V462.01 Instructional Material Access and Affordability Policy
Faculty are encouraged and supported to adopt cost-effective instructional materials that maintain academic integrity and quality. Course sections must be appropriately marked to reflect material costs for student transparency.
Purpose
To support student success and enhance acccess and affordability of instructional materials by promoting the adoption, adaptation, and creation of Open Educational Resources (OER) and other low-cost instructional materials while maintaining freedom of faculty to select materials that ensure the quality and rigor of their courses.
Definitions
All definitions follow the NDUS guidelines:
- OER: Public domain or openly licensed teaching, learning, and research materials that permit free use and repurposing by others.
- Course Making: Labeling course sections with spcific attributes to reflect instructional material costs to help students quickly identify important information and make informed decisions at the time of registration.
- NOCOST: Uses free OER or free alternatives, no cost to students.
- NOMAT: No instructional materials required
- LOWCOST: Uses free OER but may include up to $75 in required materials.
- LOWMAT: Uses conventional textbooks or software with costs under $75.
Sponsor: Vice President for Academic Affairs
Effective: August 2025