11 Example email template

Dear [Professor’s Name],

I hope you are doing well. My name is [Your Name], and I am a student in [Course Name] this term. I wanted to reach out regarding course materials and explore whether Open Educational Resources (OER) might be a viable option for this or future courses.

As you may know, textbook costs can be a significant financial burden for students. OER are free, high-quality educational resources that can be customized to align with specific course objectives while ensuring all students have equitable access to learning materials.

Some key benefits of OER include:

• Affordability: OER removes financial barriers for students by providing free access to course materials.

• Customization: Instructors can adapt, edit, or combine OER to tailor content specifically for their course.

• Accessibility & Flexibility: Many OER resources are available in multiple formats, enhancing learning opportunities for all students.

• Sustainability: OER reduces reliance on costly publisher materials and promotes long-term access to knowledge.

If you are interested in exploring OER, McMaster University provides dedicated support for faculty members through the library’s OER guide (libguides.mcmaster.ca/oer). Additionally, there are grant programs available to help fund the development or adaptation of OER for courses.

You can also reach out to oer@mcmaster.ca for further guidance, resources, or information about funding opportunities.

Thank you for your time and for considering this suggestion. I appreciate the effort you put into making this course an engaging and accessible learning experience.