While Open Educational Resources (OER) are always free to use and edit, Affordable Educational Resources (AER) include a broader range of materials that are either deeply discounted or provided at no additional cost through Waubonsee’s existing subscriptions.
To help students plan their finances, we have established a low-cost threshold for faculty to aim for. A course qualifies as "low cost" if the total cost of all required instructional materials is $15 or less per credit hour.
Example: For a 3-credit course, the total cost of materials must be $45 or less.
The Waubonsee Library is your primary partner in achieving AER status. We provide access to millions of high-quality resources at no additional charge to you or your students.
Library Guidelines for Faculty
When selecting library materials for your course, please follow these guidelines to ensure a seamless student experience:
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Check for Unlimited Access: Ensure the eBook or resource has an "unlimited user license" so an entire class can read it simultaneously.
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Permalink Usage: Always use the "Permalink" provided (rather than the URL in your browser bar) to ensure off-campus access works for students.
Contact the Library to learn more about utilizing library resources in your courses!
Also known as automatic textbook billing, Inclusive Access is a partnership between the Waubonsee Bookstore and commercial textbook publishers to provide digital course materials to students at a reduced rate (compared to purchasing a new textbook).
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How it Works: Students receive digital access to their textbooks through Canvas on or before the first day of class.
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Billing: The discounted cost is billed directly to the student’s account as a course fee.
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Transparency: Students always have the option to opt-out of Inclusive Access if they prefer to source the materials elsewhere.
To learn more about Inclusive Access, visit the Bookstore's webpage.