Students taking OER courses face the risk of losing low-cost textbook benefits

HAZEM ELWARY Reporter @HazemElwary

The status of Online Educational Resources (OER) courses that a new professor must take over remains ambiguous in regards to the material used, causing uncertainty for students enrolled in them.

Ethical and union issues concerning OER courses were discussed at the Academic Senate meeting on April 24.

OER-designated courses do not require students to purchase expensive textbooks and are centered around low-cost, online books that retain few ownership rights.

There is no set rule as to whether a professor ought to resume or teach the class using the intended OER book or to teach the course according to their syllabus and text, which may not be OER.

According to OER Taskforce and Professional Ethics Committee member Cara Gillis, in the situation that a professor can’t teach a class or is bumped for seniority reasons, there is no curriculum to follow.

Professors are able to choose the coursework for the online class. However, if the curriculum is subject to change, it infringes on the freedom of the teacher, and then it becomes an issue for the student.

“That seems to fly in the face of academic freedom, which the code of ethics says with respect to selecting our own textbook,” Gillis said. “And if they don't, what does that do to the students who signed up for the OER course because they thought it was a low or no-cost textbook.”

Essentially, as of now, the fate of students in this situation is apparently at the hands of the replacement professors, who may choose to teach using the designated OER textbooks or decide to use their own curriculum.

“We are wondering if there is a way they can turn it into where if you were bumped and you weren't OER, it wouldn't count on your records as refusing a class if you weren't prepared to teach OER.

That's why we think the union has to get involved in it,” said Distance Education Coordinator Wendy Bass.

The Professional Ethics Committee hopes that a solution that accommodates both students and professors of OER can be implemented. In such a solution, students can remain in an OER regardless of circumstance, and professors, especially adjuncts, who are asked to take over a course, but aren't OER familiar, don't face the risk of having a refusal marked on their records.

“My concern is mostly for the students because that's my orientation, but I'm particularly

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Pierce got talent

Today the Associated Students Organization organized Pierce Got Talent, an open talent show event, at the Great Hall 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Food will be provided for students.

UC decisions

Students who applied to any of the nine UC schools should expect decisions by May 1.

CSU intent to register

Students admitted to CSUs must submit their Statement of Intent to register by May 1.

Transfer day

Representatives from UCLA, CSUN and other schools will on campus throughout the Mall on May 4 to inform and celebrate students transferring for Fall 2017 between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

National college fair

There is a field trip today to Camarillo Airport from 5:30-8:30 p.m. where colleges from across the nation will be in attendance informing students about their transfer options.

ASO elections concerned as well about academic freedom because that's really important,” Faculty Position Priority member Ann Hennessey said. “I suppose to some extent it depends on the discipline, but I certainly wouldn't want someone else picking textbooks for me.”

Secondary items discussed at the meeting were upcoming college events, including the National College Fair, the UCLA STOMP Conference and the UCLA and CSUN Day.

Details on these events are all available at the Career and Transfer Center in the Student Services Building.

Elections for the ASO officer positions begin today, vote for the president, vice president, treasurer and other positions. Ballot boxes will be placed along The Mall.

'Hairspray'

LAPC’s upcoming production of “Hairspray” opens May 5. Tickets can be purchased online at brownpapertickets.com

If there was a way for Pierce students to improve their mood, develop the community and enhance their individual health, shouldn’t the school jump at the chance?

Well there is, and they should.

Pierce should start an organic community garden somewhere on its 426 acres of land. The campus already has an area dedicated as farmland, with cows and goats grazing the pasture. A community garden would fit right in and offer students and neighboring members the chance to come together for a common goal.

The garden could sit near the Equestrian Center where unused planters already exist.

According to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), more than 100 post secondary institutions have a community garden on their campuses.

Riverside Community College (RCC) has one that “intends to make healthy, sustainable food available to [their] community through education and practice,” according to their website rcc.edu.

RCC’s garden is run by volunteers. Pierce could mirror that strategy and have a few staff members train willing students or community members in maintaining the garden. In turn, volunteers would then be able to train new workers and the garden would become self-sustainable.

A garden also provides an opportunity for people to socialize outdoors while getting exercise.

According to Lamar.edu, a recent study shows that residents who live in areas closer to community gardens are more likely to interact with their neighbors. Community gardens offer a place for people from different generations, cultures and ethnicities to come together and create relationships.

Aside from strengthening community ties, a garden would help students lower their stress