Reduced-Cost Digital Course Materials
The cost of traditional textbooks has increased 88% in the last decade, so much so that 67% of students no longer can afford to buy required textbooks for their courses. As the COVID- 19 pandemic arrived in 2020, the University of Nebraska aimed to increase student affordability by supporting faculty in adopting free or reduced-cost digital course materials in their courses.
Impact Study
Since Summer 2021, a group of faculty across the four NU campuses have begun studying the impact of Open Nebraska on student success. Faculty researchers include:
- Dr. Dan Hawkins (UNO)
- Dr. Julie Pelton (UNO)
- Craig Finlay (UNO)
- Dr. Emily Glenn (UNMC)
- Dr. Kimberly A. Carlson (UNK)
- Dr. Jaci Lindburg (NU System).
An initial white paper was prepared in Spring 2023, with expanded studies in the works for 2023-2024. The chart below summarizes the cost reduction findings over the 3 years reviewed by the study.
