Why OER &Affordable Course Content?

Many respondents noted the negative impact of course material costs on their life and wellness. Even though survey respondents were not specifically asked about this area, they overwhelmingly provided additional information on the larger impacts on their lives of these costs when responding to open-ended questions. Concerns about meeting basic needs were expressed as students negotiated the challenge of finding funds to purchase course materials. Respondents noted that the stress of course material costs compromised their mental health and sometimes created or added to feelings of distrust towards faculty, institutions, and higher education in general. This sometimes led to feelings of inequity, as some respondents reported being acutely aware of their disadvantaged status in comparison to peers who had the resources to acquire all their course materials. Student debt was also an area of significant concern, with many respondents reporting the costs of course materials as a factor in the cumulative total of their debt. A number of respondents reported needing to work more hours and/or more jobs to be able to meet the costs, which had an adverse impact on their academic achievement.