In this episode of Open-Ed Mic, the hosts speak with Andrew McKinney (CUNY) about open education, tenure promotion, and the challenges faced by faculty in higher education. McKinney shares insights from the DOERS community’s work documenting how faculty across institutions are integrating OER and open pedagogy into tenure portfolios. The conversation explores the cultural and structural barriers faculty face, the importance of grassroots departmental change, and the broader potential of open education to transform teaching and empower students as knowledge creators. The episode also reflects on emerging trends like AI and the long-term role of teaching in the mission of public higher education.