{"id":979,"date":"2019-05-23T19:29:12","date_gmt":"2019-05-23T19:29:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitallearning.ucf.edu\/?page_id=979"},"modified":"2026-04-21T15:03:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T19:03:41","slug":"aim","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/digitallearning.ucf.edu\/ilab\/aim\/","title":{"rendered":"Affordable Instructional Materials (AIM) Initiative"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

UCF is committed to reducing the cost of course materials for students to create a more equitable, accessible educational experience. By way of UCF\u2019s Pegasus Innovation Lab<\/a> (iLab), the Division of Digital Learning (DDL) has joined forces with internal and external stakeholders to reduce instructional materials costs for students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an internal community, DDL collaborates with the UCF Libraries<\/a>, the Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs<\/a>, the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning (FCTL)<\/a>, and the UCF Bookstore<\/a> 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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These two communities together have the tools to make a collective impact at scale\u2014streamlining 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We AIM High<\/a><\/em> to empower faculty and students alike to succeed through the following efforts to provide Affordable First Day Access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"illustration<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

OER<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

CDL has a dedicated team of instructional designers who specialize in supporting faculty interested in Open Educational Resources and Practices.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Image\/illustration<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Library<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The UCF Libraries provides free access to resources, course reserves, and numerous eBooks used as textbook replacements.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"A<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

First Day<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First Day provides a venue for students to get publisher course materials at a discounted rate with immediate access.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"A<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Affordable<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Affordability Counts acknowledges faculty for their efforts to keep instructional materials costs low. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Featured AIM Spotlights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Interested in how your fellow colleagues have implemented affordable instructional materials? View our featured spotlights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faculty Spotlights<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Faculty Testimonials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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