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CSUCI Open CI program saves students almost $1.8 million in textbook costs over one semester 

Channel Islands News Center

Ever since the “OpenCI” initiative was launched at CSU Channel Islands  (CSUCI) in the 2016/2017 academic year, the savings for students on textbooks has risen steadily. But the most recent report on this initiative shows the most dramatic student savings to date.

California State University San Marcos: Promoting Student Affordability ExLibris 

Library Journal

The University Library leverages the Leganto course resource list solution to save students millions of dollars annually and empower instructors to create and maintain lists of course materials in a timely manner.

CSU’s Affordable Learning Solutions Initiative Saves Students $77 Million Every Year

​​​The California State University

The pandemic amplified existing equity gaps between underserved students and their peers, including the cost of learning materials. The CSU has responded by increasing the number of courses using low- or no-cost learning materials through Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$) to provide equitable access to education and improve retention.

'They Are Much More Engaged.' CSU Program Helps Cal Poly Students by Removing Barriers to Success 

Cal Poly News

“Support for open educational resources at Cal Poly from our faculty members has been crucial in responding to some of the university’s most important initiatives, including the Graduation Initiative 2025 and our efforts to create a more inclusive campus,” said Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. 

CSUMB receives Affordable Learning Solutions grant 

CSU Monterey Bay News

CSU Monterey Bay continues to support affordable learning for students with new funding from the CSU’s Affordable Learning Solutions program. The CSU Chancellor’s Office has awarded $15,000 to CSUMB’s library and Center for Academic Technologies to reestablish the program at the university. 

CSUSB continues to help students save money through the Affordable Learning Solutions program 

Inside CSUSB

In this academic year alone, more than 10,000 students have saved nearly $2 million on textbook costs thanks to the Affordable Learning Solutions program at CSUSB.

CSUN Library Joins Open Education Network, Making Materials More Affordable During Pandemic 

CSUN Today

“During COVID-19, students need more access than ever to textbooks, given that physical library buildings are closed and they are faced with all other financial and personal challenges in life,” said Ding, a coordinator for Affordable Learning $olutions . 

New Funding for Program that's Saved Students more than $1 Million on Textbooks  

Humboldt State Now

Humboldt State University continues to support affordable learning for students, with new funding from the CSU's Affordable Learning Solutions program. 

HSU Receives $15,000 Grant for Open Educational Resources Program 

North Coast Journal

Humboldt State University has received a $15,000 grant for it's Open Educational Resources (OER) program which permits free reuse and repurposing of teaching and learning resources.

Textbook Broke: Textbook Affordability as a Social Justice Issue 

Journal of Interactive Media in Education

In light of rising textbook prices, open education resources (OER) have been shown to decrease non-tuition costs, while simultaneously increasing academic access, student performance, and time-to-graduation rates. Yet very little research to date has explored OER’s specific impact on those who are presumed to benefit most from this potential: historically underserved students.

CSUB faculty work to lower cost of course materials 

23ABC News

This spring, the Child, Adolescent and Family Studies Department received a $10,000 award made available through AL$ for having the most courses with no- or low-cost textbook adoptions for the 2019-20 academic year. 

Learning Everywhere: Open Educational Resources in the COVID-19 Era

The California State University

In these challenging times, the California State University continues to develop ways to reduce students' expenses while maintaining a high-quality education. The CSU's Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$) is an innovative program that enables faculty to choose and provide more affordable (and even free) quality educational content for students across the 23 CSU campuses. 

Initiatives underway for low-cost, free textbooks for California college students 

EdSource

Universities across California, especially in the 23-campus California State University system, have become more transparent about textbooks and more proactive in assigning free, digital or low-cost books to students.

Initiatives Underway for Low-cost, Free Textbooks for California College Students 

EdSource

... But universities across California, especially in the 23-campus California State University system, have become more transparent about textbooks and more proactive in assigning free, digital or low-cost books to students...

CA Lawmakers Pass Food Security Bill Aimed at Helping College Students ABC 10 

ABC 10

The bill would create a standardized form for colleges and universities to work with counties to enroll students in CalFresh . 

Best Sources for Free Digital Textbooks and More 

Campus Technology

CSU's MERLOT is featured as the "mothership of OER" in Campus Technology. "This one ought to be called the OER Mothership, since you couldn't do much better than to begin your OER content search here...." 

No Textbook? Not a Problem - CSU Bakersfield Exploring Z Degree Majors 

The Runner

Zero-cost course materials are materials in which students can find online, for free, compared to their counterpart, textbooks.  This the defining characteristic of a Z- Major.  Affordable Learning Solutions and Textbook Affordability Coordinator Sandra Bozarth, spoke on the subject stating that, "if students are being provided their textbooks for free, in whatever format it is, I think that is going to help them succeed better in class."

A Free Lunch: CSU Channel Islands offers the CSU's First Zero Textbook Cost Majors 

TLI Innovations @ CSUCI

Everyone knows: “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.”  But starting this Fall, there will be such a thing as textbook-free majors at CSU Channel Islands (CI).  And it couldn’t come at a better time for CI’s student body.

Here's how California Campuses are Fixing the Problem of Pricey College Textbooks 

89.3 KPCC

Five years after California lawmakers directed the state’s public colleges and universities to bring down college textbook costs, campuses are reporting millions of dollars in savings.

Saving Money with Open Textbooks 

Sonoma State Univesity News 

Sonoma State Professors are Already Saving Students $180,000 Per Semester with Open Educations Resources — and the Idea is Gaining Momentum

Top Fears Shutting the Door on Open Education 

Campus Technology

Fear and anxiety can keep many educators from embracing open educational resources and open pedagogy. Here, "open" proponents explain common concerns

The Babson Survey. Opening the Textbook: Educational Resources in U.S. Higher Education, 2017 

Babson Survey Research Group

Responses from over 2,700 U.S. faculty paint both a "Good news" and a "Bad news" picture for the role of open educational resources (OER) in U.S. higher education.

2017 Facts About the CSU

The California State University

The California State University promotes student success through opportunity and a high-quality education that prepares students to become leaders in the changing workforce, making the CSU a vital economic engine for California.

OpenStax Ranks the Colleges that Save the Most with Free Textbooks

Rice University News and Media

OpenStax, College Stores Partner for Textbook Customization 

Inside Higher Ed

OpenStax, the Rice University-backed publisher, is partnering with textbook distributor NACSCORP to get its free textbooks into the hands of more students.

Bad Data Can Lead To Bad Policy: College students don’t spend $1,200+ on textbooks 

eLiterate

[Hanley’s] rough estimate: As of a few years ago, learners at the 23-campus, 460,200-student university system were spending $300 million a year on course materials — about $651 per student per school year.

Affordable Learning at Scale With OER of materials 

Open educational resources free students and faculty from the tyranny of the textbook. Here's how to encourage large-scale adoption.

Law Could Ease Textbook Costs at California State University and Community Colleges 

Long Beach Press Telegram

Cal State Looks for Cost Savings in Academics 

Los Angeles Times

Open Education Thrives in California Through Massive Collaboration 

PR Newswire

Nation's Largest Free and Low-Cost Textbook Showcase Launches at 13 California State University Libraries 

PR Newswire

For Some Students, Virtual Labs Replace Hands-on Science Experiments

Los Angeles Times

Cal State University Tackles Escalating Textbook Costs 

Long Beach Press Telegram

Cal State looks for ways to drive down cost of textbooks 

Los Angeles Times