Here's an example for a brief statement to put in your course syllabus if you're using OER or other free materials, from Rajiv Jhangiani of Brock University.
Course Readings:
Here’s the thing: I don’t want you to spend $200 on a textbook if I can avoid it. And I can avoid it, because we will use a free and open textbook. It is available here in a variety of digital formats (entirely free for you to use or print as needed), but if you prefer you can also order a print copy. It is very important to me that higher education be affordable to any student who wishes to access it.
Convert Your Courses to Free or Low-Cost Materials with AL$!
Applications Due November 18, 2022
Search Party to Locate OER November 17, 2022
Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$) funding provides stipends to faculty to support the adoption of affordable, high quality educational content for their students. More info at the AL$ Guide https://library.csum.edu/affordable.
AL$ Conversion 1: Change course materials to save 75-100%: $1,000 1st section, $500/section up to 3 total.
AL$ Conversion 2: Change course materials to save 30%-75%: $500 first section, $250/section up to 3 total.
Zero-cost from the get-go: Course has always had free materials. Identify the standard text or most likely textbook for this course, submit a showcase in MERLOT and conduct a student textbook survey: $500/section up to 3 total.
Kitty Luce,, kluce@csum.edu or Laurie Borchard, lborchard@csum.edu
Apply here!
Once your proposal to convert your course sections to free or low-cost course materials is approved, it's a good idea to start gathering information early! To receive the stipend, you'll need to complete the guiding questions document below, describing your new course materials and how they affected your students, in order to create a course showcase on the MERLOT / COOL4Ed websites. Here are a few documents to guide you.
Course sections which don't cost students anything in course materials such as textbooks and online access codes can be given a "zero-cost course materials (ZCCM) attribute in the course schedule. Please contact your AL$ Coordinator if you have questions or your course should be listed.
Any materials used in CSU courses need to comply with Section 508, being accessible to all students with or without disabilities. If you have questions, review the resources at Cal Maritime's accessibility websitecheck with the Department of Academic Technology or Disability Services at Cal Maritime.
California State University Maritime Academy
Cal Maritime Library
200 Maritime Academy Drive
Vallejo, CA 94590
707-654-1090
If you experience accessibility barriers using this website, please contact 707-654-1090 or library@csum.edu . You will receive a reply within two business days. The library is committed to remediate accessibility barriers within this website and will provide accommodations until the barriers are remediated.