CT HB06771

Redefines "open educational resource" to include any teaching, learning or research resource offered freely in at least one form and either in the public domain or released under a creative commons attribution license or other open copyright license.

Establishes the Connecticut Open Educational Resource Coordinating Council within Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, consisting of a state-wide coordinator, representatives from UConn, regional community colleges, Charter Oak State College, Connecticut State University System, independent institutions, and one student.

Council shall identify high-impact courses for open educational resources, establish competitive grant programs for faculty to develop or adopt such resources, and administer a standardized review and approval process.

Council must develop a model policy for institutions of higher education that includes definitions for open educational resource terms, methods for data collection, and ways to identify courses utilizing open educational resources in online catalogs.

Requires the council to submit biennial reports to the joint standing committee on higher education by February 1, 2024 and thereafter, detailing the number of courses utilizing open educational resources, promotion efforts, grant amounts awarded, and recommendations for statutory amendments.