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Faculty adoption of open educational resources (OER) has saved ��ɬֱ�� students over $430,000 in textbook costs in the past three years, new data from shows, reflecting a growing campuswide effort to expand access to affordable course materials while strengthening engagement with library services.

OER resources have kept $430,721 in students’ pockets since the institution began tracking savings in 2023, when the University joined the Open Education Network, an alliance of colleges, universities, and other organizations working together to promote the use of open educational resources — especially open textbooks — in higher education.

And the University’s participation in the network has further helped accelerate this progress by connecting faculty with professional development opportunities, collaborative learning communities, and grant support aimed at reducing financial barriers for students.

With funding from the Davis Educational Foundation, UNE has awarded 14 mini-grants to faculty transitioning courses from traditional textbooks to OER. Among these is a research grant awarded to Yang Kang, D.D.S., Ph.D., clinical professor and chair of the Department of Restorative and Clinical Sciences in the College of Dental Medicine, who is studying the impact of OER adoption on student learning outcomes in her course.

The University highlighted these initiatives during Open Education Week (March 1–7), an annual international observance focused on raising awareness of openly licensed teaching and learning materials. At UNE, the week featured discussions and professional development activities examining how emerging tools — including artificial intelligence and universal design for learning frameworks — can help faculty develop more inclusive, flexible course resources.

As part of these efforts, partnered on a statewide hybrid workshop bringing together faculty and staff from 11 Maine colleges and universities. The event explored practical workflows for creating and adapting OER, emphasizing accessibility and immediate classroom application. The event welcomed Lance Eaton, Ph.D., an expert in the intersection of OER, artificial intelligence, and universal design for learning, as a featured speaker and was supported by UNE’s grant from the Davis Educational Foundation.

Beth Dyer, M.L.I.S., M.S.Ed., A.H.I.P., dean of , said that, through continued collaboration, grant support, and faculty innovation, ��ɬֱ�� positioning open education as a practical strategy to support student success while advancing teaching and learning across disciplines.

And students say the benefits of OER are notable.

“The costs of textbooks can be a real barrier for students, especially when we’re balancing tuition, housing, and other daily living expenses. Open Educational Resources make a meaningful difference by removing that financial burden, ensuring that every student has access to the required course materials from the start,” remarked Alyssa Marcoux (Medical Biology, ’27), who sits on UNE’s OER Steering Committee. “OER supports equality in the classroom, allowing students to focus on their learning rather than worrying about whether they can afford the required textbooks.”

Looking ahead, UNE will contribute to a statewide Student Materials Survey scheduled for Sept. 1-22, 2026, conducted in partnership with the New England Board of Higher Education and Bay View Analytics. The survey aims to capture student experiences with course material costs and identify barriers to resource access across Maine’s higher education landscape — data that could help secure additional funding and expand OER adoption.