1. Creating More Affordable Education: Open Educational Resources
The Pathway to Success
Goal 5 – Initiative 3
Creating More Affordable Education: Open Educational Resources

2. Accomplishments Since 2013-14 Report
Implemented self-study course for faculty – Teaching with OERs – based on experience from Fall 2013 pilot period. Formalized recruitment time period Converted 21 classes to OER from Summer Spring 2015

3. Initiative Benchmarks
Benchmark Table
Initiative Benchmarks
FY 2014A
FY 2014G
FY 2015A
FY 2015G
Fall 2016
Fall 2017
Number of students taking at least one course that uses only OER (zero or minimal class materials fee)
672
800
1073
1000
1200
1400
Number of courses using OERs 17 5 23 20 30 40
Total amount saved by students on textbook costs
$84K
$100K
$179K
$125K
$150K
$175K
*This number will increase to include Summer 2015 classes – about more students and at least 3 classes using OER are scheduled for the summer semester.
** This benchmark used to count only faculty, but we have found that some faculty are interested in converting more than one of their courses.
***This value is measured cumulatively over the entire length of the project.

4. Accomplishments Since Plan Inception
Total Students
1,745
Textbook Affordability Impact
$179K saved
Faculty Participants 21
Number of classes using OER
30 unique / 41 total
Multi-section OER adoptions 2
Ave. Response Rate for Student Surveys
Pre-Survey: 62%
Post-Survey: 71%

5. Baseline Recommendation
Has this initiative been sufficiently integrated into your operations? No… but….
We are a “hybrid” activity which is not part of a particular department or program that could absorb the costs of the stipends we are giving faculty (currently IR and Library). This initiative will require external continued funding through the administration or strategic plan to maintain itself, as well as a more “permanent” home.

6. Looking Ahead - Recommendations
Expanding program to all undergraduate classes Support for faculty to create OERs
Right now we are limiting classes to foundational studies requirements or classes required for majors.
OERs would be published in Sycamore Scholars (our institutional repository), under a creative commons license – available to anyone with an internet connection.

7. Foreseeable Roadblocks
Recruitment is necessary and time-consuming Ongoing lack of faculty knowledge about OERs Will this initiative be funded in future strategic plans? OER adoption, use, and creation are not viewed as a significant part of promotion and tenure.
Direct to all faculty, word of mouth, four yearly recruitment workshops
Initiative is solely funded through SP dollars. Library nor IR can absorb the costs of faculty stipends. How will be funded in the future? Where will it “live?”

8. New Points of Emphasis
Strengthening the Teaching with OERs self-study course Formalizing participation requirements & procedures
Includes adding contract for all classes

9. Missed Opportunities
We are aware of textbook publisher reps who are interested in working towards providing textbook content via a course-fee model
Our initiative is solely focused on providing free materials to students. Cost savings might be realized by exploring other options.

10. Creating More Affordable Education: Open Educational Resources
Questions?
Creating More Affordable Education: Open Educational Resources