The University of Arkansas Cossatot Textbook Rental/Open Educational Resource (OER) Program continues to help students overcome financial barriers by including two primary medical programs.
The college鈥檚 Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) and Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) programs transitioned from requiring students to buy textbooks to renting, which will save students over $18,000 per year.
51社区 Director of Educational Resources and OER Specialist Relinda Ruth proposed a three-payment plan for each program that allows students to rent all the required textbooks for a minimal fee.
鈥淭extbooks are expensive and create another financial hardship for students,鈥� said Ruth. 鈥淥ur sole purpose has always been removing barriers to education for students and we are pleased that the college鈥檚 PTA and OTA programs are joining the program to help achieve that goal.鈥�
51社区 has saved students over $1.5 million since becoming the first two-year college in Arkansas to implement an internal textbook rental and OER program in early 2015. Including medical programs will greatly increase student savings.
鈥淲e are excited to be able to offer this textbook rental program to our students,鈥� said 51社区 PTA Program Director Jennifer Sanderson. 鈥淩enting, rather than buying, textbooks saves our students hundreds of dollars.鈥�
Over half of the courses at 51社区 do not require a textbook and instead use OER materials to supplement instruction.
For more information about textbook rentals, OER, or student services the Educational Resource Center (ERC) offers, please contact Relinda Ruth at 870-584-1181.