Open education resources expand affordable learning at UC Clermont

As the cost of college continues to rise, the University of Cincinnati Clermont College is finding practical ways to help students save money through the growing use of open education resources (OER). These efforts will be highlighted during Open Education Week, March 2–6, which focuses nationally on the use of open textbooks and other low‑cost course materials.

Open textbooks are typically licensed through Creative Commons, allowing faculty and students to use and adapt them without copyright concerns. Because they are freely available and often digital, open textbooks offer more flexibility than traditional materials while removing a significant financial barrier for students.

“It’s expensive for students to go to college, and there’s little we can do about tuition or fees,” said Kathy Ladell, librarian at UC Clermont. “This is a small way we can help, especially for students who choose Clermont because of the cost (which is half of most four-year institutions).”

The UC Clermont Frederick A. Marcotte Library plays a central role in supporting these affordability efforts. Libraries nationwide have spent more than a decade developing online repositories of open textbooks, and Clermont faculty are increasingly adopting them. One way the college encourages this work is through the Alternative Textbook Incentive Program (ATIP), which provides faculty with a $500 stipend and a course release to redesign a course using an open textbook. The program accepts a small cohort each year, and a third cohort was recently selected.

The impact can be substantial. In one biology lab course, where 100–150 students enroll annually, switching from a traditional $120 lab manual to an open textbook has resulted in thousands of dollars in collective student savings each year.

Faculty also participate in statewide affordability initiatives through OhioLINK, which offers stipends to faculty who complete asynchronous work focused on affordable course materials. Two UC Clermont faculty members have received these grants in the past.

Beyond fully open textbooks, faculty are taking a broad approach to affordability. During Open Education Week, the library will feature “affordability advocates” — faculty whose courses use materials costing less than $40. These strategies include reusing textbooks across semesters, assigning e‑books and online articles, or placing physical textbooks on course reserve.

UC Clermont faculty member Seth Powless has participated in the ATIP program twice and is working to remove traditional textbooks from his courses in the college’s Supply Chain Management Technology program. An assistant professor educator and program coordinator, Powless redesigned his fully online courses to replace costly textbooks with academic articles, industry publications and current online resources. Students select articles that match their interests and demonstrate learning through written, audio  or video assignments — an approach that has increased engagement, improved grades and eliminated textbook costs.

“Supply chain operations change so fast that textbooks are outdated almost immediately,” Powless said. “Using articles instead saves students money and makes the classes more current and engaging. They’d rather read about today’s logistics challenges than case studies from decades ago.”

The library also hosted an affordability workshop in the fall, where faculty shared their experiences and strategies for reducing costs. Together, these efforts reflect a growing commitment at UC Clermont to making education more accessible — one course at a time.

“We are always looking for creative ways to make school more affordable for our students,” said Ladell. “Accessible education — in all forms — is a core part of our mission at UC Clermont.”

Top featured image: Students in the UC Clermont Frederick A. Marcotte Library. photo/Danny Kidd