Open Education Resources @ UTEP

This course uses Open Educational Resources (OER), meaning all required textbooks and materials are freely available at no cost to you. These high-quality, openly licensed materials can be accessed through Blackboard and may be downloaded, printed, shared, and adapted for your personal learning. Licensed under a Creative Commons, these materials provide universal access while allowing you to retain and use them beyond this course. No textbook purchases are required.

All required course materials, including readings, videos, articles, and supplementary resources, are available online at no cost to you. These free digital materials will be accessible through Blackboard via direct links, PDFs, or institutional resources, with access information provided within our learning platform. No textbook or material purchases are necessary for this course.

All required textbooks, readings, and articles for this course are available at no cost to you through the UTEP library's digital and physical collections, including licensed databases and e-books accessible with your student login credentials. You can access these materials online anytime or download content for offline reading where permitted by licensing agreements. Access links and instructions will be provided through Blackboard, and library staff are available to assist you with any access issues. No purchases are required beyond your existing library privileges.

This course is designated as low-cost, with all required materials—including textbooks, course packets, and additional course readings—carefully selected to ensure the total cost does not exceed $40. Considerable effort has been made to provide you with high-quality and affordable materials while minimizing financial burden. A detailed list of required materials with pricing information and purchasing options (including used or rental copies where available) will be provided during the first week of class. 

• Cost and Format Transparency: State the exact cost clearly and upfront. Explain what “no cost” means for the course (e.g., no purchases required, materials covered by existing fees). Specify the format, such as digital, printable, or physical; noting any potential costs associated with printing could be included. Mention if any optional purchases are available.

• Access Instructions and Logistics: Provide specific instructions on how students will access the materials, including where to find them (e.g., Blackboard, library databases) and what login information is needed. Include a timeline for when materials will be available and if any delays are expected.

• Support and Equity: Offer clear contact information for help, directing students to the appropriate resource for their issue (e.g., the library for licensed materials, IT support for technical problems, or the instructor on record for course-specific questions). Emphasize your commitment to universal access, and mention any available resources like financial aid or library computers.

• Student Responsibilities: Clearly outline what students need to do to maintain access, such as creating a library account or ensuring they have the necessary software (like a PDF reader).

All of the above statements have a Creative Commons license (CC - BY) and can be modified to fit you and your students' needs in any syllabus. For any questions about how these statements can be used, please contact Tessy Torres at mttorres3@utep.edu or at 915-747-6723.