Affordable and Open Educational Resources: About Us

Since the initiative’s approval in 2023, the Affordable Learning Coordinator and the Affordable Learning and OER Workgroup (ALOW) have actively engaged faculty and campus partners. The workgroup includes representatives from UofL Libraries, Student Success, the Delphi Center, Student Government Association, and others, all collaborating to raise awareness and support for affordable course materials. Through partnerships and outreach to key stakeholders such as Faculty Senate and campus departments, the initiative has rapidly gained momentum.

• The Affordable Learning and OER Workgroup convened its first meeting in June 2023.
• In Fall 2023, standardized zero-cost and low-cost course notes were developed and implemented for the Spring 2024 course schedules. As of Fall of 2025, 1,230 course sections have been marked as using affordable materials (95 zero-cost, 53 low-cost) across more than 20 programs and multiple disciplines.
• Nearly 30,000 enrollments from 2024–2025 are in zero or low-cost courses. Students saved approximately $2.45 million through enrollment in low-cost and zero-cost textbook courses.**
• The initiative has hosted several faculty professional development events and established an active partnership with the Student Government Association, which advocates for affordable learning at the faculty and governance levels.
• The initiative also expanded library resources by adding numerous course-related eBooks and materials to reduce student costs.

**Savings were calculated using the average textbook price of $105.37. Low-cost course savings were estimated at $55.37 per student (average price minus $50), multiplied by 13,805 students. Zero-cost course savings were estimated at $105.37 per student, multiplied by 16,003 students.

Affordable Learning and OER Workgroup Members

• Lidiya Grote – Affordable Learning Coordinator, UofL Libraries

• Beth Willey – Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Office of the Provost

• Greg Vittitow – Associate Director of Student Success Coordinators, Student Success Center

• Caroline Boswell – Director of Evidence-Based Practice and Impact, Delphi Center for Teaching and Learning

• Robin Zahrndt – Senior Manager of Teaching Programs, Delphi Center for Teaching and Learning

• Alexandria Underwood – SGA Senator, President of Graduate Student Council, Student Government Association

• Emily Spoden – Coordinator, Office of Institutional Effectiveness

• Anita Hall – Assessment and Analytics Librarian, UofL Libraries

• Gina Genova – Clinical Librarian, UofL Libraries

• Matthew Goldberg – Access Services Librarian, UofL Libraries

• Melissa Rothman – Student Engagement Coordinator, UofL Libraries