THEC Open Education Initiative
Open Education Initiative, facilitated by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), brings together key institutional stakeholders from across the state to address course material affordability. Through collaboration and strategic initiatives, the Open Education Initiative works to reduce barriers to student success. It also promotes the use of Open Educational Resources (OER) across Tennessee post-secondary institutions.
The following links highlight the Open Education Initiative's broader efforts:
| Cost -Savings Initiatives | Outlines institutional strategies such as inclusive access, library-based resources, book loan programs, and Z-degree pathways that help lower course material costs. | |
| Textbook Affordability Listserve | A statewide communication tool for faculty and administrators to share ideas, promote events, and collaborate on affordability efforts. | |
| Open Education Resources | Provides an overview of OER, guidance for faculty adoption, institutional support strategies, links to major OER platforms, and access to training and research. | |
| Open Education Week | A global event celebrating open education, featuring webinars, resources, and community engagement opportunities. | |
| THEC Open Education Initiative Pillars | The THEC Open Education Initiative Pillars provide a framework focused on strengthening statewide cross‑sector collaboration, establishing shared definitions and data collection processes, and expanding engagement and support to advance affordable course materials and student success. | |
| TN Open Education Hub | A collaborative online platform where Tennessee educators can create, share, and adapt openly licensed instructional materials. | |
| TN Open Education Report | The 2025 Tennessee Open Education Report provides a statewide overview of how higher education institutions are using Open Educational Resources (OER) as a strategy to improve textbook affordability, highlighting current practices, challenges, and opportunities for expanded adoption. |
THEC Open Education Initiative Steering Committeee
The Steering Committee leads the Open Education Initiative and has identified five focus areas:
- State Benchmarking through Critical Data Collection initiatives and Common Course numbering discussions
- Accessibility through the TN Open Education Hub
- Partnerships for Faculty Awareness and Development
- Marketing including the Textbook Affordability Listserv and the Open Education website.
- Funding Exploration
Learn more about Open Education Initiative outcomes and next steps with this information sheet.
Current Steering Committee Members
| Name | Institution | Role |
| April Crenshaw | Chattanooga State Community College | Interim Department Head, Mathematics; Associate Professor of Mathematics |
| Ashley Sergiadis | East Tennessee State University | Digital Scholarship Librarian |
| Benjamin Lawrence | Jackson State Community College | Associate Professor of Engineering Systems Technology |
| Charity Davenport | Pellissippi State Community College | Instructional Technology Specialist |
| Erica Bell | University of Tennessee at Martin | Executive Director of Regional Centers and Online Programs |
| Ginelle Baskin | Middle Tennessee State University | Open Education Librarian |
| Kate Hall | University of Tennessee System | Director of Workforce Pathways |
| Melissa Mallon | Vanderbilt University | Associate University Librarian for Teaching and Learning |
| Levi Fleming | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | Scholarly Communications Librarian |
| Robbie Melton | Tennessee State University | Acting Interim VP for Academic Affairs; Dean of Graduate School |
| Julie A. Roberts | Tennessee Higher Education Commission | Chief Academic Officer |
| Katherine Brackett | Tennessee Higher Education Commission | Senior Director of Academic Affairs |
| Joshua Nave | Tennessee Higher Education Commission | Director of Academic Affairs |