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Open Educational Resources (OER) & Textbook Affordability

Open Educational Resources

Student Stories

UTRGV's mission is to transform the Rio Grande Vally, the Americas, and the world through an innovative and accessible educational environment that promotes student success, research, creative works, health and well-being, community engagement, and sustainable development. The University Library is taking great strides to ensure our students have an accessible educational environment that promotes student success by advocating for students to have affordable textbooks. Through our Textbook Affordability Project, we are engaging faculty in discussions on how they can make a difference in student's lives by choosing quality teaching materials that have Zero-Cost or Low-Cost for students. 

View a list of UTRGV's current Zero and Low-Cost courses here:

Fall 2022 Zero-Cost Course List Fall 2022 Low-Cost Course List

 


 

Tough Decisions. What students do to afford course materials. 25% of students worked extra hours. 11% of students skipped a meal. 19% of students chose courses based on cost. Choose Wisely. Students choose between textbooks, access codes, and their grade. 63% of students skipped buying or renting a textbook. 17% of students skipped buying an access code. 90% of students worried this would impact their grade.

All data is from the Fixing the Broken Textbook Market report conducted by a U.S. Pirg survey completed in June 2020.

 

Vaquero Voices

This is a sample of real student voices collected around campus about textbook prices and how they directly impact their lives. 

food for my sister and I, or to help my parents pay for certain things
My little sister's school supplies
I spent $600 on textbooks. With that money I could have bought one of my citizenship applications.
Gas, Clothes, or just saved it

Student Involvement

Vaqueros, your voices matter! The student body and its needs are the driving force behind any university initiative. Here are some ways you can advocate for FREE and AFFORDABLE course materials at UTRGV.

Keys to Success

This video podcast is hosted and curated by Dr. Katrina Roush and Charley Roush. They will focus on incorporating a wide variety of topics such as time management; practicing; mental and physical health; asking for help; staying focused at home; connecting with peers, colleagues, professors; discussing how musicians’ lives can be enhanced by library resources, information literacy, and research; and conducting interviews with professors, librarians, students, and staff, as well as colleagues outside of the university. To reach out to our hosts please contact them at UTRGVKeysToSuccess@gmail.com.