The Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) has named 10 faculty members – including Franklin College’s Arbin Thapaliya, Ph.D., associate professor of physics – as recipients of the PALSave Open Educator Award for the 2021-22 academic year. 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 move that reduces costs for students, improves access to required texts, and increases student success and retention.

“Dr. Thapaliya’s involvement with the PALSave initiative shows a sensitivity to and recognition of the cost barriers that many students face when pursuing a college degree,” says Kristin Flora, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college. “At Franklin, our faculty and staff collaboratively work to minimize those barriers, and Dr. Thapaliya’s implementation of OERs is a concrete example of our commitment to this work.”

Thapaliya joined the Franklin College staff in 2016. He obtained an undergraduate and a master’s degree from Tribhuvan University in Nepal before completing a second master’s degree and a doctorate degree from Ohio University. He teaches general physics classes, astronomy, ultrasound physics, radiation and health and biomedical optics at Franklin. He is a resident of Greenwood.

“I am a huge proponent of Open Educational Resources,” says Thapaliya. “At Franklin College, the majority of our students receive some form of financial aid. I personally feel that students can utilize that aid for some of their other needs instead of paying for expensive textbooks. Making the learning experience as accessible and affordable as possible for our students is one of the most rewarding feelings for me, and PALSave has been very supportive not only to me, but all the faculty in my department to achieve that goal.”

For more details on the award and fellow recipients, please visit: www.palni.org/palni-recognizes-10-faculty-members-with-open-educator-award/.

For more information, contact Franklin College’s Office of Communications at (317) 738-8185.

POSTED Aug 30, 2022