Bio: Dr. Mark J. Sciuchetti Jr., Interim Senior Director of Honors and Special Programs, is an Associate Professor at Jacksonville State University, specializing in Geography with a focus on Music Geography, Cultural Geography, and GIS. He holds a Ph.D. in Geography and an M.M. in Musicology from Florida State University. Dr. Sciuchetti’s research interests span across the integration of geographic information systems (GIS) with musicology, the impact of soundscapes on cultural geography, and the implementation of Open Educational Resources (OER) to enhance educational accessibility and affordability. He has been instrumental in developing and leading various academic and community projects, including mapping historical soundscapes and advocating for the adoption of OER in higher education.
Fellow Statement: I am deeply honored to be chosen as the President's OER Faculty Fellow for 2024-2025. This program provides a unique opportunity to advance my commitment to educational equity by promoting the adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER). I am grateful to be part of this initiative that allows me to collaborate with colleagues and JSU to transform our curriculum to make higher education more accessible and affordable for all our students.
The initiative I am leading aims to integrate Open Educational Resources (OER) into Jacksonville State University's curriculum to significantly reduce student cost and enhance educational accessibility. My initiative this year focuses on establishing OER training programs, developing an OER Certification for faculty (Open Education Resource Specialist (OERS) Certificate Program), organizing workshops for Departmental Champions to adopt OER, and creating a robust resource repository; the overall goal is to transition numerous courses at JSU to OER. This transformation will not only alleviate financial burdens on students but also foster a more innovative and adaptable teaching environment, aligning with JSU's strategic goals of academic excellence and student success.