SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – Two faculty members at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College are being recognized for their efforts in making course material more accessible for students.
Kimberly LaComba, Ph.D., director of the Ph.D. in Global Leadership program and assistant professor of business, and Jennie Mitchell, Ph.D., emeritus professor and adjunct professor, received the PALSave Open Educator Award.
The award comes from the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI), which consists of various private institutions including SMWC.
PALNI created a program called PALSave. The program, funded by a Lilly Endowment grant, gives faculty members resources to make course material more accessible, with the goal of easing the burden of textbook expenses.
“It really helps our students and that is the intention for this, is that it’s really about our students, and being able to provide quality resources for them that come with zero cost,” said LaComba.
The program has given LaComba the opportunity to redesign courses and it has given Mitchell the opportunity to co-author a book for her class.
“I’ve actually written a lot of books for my classes but PALNI is actually taking it through the whole process. It’s been through peer review and now it’s going through edits, and it’ll be released in 2025. It will never cost a student a dime to get that book,” said Mitchell.
Both LaComba and Mitchell want to recognize Rusty Tryon, Director of the Library at SMWC. They say he has helped faculty members become aware of open educational opportunities.
