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Affordable Learning Solutions at Sacramento State

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Affordable Learning Solutions

Welcome to the Affordable Learning Community at Sacramento State, a collaborative effort among the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), Services for Students with Disabilities (SSWD), the Sacramento State University Library, and the Hornet Bookstore.
We are here to help improve course affordability for students, support faculty in accessing and using open educational resources, and familiarize the campus community with the California State University’s (CSU) Affordable Learning Initiative. We strive to provide information and resources to create a learning environment that benefits our campus community as a whole.

"More affordable textbook options mean that I don't have to pick between passing a class or paying rent and eating." - Vanessa Kmetz

What is the Affordable Learning Initiative?

Textbook affordability isn’t just a faculty choice issue, it’s also an equity issue. Students are often forced choose between purchasing textbooks and paying rent.

To make course materials accessible to all students, regardless of income level, the California Legislature passed a series of bills that empower professors to adopt high quality, free and open educational resources for course materials, and make these courses visible to students when registering for courses.

The Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$) Initiative is the CSU’s response to this legislation, providing funding, resources, and training for each campus.

What is the impact on students and faculty?

In addition to saving students more than $50 million across the CSU system annually, AL$ and OERs give faculty more flexibility and choice in course materials, making those materials more responsive to advances in research and current events.

AL$ Impact on Students across the CSU: Millions of Dollars Saved

Image of Impact of affordable learning solutions on students

“I sometimes have to decide whether to eat or buy a textbook. It’s hard when professors don’t offer alternative routes that are accessible.”

José Arias-Ruiz

Training & Grant Opportunities

AL$/OER Faculty Learning Community (coming Spring 2023)

Learn more about making your courses more affordable, using open educational resources, and creating your own resources to support student learning. Faculty will complete a series of modules on AL$ and OER resources. Faculty will be expected to create and implement a plan for reducing the course cost. This FLC can be completed in conjunction with a mini grant.
$500 stipend upon completion of culminating event.

AL$/OER Mini Grant Program (ongoing)

The Center for Teaching and Learning supports three types of mini grants to support faculty as they work to reduce the cost of course materials:

Type 1: Adopt ($500)

Significantly reduce the cost of course materials by adopting an existing Open Educational Resource or more affordable textbook. Upon completion, the course should meet the designation for LCCM (Low Cost Course Materials - $40 or less), or ZCCM (Zero Cost Course Materials).

Type 2: Remix ($750)

Significantly reduce the cost of course materials by remixing existing Open Educational Resources into your own course pack. Upon completion, the course should meet the designation for LCCM (Low Cost Course Materials - $40 or less), or ZCCM (Zero Cost Course Materials).

Type 3: Create ($1,000)

Significantly reduce the cost of course materials by creating your own Open Educational Resources use LibreTexts (training provided). This most often takes the form of an open textbook but we welcome innovation!

All mini grants require the awardee to complete training in finding and using Affordable Learning Solutions and Open Educational Resources. More information is available upon request.

Apply for an AL$/OER Mini Grant HERE.

Faculty Resources

icons used in Class Schedule for low- and no-cost materials

Contact For Support

Affordable Learning Solutions/Open Educational Resource Coordinator: Andrea Terry

  • Integrating OER materials into your courses through Canvas
  • Consultation on course design/redesign with online textbooks and multi-media

Contact Center for Teaching and Learning at (916) 278-5945 or e-mail CTL@csus.edu