Affordable Learning Upstate: Affordable and Open Educational Resources

. . . BE IT RESOLVED that the Student Government Association supports the use of open textbooks; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Student Government Association encourages faculty to consider open textbooks and other low-cost course materials, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Student Government Association encourages USC Upstate to offer aid and support to faculty to consider and adopt open textbooks.

Open Textbooks Resolution, SGA, Spring 2021

Concerned about course materials costs?

• $223,428 in estimated savings for students for 19 courses revised through Affordable Learning Upstate between Fall 2021 and Fall 2023!
• 21% of Upstate courses report using OER or low-cost ($50 or less) required course materials!
• 30 Upstate faculty have received the PAL (Professor for Affordable Learning) Award from PASCAL (Partnership Among South Carolina Academic Libraries) for at least one course using OER or low-cost materials, and this number is growing!
• Courses using no-cost and low-cost materials have been shown to have a higher student success rate!

How you can help!

• Be an advocate for affordable course materials to other students and faculty.
• Serve as a student representative on the Affordable Learning Upstate Advisory Committee.
• Sign up for a focus group about affordable learning!
• Record a testimonial about course materials costs or your experience with OER for PASCAL. (Make an appointment with Dr. Kearns.)
• Nominate a professor who uses OER or low-cost materials for the PAL Award!

Read Up on OER