UCF is committed to reducing the cost of course materials for students to create a more equitable, accessible educational experience. By way of UCF’s Pegasus Innovation Lab (iLab), the Division of Digital Learning (DDL) has joined forces with internal and external stakeholders to reduce instructional materials costs for students.
As an internal community, DDL collaborates with the UCF Libraries, the Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs, the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning (FCTL), and the UCF Bookstore to grow efforts in the areas of 1) First Day access to discounted publisher materials and 2) zero-cost materials through library-sourced content and open educational resources (OER).
Externally, through the Affordability Counts program, DDL partners with its counterparts in the State University System (SUS) of Florida to track, report, and celebrate faculty who deliver courses using instructional materials that cost less than or equal to $20 per credit hour (per course).
These two communities together have the tools to make a collective impact at scale—streamlining the process for students to acquire their required course materials on the first day of class and offering recognition to faculty dedicated to helping students make their dreams a reality by breaking down financial barriers.
We AIM High to empower faculty and students alike to succeed through the following efforts to provide Affordable First Day Access.
OER
CDL has a dedicated team of instructional designers who specialize in supporting faculty interested in Open Educational Resources and Practices.
Library
The UCF Libraries provides free access to resources, course reserves, and numerous eBooks used as textbook replacements.
First Day
First Day provides a venue for students to get publisher course materials at a discounted rate with immediate access.
Affordable
Affordability Counts acknowledges faculty for their efforts to keep instructional materials costs low.
Featured AIM Spotlights
Interested in how your fellow colleagues have implemented affordable instructional materials? View our featured spotlights.
Faculty Testimonials
UCF Faculty Zhongzhou Chen and Thomas Brueckner recorded the below videos to help illustrate the importance of affordable instructional materials for students and how it has affected their own courses.
Publications
UCF publications related to course material affordability.
- TOPkit Digest – Textbook Affordability (Dubach, 2023)
- Reducing the Choice Between a Textbook and Your Next Meal (Paradiso, 2023)
- Self-Authoring an Open Textbook for General Anthropology: Worth the Time and Effort? (deNoyelles, Callaghan, Williams, & Raible, 2022)
- UCF Initiative Slices Costs for Student Classroom Materials (Richardson, 2021)
- UCF Faculty Collaborate to Provide Students Free Course Materials (Paradiso, 2021)
- Analysis of an Open Textbook Adoption in an American History Course: Impact on Student Academic Outcomes and Behaviors (Beile, deNoyelles, & Raible, 2020)
- UCF Library Resources Help Biology Faculty Find $177K in Savings (2020)
Stay Connected
Interested in learning more about AIM? Sign up for the Affordable Instructional Materials email distribution list for reminders about upcoming deadlines, upcoming events, and helpful resources regarding this initiative.
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