PRESS RELEASE
183 College Drive, De Queen, AR 71832
870-584-1172
www.cccua.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 25 October 2021
CONTACT: Dustin Roberts, Director of Development
UA Cossatot’s OER Program Saves Students Nearly 2.5 Million Since 2015
UA Cossatot’s Open Educational Resource (OER) program has saved students of the college nearly 2.5 million in textbook rental fees. Since 2015, the program has saved students $2,238,961.07.
“We began our innovative internal textbook rental and OER program with a primary goal of removing the financial barrier expensive textbooks posed to our students and it’s clear that we’ve accomplished that goal. In six short years, we’ve saved our students millions of dollars in textbook expenses and we continue to lead Arkansas in OER usage among two-year colleges,” said OER Specialist and Director of Educational Resources Relinda Ruth.
UA Cossatot students have saved $433,793.85 for the three semesters of 2020-21. In addition, UA Cossatot’s OER adoption has grown significantly. At the end of the 2015-16 academic year, UA Cossatot was 35% OER. Currently, the college is at 65%.
Chancellor Dr. Steve Cole said, “In 2015, we decided that college did not have to cost as much as it does and we knew that if we developed a way students could save money, it would help students reach their goals. Eliminating most, if not all, of the costs associated with textbooks was something that we knew would help students clear a major hurdle in their educational pursuits. Six years later, our faculty have converted 65% of all UA Cossatot courses to Open Educational Resources (OER), meaning zero textbook cost for their courses. We will always keep looking for creative ways to make college more affordable to our students.”
Director Ruth will present at Open Florida, speaking on “Zero to Sixty in Five Years: University of Arkansas-Cossatot Pathway to 60% Participation.” In addition, Ruth will travel to Atlanta next year and present at the SREB conference, speaking on “Developmental Education and College Readiness.”
For more information on UA Cossatot’s OER program, contact Relinda Ruth at 870-584-1181 or rruth@cccua.edu.
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The University of Arkansas Cossatot is a community college in Southwest Arkansas accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Offering technical certification and Associate degrees, UAC also collaborates with other colleges and universities to offer bachelor's degrees on its three campuses. UAC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution in compliance with the Higher Education Act of 1965 and other Civil Rights laws and offers equal opportunity for admission and employment. Employment preference is given to applicants possessing a Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) with all other qualifications being equal. Programs and activities of UAC are provided to all students without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, Vietnam era veteran or special disabled veteran status, or sex. Questions or concerns regarding affirmative action can be directed to the Compliance Officer, c/o UA Cossatot, 183 College Drive, De Queen, AR 71832. For Arkansas RELAY Voiced Services call 711 or 800-285-1121. Visit www.cccua.edu for more information.
