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In response to the nationally documented impact the cost of commercial textbooks has on the personal lives and academic progress of university students, the Oklahoma State University Libraries created the OpenOKState open educational resources program. The OpenOKState program partners with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to provide faculty stipends, instructional design support, advocacy and education to facilitate collaboration and innovation among OSU faculty, instructors, administrators and students working to increase access to higher education.

Contributions to OER can also count as scholarly work for faculty being considered for tenure and promotion.  Dr. Gary Sandefur, former Oklahoma State University provost, spoke in support of this, making OSU one of the first United States research institutions to do so. The video is about a minute long, and worth a watch.

OSU and OER

One of the reasons Provost Sandefur supported faculty engagement with OER is because he viewed its use as very much in alignment with the mission of Oklahoma State University. The OSU Mission states that the University “promotes learning, advances knowledge, enriches lives, and stimulates economic development through teaching, research extension, outreach and creative activities.”

Think back to what you read in the OER 101 chapter. In what ways do you think the use of OER aligns with the OSU mission statement? Add your observations to the Padlet below, building on our observations from the previous chapter.

Most definitely, having 89% of our students experiencing stress related to the cost of textbooks does not enrich lives, one of the goals stated in the OSU mission statement. Students having to choose majors based on whether or not they can afford to purchase the textbooks does little to promote learning or advance knowledge. On the other hand, the innovative pedagogy and creative scholarship which frequently emerges through the use of OER does contribute to productive teaching, research, outreach and creative activities.

How might you articulate the ways the creation and use of OER supports the goals outlined in our university mission statement? What would you add to the statements below? Can you create a statement that more accurately represents the student perspective?

“Open Educational Resources can help reduce student anxiety related to the cost of textbooks (Jenkins et al., 2020). Because OSU is committed to promoting learning through creation of effective learning environments, the OSU  Library supports the creation and use of OER.”

“The use of Open Educational Resource is a high impact strategy which can assist in addressing social justice issues (Jenkins et al., 2020). Because OSU is committed to access to knowledge creation across a diverse community, the OSU Library supports the creation and use of OER.”

Measuring Impact

As of Fall 2024, classroom use of OpenOKState grant supported OER has saved OSU students over $2,600,000.00. Over 50 course modifications have been completed with support from OpenOKState programs,  and with the Fall 2022 implementation of OER for ENGL 1113 all incoming freshmen have the option of taking at least one course that does not require a textbook purchase.

At least 97 OSU courses are no longer requiring textbook purchases. All sections of English Composition,  Technical Writing (ENGL 3323),  Introduction to Speech Communications (SPCH 2173), and GRMN are using OER. Over 3500 students per semester are impacted by department-wide adoption of OER.

Faculty and students from OSU are active in state-wide advocacy regarding the use of OER, sharing OSU experiences with colleges and universities throughout Oklahoma and beyond. OSU scholarship and research related to OER is being used to inform legislative and funding efforts aimed to support OER, and OSU leads the way for the state in providing course markings which make it easier for students to identify and enroll in courses using OER.

Want to lend your voice? The next chapter provides a Call to Action and explores ways you might consider joining the movement.

Reviewed and updated 

11.19.2024, kathy.essmiller@okstate.edu