Open Educational Resources InitiativeTextbook Affordability and Open Educational Resources (OER) Initiative
In 2015, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) launched the state’s ambitious higher education strategic plan dubbed 60x30TX whose goal is to ensure that by 2030, 60% of Texans between ages 24-26 years should be holders of certificates or degrees. This means that the State wants to have an educated population, one where there is an increase in college completion rates while at the same time ensuring the graduates have employable skills. Above all, the strategic plan wants universities to look for ways to ensure that when the students graduate, they have manageable debt.
One of the goals of the Texas A&M University System’s strategic plan for 2016 to 2021 is to ensure that all the system schools remain affordable and accessible. This goal is amplified in the 2016-2021 Prairie View A&M University strategic plan. One way to support PVAMU students to timely complete programs they are enrolled in and to reduce the student debt burden is for the university to implement initiatives to eliminate or reduce the cost of textbooks.
The PVAMU OER Initiative Committee consisting of diverse university stakeholders has been assembled to achieve the following objectives:
Conduct an environmental scan of textbook affordability and use of OER at PVAMU.
Coordinate OER and textbook affordability efforts at PVAMU.
Advise PVAMU leadership on matters regarding OER and textbook affordability.
Coordinate the training of faculty, staff, and students of PVAMU on matters relating to OER.
Advocate for the implementation of OER at PVAMU, the Texas A&M University system, and at the State level.
Provide regular updates on the state of OER and Textbook affordability efforts at PVAMU.
Stay abreast of trends in Textbook affordability and OER initiatives.
Inform faculty members of OER grant opportunities.
Recommend best practices to implement OER or other Textbook affordability efforts.
