department of English, School of Arts and Sciences–Newark, Rutgers–Newark
• Sangita Pudasainee-Kapri, School of Nursing–Camden, Rutgers–Camden
• Bhagavathi Ramamurthy, Department of Physician Assistant Studies, School of Health Professions, Rutgers Health
• Anabelle Rodriguez, Department of Visual, Media, and Performing Arts, Camden College of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers–Camden
• James Rushing, Department of World Languages and Cultures, Camden College of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers–Camden
• Jinjing (Jenny) Wang, Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers–New Brunswick

Authoring Award

The following instructors were selected to receive $3,500 in research funds for the creation and development of a completely new open textbook.

• Amml Hussein, School of Social Work, Rutgers–New Brunswick
• Jesse Liss, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, School of Arts and Sciences–Newark, Rutgers–Newark
• Co-applicants William Kernan and Barbara Niedz, Division of Advanced Nursing Practice, School of Nursing, Rutgers Health
• Natalia Noce, Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Sciences, School of Health Professions, Rutgers Health
• Co-applicants Victoria Ramenzoni, Jack Harris, and Rachael Shwom, Department of Human Ecology, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers–New Brunswick

More information about this year’s recipients and their projects is available on the Rutgers University Libraries website.