It is no secret that textbooks and course materials have become prohibitively expensive for many a student. But this year, YU Libraries, with the efforts of three instructors and librarians, were able to save YU students $15,918.
YU Libraries’ strategic plan calls for the expanded use of open educational resources (OER) by faculty and zero textbook cost (ZTC) to YU students, and this year the libraries offered stipends to faculty members for the adoption and implementation of existing OER materials (rather than the creation of new ones). Faculty from high enrollment classes were sought out, attracting three instructors—one each from Yeshiva College, Stern College for Women, and Wurzweiler School of Social Work.
One of the award recipients, Professor Alex Rand from Wurzweiler School of Social Work, when asked what advice he would give to other faculty members considering the inclusion of OER/ZTC stated, “It is easier than you think and can help our students save on unnecessary expenses.” Adding that the experience of locating and evaluating OER for his course was a very positive one, he praised the collaborative process with his librarian, describing it as “[a]n absolute pleasure to work with [them].”
Professor Rand concluded, “I was motivated by the idea that with all the free available information online we should be trying to help our students avoid all unnecessary expenses. The stipend really made it worthwhile and pushed me to do it.” Professor Miriam Hirsch from Stern College for Women, another of the award recipients, echoed these sentiments when she posited, “I felt that making the course resources cheaper and more accessible would encourage students to invest in closer reading of the course texts and articles.” Adding, “The biggest piece for me this semester is that my students do not have any excuse not to do the readings.
Asked as a participant in YU Libraries' summer OER/ZTC grant initiative, what value did she see in YU Libraries' efforts to foster OER/ZTC at YU, Professor Hirsch explained, “Giving the rising costs of tuition, transportation, and living expenses, I think that it is very helpful to our students to have [had] this OER/ZTC initiative. I also really appreciated the hard work that the librarians put in to find current, innovative, and engaging scholarship for my students. The additional resources significantly enhanced and upgraded my course this semester, and I am very appreciative to the YU [Libraries] for providing this opportunity.”
–Justin Thomas, Public Services and User Experience Librarian
