Open Educational Resources

Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching, learning, and research resources that are free of cost and access barriers, and carry legal permission for open use.

OER are making a significant impact at Utah State University. The USU OER Team strives to increase this impact by accelerating the number of open textbooks and materials used throughout the USU community.

Since 2014, students saved:
$4.2 Million




311


USU instructors have taught using OER




50,620


Students have benefited from OER




198


Unique courses have used OER 




Get Started with OER

Adopt

Adopt an existing textbook or other educational resource which significantly reduces costs for students.

Adapt

Adapt one or more existing OER, customized to your instructional needs.

Create

Create or author new learning materials that will be licensed openly.

OER Grants

USU Libraries is committed to reducing barriers to student success through the use of open educational resources. In partnership with Academic and Instructional Services, and various colleges across campus, the OER Team is excited to offer grants to support instructors interested in adopting, adapting, or creating OER. Learn more about OER grants.

OER Success Stories

Headshot of Jennifer Burbank

I like OER because it's a great supplemental resource and great for students. It's accessible and economical for a Gen Ed course.

BIOL 1010: Biology and the Citizen

Jennifer Burbank’s biology courses have saved students over $500,000, and that number grows every semester. For Jennifer, the biggest benefits of OER are accessibility and affordability. She also teaches Concurrent Enrollment Biology 1010 and remarked that OER is extremely helpful for high school students in rural areas who can't afford or readily access a traditional textbook. Jennifer Burbank’s courses have helped Utah State University students keep their education affordable and accessible.

Headshot of Melanie Chambers

I've loved the flexibility of OER. Flexible for students to study with and for our faculty to innovate and possibly adapt.

USU 1730: Strategies for Academic Success

Melanie Chambers played a key role in standardizing an OER textbook across all USU 1730 courses and continues to advocate for OER in her department. She loves that students have immediate access to the book, especially since her course is only seven weeks long. Chambers believes that OER helps prepare incoming freshmen to use online materials in future courses and helps students find out what study methods work for them. Melanie is a top advocate for OER at Utah State University.

Headshot of Carla Endres

I like leveling the playing field and making it affordable for everyone.

Statewide Learning

Dr. Carla Endres has used OER to innovate her teaching and further students’ education in creative ways. Her students, particularly non-traditional students, benefit from lower costs and seamless access to learning materials through her use of OER. Dr. Endres likes the fact that OER are sustainable and can be updated continuously to remain current and correct. She is a former member of the Affordable Learning Resources Committee, where she supported efforts to extend affordable learning to all USU students across USU's statewide campuses.