Craton Earns PALNI Open Educator Award

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INDIANAPOLIS—The Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) has named 10 faculty members as recipients of the PALSave Open Educator Award for the 2021-22 academic year and Anderson University’s Jon Craton is one of the 10 selected. The award recognizes innovation and excellence in support of higher education, textbook affordability, and student success. 

As part of the PALSave: PALNI Affordable Learning Program, these individuals have been key players in the creation and adoption of Open Educational Resources, or OER—a program that reduces costs for students, improves access to required texts, and increases student success and retention. 

“This year’s Open Educator Award recipients have gone above and beyond to help advance student access, which is what OER is all about,” said Amanda Hurford, PALNI’s Scholarly Communications Director and PALSave project lead. “With every single one of PALNI’s 24 supported institutions participating in PALSave, faculty are making a genuine impact on students’ ability to earn a degree. They have built a community of champions for affordable learning, and we’re excited to see their efforts benefit students now and well into the future.”

Craton, an assistant professor of computer science, joined the AU faculty in 2019 and has experience working as a software engineer, consultant, and open source contributor.

“I’m passionate about the use of Open Educational Resources inside and outside of the classroom,” said Craton. “I believe that Open Educational Resources lower the cost of college for students, eliminate waste, and encourage student engagement and learning. High-quality education should be accessible to as many people as possible, and open resources help eliminate barriers for many learners.”

Anderson University is on a mission to educate students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 60 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 20 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult and graduate programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized among top colleges for its business, computer science, cybersecurity, dance, engineering, nursing, and teacher education programs. Anderson University was established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God.