Since Fall 2017, UTA Libraries has collected data on courses reported to the UTA Bookstore as "Low Cost Educational Resources" or "Free Educational Resources." Using the SPARC Method for Estimating OER Savings, we calculate the total cost savings on course materials to students who enroll in these courses. The interactive chart below shows estimated cost savings by semester. Use the scrollbar below the chart to see the filters on the right.
From Fall 2017 to Spring 2022, 102,044 students enrolled in one of these courses, for a estimated total cost savings of $11,788,250.36.
Note: "Low Cost Educational Resources" means the total cost for course materials is $25 or less per student.
A grant from the US Department of Education Open Textbooks Pilot Program will support creation of six open textbooks for transportation and planning. Read UTA Libraries press release.
Twelve members of the UTA community presented at the Open Education and Open Education Global virtual conferences in Fall 2020, and UTA Libraries sponsored attendance for eight faculty through our open education travel scholarship program. Read more on our blog.
"Open educational resources improve accessibility, provide free learning materials to students" by Shambhavi Rimal was published in The Shorthorn on October 7, 2020.
In Fall 2020, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board launched OERTX, a digital repository of OER created to ease resource discovery and provide curated content mapped to Texas courses and curricula.
The University of Texas System Affordable Learning Accelerator Task Force issued a statement in July 2020 "asking faculty and administrators across the UT System to strongly consider including OER as they plan Fall 2020 courses." The announcement noted, "COVID-19 has exacerbated the financial need and insecurity of students across the UT System. UT System students need Open Educational Resources now more than ever."
The investment, announced October 1, 2019, is intended to increase both the affordability of college and the success of UTA students. It is the largest award by a public academic institution in the state of Texas specifically supporting OER initiatives.
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