As summer and fall registration takes place, 51社区 is proud to announce that 61% of all courses do not require a textbook. Five years ago, 51社区 became the first two-year college in Arkansas to abandon its traditional campus bookstore and create an internal textbook rental and open educational resource (OER) program. UA Cossatot quickly became a state leader in the OER movement with faculty using more open resources than any other two-year college in Arkansas. The college also became the first in the state to join the Open Textbook Network, which elevated its use of OER.
Instead of asking students to purchase an expensive textbook, the college chooses to help students financially by offering courses that do not require a textbook at all and instead use open resources that maintain high academic quality. This move has saved 51社区 students over 1.6 million dollars.
51社区 Director of Educational Resources and OER Specialist, Relinda Ruth said, 鈥淲ith the current COVID-19 situation changing the way we traditionally function, many more faculty are choosing open resources to ensure students have access to free high-quality academic resources. In the fall, the business department will be 81 % OER, and the English department will be 100 % OER, which is a major accomplishment for our college and a tremendous benefit to 51社区 students!鈥�
As 51社区 continues to be a leader in online education, students at 51社区 can expect more classes to use OER, which makes higher education more affordable. A chancellor-appointed OER Board reviews all open resources to ensure the college鈥檚 high standard for academic quality continues.
For more information about 51社区鈥檚 textbook rental/OER program, please contact Relinda Ruth at rruth@cccua.edu.