Keeping course materials affordable for college students is an ongoing challenge for our nation’s universities. Though textbook costs are decreasing, compared to previous highs, they are still a significant expense for students. According to one article, the College Board reported course material expenses average $410 per year for both public two-year and four-year schools.
In addition, course material costs pose a disproportionate burden for first-generation students who may be from low-income communities, says WSU scholarly communications librarian, Talea Anderson. “These students often find it difficult to pay for course materials, as an added out-of-pocket expense at the start of the semester.” (Teen Vogue discusses this difficulty in more detail.)
The availability of open educational resources (OERs) has increasingly helped address affordable learning for students. At WSU, faculty have been awarded grants to offset the time and expense required to develop and/or implement high-quality, freely available digital material for students.
Thanks to these grants, and the support of staff at WSU Libraries and Academic Outreach and Innovation, faculty have helped reduce the cost of course materials for Cougs taking their courses.
Please make a gift to WSU Libraries today to help make course materials affordable for students. For every $4,500 raised, the Libraries, in conjunction with the WSU Provost’s office, can award one faculty member an affordable learning grant. For more information, please visit www.oer.wsu.edu and https://libguides.libraries.wsu.edu/affordablelearning/home.
Rank | Department | Raised |
---|---|---|
1 | College of Veterinary Medicine | $219,595.00 |
2 | Cougar Athletic Fund | $41,325.00 |
3 | Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine | $24,070.00 |
4 | WSU Vancouver | $19,245.00 |
5 | Murrow College of Communication | $16,535.00 |
6 | Honors College | $14,450.00 |
7 | Division of Student Affairs | $13,505.00 |
8 | College of Education | $13,115.00 |
9 | College of Arts & Sciences | $11,390.00 |
10 | Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences | $10,050.00 |
11 | Carson College of Business | $9,006.00 |
12 | WSU Everett | $8,525.00 |
13 | College of Nursing | $7,775.00 |
14 | WSU Tri-Cities | $5,235.00 |
15 | Voiland College of Engineering & Architecture | $3,370.00 |
16 | Graduate School | $3,250.00 |
17 | Libraries | $2,525.00 |
18 | Crimson Opportunity Scholarship | $2,390.00 |
19 | Agricultural Human & Natural Resource Sciences | $2,300.00 |
20 | Academic Engagement and Student Achievement | $2,135.00 |
21 | WSU Global Campus | $1,800.00 |
22 | Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art/WSU | $1,150.00 |
23 | WSU Alumni Association | $510.00 |
24 | WSU Health Sciences Spokane | $500.00 |
Rank | Prize | Department | Donors |
---|---|---|---|
1 | $500 | College of Veterinary Medicine | 88 |
2 | Division of Student Affairs | 36 | |
3 | College of Education | 32 | |
4 | WSU Vancouver | 30 | |
5 | Cougar Athletic Fund | 28 | |
6 | Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine | 22 | |
7 | College of Arts & Sciences | 21 | |
8 | WSU Tri-Cities | 18 | |
9 | Honors College | 16 | |
10 | Carson College of Business | 16 | |
11 | Murrow College of Communication | 15 | |
12 | Voiland College of Engineering & Architecture | 9 | |
13 | College of Nursing | 8 | |
14 | Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences | 7 | |
15 | Academic Engagement and Student Achievement | 7 | |
16 | WSU Everett | 6 | |
17 | Crimson Opportunity Scholarship | 5 | |
18 | Agricultural Human & Natural Resource Sciences | 5 | |
19 | WSU Global Campus | 5 | |
20 | WSU Health Sciences Spokane | 4 | |
21 | Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art/WSU | 2 | |
22 | Libraries | 2 | |
23 | WSU Alumni Association | 2 | |
24 | Graduate School | 2 |
Rank | Department | Gifts |
---|---|---|
1 | College of Veterinary Medicine | 220 |
2 | Cougar Athletic Fund | 106 |
3 | WSU Vancouver | 86 |
4 | Division of Student Affairs | 76 |
5 | Murrow College of Communication | 67 |
6 | College of Education | 63 |
7 | College of Arts & Sciences | 62 |
8 | WSU Everett | 48 |
9 | WSU Tri-Cities | 47 |
10 | Honors College | 42 |
11 | Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine | 35 |
12 | Carson College of Business | 34 |
13 | College of Nursing | 31 |
14 | Academic Engagement and Student Achievement | 29 |
15 | Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences | 20 |
16 | Agricultural Human & Natural Resource Sciences | 17 |
17 | Voiland College of Engineering & Architecture | 16 |
18 | WSU Global Campus | 15 |
19 | Crimson Opportunity Scholarship | 13 |
20 | Libraries | 11 |
21 | Graduate School | 6 |
22 | WSU Alumni Association | 6 |
23 | WSU Health Sciences Spokane | 6 |
24 | Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art/WSU | 4 |
Rank | Prize | Department | Donors |
---|---|---|---|
1 | $500 | College of Veterinary Medicine | 51 |
2 | Cougar Athletic Fund | 30 | |
3 | Murrow College of Communication | 24 | |
4 | WSU Vancouver | 14 | |
5 | Division of Student Affairs | 13 | |
6 | College of Arts & Sciences | 11 | |
7 | WSU Everett | 11 | |
8 | College of Education | 10 | |
9 | WSU Tri-Cities | 8 | |
10 | Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine | 8 | |
11 | Honors College | 7 | |
12 | Academic Engagement and Student Achievement | 6 | |
13 | Carson College of Business | 6 | |
14 | Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences | 4 | |
15 | Libraries | 4 | |
16 | College of Nursing | 3 | |
17 | WSU Alumni Association | 3 | |
18 | Graduate School | 2 | |
19 | WSU Global Campus | 2 | |
20 | Voiland College of Engineering & Architecture | 2 | |
21 | Crimson Opportunity Scholarship | 2 | |
22 | Agricultural Human & Natural Resource Sciences | 1 | |
23 | WSU Health Sciences Spokane | 1 | |
24 | Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art/WSU | 1 |
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