University Of Alaska Anchorage: Call For Nominations - $1,000 Affordable Course Materials Award

Press release from the University of Alaska Anchorage:

November 17, 2021

Have you adopted Open Educational Resources (OER)* or, in some other way, significantly
lowered the cost of course materials or textbooks in this current semester or in a
previous one? Or do you know a colleague who has?

If so, consider nominating yourself or colleague(s) for a $1000 Consortium Library
Affordable Course Materials Award. We intend to present at least 10 awards in 2022.
For collaborative projects, each contributing member is eligible to receive up to
$1000. The purpose of the award is two fold. First, we’d like to recognize faculty
who have made sustainable and substantial cost reductions for students. The second
purpose is to encourage faculty to get the cost of their course materials as close
to zero as possible.

In an environment of rapidly-rising costs in higher education, easing the financial
burden felt by students is critical to their success. A significant part of that burden
is the increasing costs of textbooks and course materials. In addition to the financial
benefits for students, affordable content encourages a better educational experience
in which all students have access to materials on the first day of class, regardless
of their financial circumstances. Switching courses to no-cost materials (like OER)
has been found to increase retention, improve GPA, and ease the pathway to graduation
(Colvard, et al.). The use of OER also increases opportunities for creative pedagogical approaches
by instructors.

Faculty may directly reduce textbook costs for students by forgoing commercial textbooks
in favor of OER, Consortium Library resources, freely available web-based materials,
instructor-designed course materials, and other low- or no-cost resources. The Library
Advisory Committee and the Consortium Library support these efforts.

To nominate yourself or others, complete the nomination survey by March 1, 2022. Preference will be given to applicants who haven’t previously received
this award.

The committee will consider the following:

For more information about this award, including eligibility, previous winners, and
more, visit the library's Affordable Course Materials Award webpage.

On a related matter, are you interested in transitioning your course(s) to OER or
other no-cost materials? Consider completing UAA's OER/ZTC Certificate program which provides faculty with the essential information needed to consider transitioning
courses away from commercial products to OER or ZTC (zero textbook cost) course materials.

Sam Cook, Chairscook25@alaska.edu Library Advisory Committee

*OER refers to “teaching, learning, and research resources that are free of cost and
access barriers, and which also carry legal permission for open use” (SPARC).

This press release was produced by the University of Alaska Anchorage. The views expressed here are the author’s own.