The MI OER Network team is excited to open registration for our 2026 conference this November! [image: MI OER 2026 Conference logo in the style of a Route 66 Highway sign in which the top portion reads "MI OER Conference" with the numeral 26 in the main section of the medallion, the MI OER Network logo affixed to the post below it, against a background showing an open road near a lake and pine trees with a blue sky. At the bottom, the words "OER for the Long Haul" appear in stylized script.] *REGISTRATION* Registration is now open <https://www.mioer.org/events> for the 2026 MI OER Conference, OER for the Long Haul: Building Sustainable Programs to be held at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan on Friday, November 13, 2026. Registration is $30 and includes breakfast, snack breaks, and lunch. Onsite parking is available at no charge. As a thank you for registering early, we will randomly draw four names from among the first twenty registered participants to receive a scholarship to attend the national Open Education Conference (virtual) in October 2026. Registration will close on November 2, 2026. KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND PROGRAM Our keynote speaker for the 2026 Conference will be Amy Hofer, Statewide Open Education Program Director for Oregon's colleges and universities. She recently coauthored the Open Curriculum Development Model, a comprehensive collection of training and process materials for developing high-quality, openly licensed curriculum in higher education. We are pleased to announce that workshops geared towards beginner OER practitioners will be led by Abbey Elder, Open Education Services Librarian at Iowa State University and Statewide Open Education Coordinator for the Iowa Open Education Action Team. Her introductory books on open education, including The OER Starter Kit and The OER Starter Kit for Program Managers, have been used in professional development programs across the United States. We will offer the workshop twice with a limited number of seats available, filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested participants may indicate their interest during registration. Learn more about our keynote speaker, workshop leader, and get updates about the conference program at mioer.org/events <https://www.mioer.org/events>. SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE Funding for conference scholarships is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors. Applications will be accepted through October 16th, and more information is available on our website at mioer.org/events <https://www.mioer.org/events>. SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES Sign up for the MI OER Network <https://www.mioer.org/join> mailing list to receive updates and communicate with fellow MI OER Network members. We look forward to seeing you in November! If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us at info@mioer.org. Sincerely, The MI OER Network conference planning committee: Chair: Molly Ledermann, Washtenaw Community College Raya Samet, University of Michigan-Dearborn Kaylynn Mortensen, Schoolcraft Community College Kendra Lake, North Central Michigan College Kate Pittsley-Sousa, Eastern Michigan University Jill Sodt, Mott Community College Michele Behr, Western Michigan University
