Affordable Course Materials are educational resources available to students at low or no cost. The primary difference between affordable course materials and OER relate to permissions of use. Typically, affordable course materials are copyright protected and can only be shared with currently enrolled students. Materials may also have digital rights restrictions that limit printing and downloading options as well as the number of simultaneous users. Parameters around what constitutes low cost are typically defined by an institution with guidance by state organizations.  Naming affordable course materials becomes increasingly important for institutions applying course markings in catalogs to help students identify lower cost course options. For VIVA, affordable course materials refer specifically to subscription and library-owned resources, including e-books, articles, streaming videos, and more, that can be used in courses at no cost to students. For  a more detailed explanation of affordable course materials, see Smith & Elder, 2022. 

Smith, S. & Elder, A. (2022, October 17). Classifying Open Educational Resources and Affordable Materials.  "Is

this an OER?" https://isthisoer.pubpub.org/pub/z2m5u40b/release/1