A Textbook Case

Checkbook Savings

Free access to digital materials saves MTSU students more than $1.4 million on textbooks so far

by Nancy DeGennaro

As a Pell Grant-eligible student, MTSU Political Science major Jorge Avila was shocked at the sticker price for textbooks his freshman year.

“I knew I’d have to pay for textbooks, but it was a challenge. My family is not financially affluent,” said Avila, now a junior. “And it does take a good chunk out of your funds.”

Avila’s struggle to buy course materials is not uncommon. A study by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group showed 66% of college students nationwide forgo buying textbooks despite concerns about grades.

College textbooks have nearly doubled in cost over the past decade, with hard-copy versions ranging from $150 to $400 each and annual spending on materials as high as $1,200— roughly three times the rate of inflation—according to the nonprofit Education Data Initiative.

But MTSU is helping ensure student success by offering free digital access to scholastic materials through open educational resources (OER), with over $1.4 million in textbook savings since the program was implemented in 2021.

“Open educational resources provide the opportunity for the library to advance student success on campus as well as academic excellence by ensuring students have information and course materials available to them at low or no cost,” said Kathleen Schmand, dean of MTSU’s James E. Walker Library, where the OER program is headquartered.

Commitment to Cutting Costs

Open educational resources, from textbooks to videos and more, “are materials for teaching or learning that are either in the public domain or have been released under a license that allows them to be freely used, changed, or shared with others,” according to EdWeek.org. Accessible online, these resources also typically provide downloading options for students who prefer a hard copy of the course materials.

“The library is committed to driving down textbook costs. And OER demonstrates the University’s commitment to being equitable, inclusive, and student-centered,” said Ginelle Baskin, the Walker Library student success and open education librarian who oversees OER.

More than 14,200 students have benefited from at least one of MTSU’s 78 OER courses, which have more than quadrupled in number over the past two years, according to data collected since 2022 by the MTSU Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Planning, and Research.

“As MTSU desires its students’ success, it makes sense to implement free resources in classes to remove some of the barriers faced by a large portion of its students,” said Victoria Grigsby, a Student Government Association (SGA) senator who worked on legislation defending OER.

Grigsby noted that 35% of MTSU students use need-based financial aid, making OER a vital asset.

“Additionally, as a Blue Elite campus tour guide, I can say that OER is a huge selling point for new applicants to MTSU and their families, who are concerned about the financial impact of their education,” said Grigsby, a junior Political Science major.

Students can find courses that use OER by following the detailed instructions at mtsu.edu/oer/textbooks.php.

Avila said he’s a “big fan of OER.”

It just makes education more affordable,” said Avila, who also serves as an SGA senator. “Personally, I’ve had classes where I was fortunate to not have to pay for textbooks, and that has been a great help.

Setting Up Students for Success

For decades, consumers had little choice but to accept the out-of-control rising prices for college textbooks. The digital revolution has changed all that.

In 2020, MTSU received a $100,000 grant from the Tennessee Board of Regents to bolster the University’s OER, which can be a game-changer for many students who face the choice between textbooks or groceries and gas.

OER can replace conventional materials without impacting student performance. In fact, OER has been shown to increase student learning by providing affordable course materials.

“With OER, you don’t have to worry about people getting behind,” said Baskin, who was tapped to lead the program in 2023.

Ann Mulhearn, a History lecturer at MTSU, adopted OER for her general education American history classes, and the feedback has been “overwhelmingly positive.”

“They appreciate the savings, of course. It's frustrating to have purchased a $100 book and only use two chapters in it,” Mulhearn said. “OER solves that problem—only what is truly needed for the class is included in the class.

“They can also download the material to their devices and use it offline, which is extremely convenient. That type of flexibility again removes a barrier to full student participation in the learning process.”

Developing OER can be challenging, Baskin said, and one of the biggest hurdles for educators is finding open textbooks for their classes. But that’s where the OER team really shines.

“We can show them where to look, and if there is OER, they can adapt it and change it, too,” Baskin said. “It’s neat to see items out there that are valuable and affordable learning materials.”

Affordable, Adaptable, and Accessible

Building a foundation of high-quality OER can offer educators resources to customize course content so that it is current and relevant.

If there aren’t open textbook resources, Baskin said, the team can help educators create course materials from scratch. The OER team at MTSU is also dedicated to helping faculty find or adapt materials for coursework.

“We are trying to get faculty to use OER. We don’t expect people to understand the process right off the bat. But when you know better, we do better,” Baskin said. “And I feel like there’s growing support for OER.”

MTSU Provost Mark Byrnes recently approved funding for the library to pilot an Affordable Course Materials grant program for faculty to support the adoption and creation of OER classes (see sidebar at bottom).

Assistant Professor Angela Hooser has spent the last few years redesigning her Introduction to Education class, which examines schools as historical and sociopolitical institutions and explores effective teaching practices. As she researched sources, she began to replace expensive texts with various pieces of OERs.

“I then connected with support at MTSU and realized that I could create my own OER that aligned with course objectives,” Hooser said. “OER has allowed for diverse perspectives and intersectional identities to be embedded seamlessly within the course.”

Emphasizing open educational resources, these grants promote academic innovation, improve educational equity, and position MTSU at the forefront of the global movement toward open education.And knocking down barriers to education is the overarching theme of OER.

And knocking down barriers to education is the overarching theme of OER.

Learn more about OER at mtsu.edu/oer

Faculty Incentive

MTSU’s Walker Library this fall is piloting a new Affordable Course Materials grant program that supports faculty in the adoption, adaptation, or creation of no-cost course materials for their classes.

Emphasizing open educational resources, these grants promote academic innovation, improve educational equity, and position MTSU at the forefront of the global movement toward open education.

Course materials can include textbooks as well as other teaching materials, such as videos, slide decks, podcasts, or other supplementary materials. Award amounts will range from $500 to $4,000 depending on the project, and preference will be given to projects impacting high-enrollment courses.