Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google


MassBay CC Doubles Use of OER

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 10/05/20

A community college in Massachusetts reported that it has doubled the use of free or open educational resources over the last year. Seventy-four courses at Massachusetts Bay Community College have adopted OER as way to make classes more affordable.

The state's Department of Higher Education OER Advisory Committee has calculated that the average textbook cost per student is $117 per course, based on 2018 information published by SPARC, a global OER advocacy group. The college estimated that fall 2020 savings was around $147,000.

According to one student, the OER savings for his three years of MassBay attendance equaled about $1,250. "When I first came to MassBay, I had never heard of an 'open education resource' textbook," said Vincent Briselli, a STEM graduate serving as a laboratory assistant at the college, in a college press release. "Like many students, I was concerned about financing my education, but determined to make the most of my experience. Over the course of my three years at MassBay, I utilized OERs in multiple courses... I never had to worry about buying the correct books before the first week of class, or paying late fees if I rented a textbook for finals week. OERs are oftentimes digital, so I am able to study on the go from my phone. I think OER prepares students participate in classes equally, alongside their peers, with the added benefit of reducing their financial stress. As students prepare for fall classes, I encourage students starting their fall classes to consider courses utilizing OER."

Currently, while the OER courses are marked in the online catalog with an "OER" designation in the textbook field, students can't filter courses that way. They have to go class by class and click on the textbook field to see whether OER is in use.

"We know that [OER increases] access to course materials, and as a result, students enrolled in OER courses tend to have higher completion rates," added MassBay Assistant Provost, Chris LaBarbera. "Students in OER courses save money by not paying for textbooks, and faculty like the fact that students are provided with open access to the materials they need on the first day of their courses, which improves academic performance. It's a win-win."

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Abstract background with digital shield made of data particles glowing blue blocking against cyber attacks

    Report: AI Attacks Push Organizations Toward Autonomous Cybersecurity Defense

    Artificial intelligence is raising the stakes of cyber conflict as attackers use the technology to accelerate reconnaissance, uncover vulnerabilities, and launch attacks faster than many security teams can respond.

  • Hootsuite

    Beyond the Feed: How Higher Ed Turns Social Media Into a Measurable Enrollment Engine

    More than half of prospective students research programs on social media before visiting a university website, and nearly half will skip applying to a school that looks inactive online. Hootsuite, the all-in-one social OS platform trusted by more than 2,000 higher education institutions, helps campus teams turn everyday posts into measurable outcomes, from applications to alumni giving.

  • Blue digital wireframe classical building structure

    Before AI, Fix Your Data

    Institutions don't have to solve every data problem before they can begin using AI responsibly. But they do need to treat information as a strategic asset — not a byproduct of operations — and start building toward AI-ready data now.

  • Silhouettes of business professionals stand against a blurred futuristic city skyline at night, with a glowing digital network data connection

    It's Time for Higher Ed to Get Serious About AI Strategy

    Without a coordinated strategy that involves multiple academic and administrative units across the entire campus, colleges risk wasting resources, duplicating efforts, and ultimately failing to deliver on the promise of deploying technology to improve learning and operations.