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The Open Education Network (OEN) extends a warm welcome to Arkansas Community Colleges (ACC), a newer member of the OEN community.
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The Open Education Network (OEN) extends a warm welcome to Arkansas Community Colleges (ACC), a newer member of the OEN community.
The ACC is an association of 22 Arkansas community and technical colleges that joined the OEN as a consortial member in June 2022. As described on the ACC website, the organization serves as “a collective voice to maximize resources and efforts that serve Arkansas students, communities, and business/industry.”
A press release from UA Cossatot states that ACC’s first year of OEN membership will be funded by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), and acknowledges Charlotte Dailey, SREB Program Specialist in OER and Postsecondary Education, for initiating it. The release also notes, “With this membership, advocates for higher education across Arkansas have the opportunity to be part of a learning environment that encourages innovative global sharing of knowledge.”
Relinda Ruth, UA Cossatot Open Educational Resources (OER) Specialist, has been instrumental in the decision as well. We recently enjoyed an opportunity to talk with Relinda about ACC’s open education initiatives and learn how the organization anticipates collaborating as part of the OEN community.
Relinda Ruth, UA Cossatot
Relinda Ruth, UA Cossatot Open Educational Resources (OER) Specialist, has been instrumental in the decision as well. We recently enjoyed an opportunity to talk with Relinda about ACC’s open education initiatives and learn how the organization anticipates collaborating as part of the OEN community.
Relinda Ruth, UA Cossatot
What outcomes does ACC hope to achieve by working with the Open Education Network? Is there a specific goal the consortium would like to prioritize?
The hope is to see community colleges across Arkansas adopt and promote open educational resources. The OEN provides excellent training and once we have train-the-trainer events, each institution will have the tools to help faculty and the ability to network with others to increase the use of OER.
What role did you play in ACC’s decision to become an OEN consortial member, and what prompted you to advocate for this move?
SREB’s Charlotte Dailey contacted me to find out whether any Arkansas institutions might be interested in joining the OEN. SREB had grant money to fund the first year of membership. I didn’t hesitate to say yes.
UA Cossatot had been an institutional member of the OEN since 2018 and we were able to show successful results with OER. I’ve never made it a secret that my goal has always been to see Arkansas move to open resources. Joining the OEN makes that goal much more attainable. Arkansas students deserve to have access to high quality open resources. No one should have to pay $300 for a textbook when there are so many high-quality open resources available.
UA Cossatot had been an institutional member of the OEN since 2018 and we were able to show successful results with OER. I’ve never made it a secret that my goal has always been to see Arkansas move to open resources. Joining the OEN makes that goal much more attainable. Arkansas students deserve to have access to high quality open resources. No one should have to pay $300 for a textbook when there are so many high-quality open resources available.
In the last four years, what has been UA Cossatot’s experience in collaborating with the OEN?
It has been absolutely wonderful! The OEN includes a network of OER experts ready to help anyone with questions. With such a vast network of OER advocates dedicating their time and expertise to collaborate with others, there is no question that joining the OEN was one of the best moves we ever made.
I had the opportunity to serve on their steering committee for a two-year term and that experience was so important to OER growth at our institution. Many of our faculty were using OER; however, OER usage increased significantly after joining the OEN. Currently, we lead the state in OER usage among two-year colleges. About 65 percent of our courses are taught with open resources.
I had the opportunity to serve on their steering committee for a two-year term and that experience was so important to OER growth at our institution. Many of our faculty were using OER; however, OER usage increased significantly after joining the OEN. Currently, we lead the state in OER usage among two-year colleges. About 65 percent of our courses are taught with open resources.
As an OER Specialist, can you share an instance where you’ve seen the impact open textbooks have made at Cossatot or elsewhere within ACC?
Since we began advocating for OER in 2015, we’ve had a lot of positive feedback from students, and they’ve saved a lot of money. Thus far, UA Cossatot students have saved about $2.5 million. Many students have told me they love OER because they don’t have to carry books around [although print copies are also available]. Others have said they like to be able to pull text up on their phones. The biggest win for students seems to be the savings. They are still learning just as much, if not more, and doing so without expensive textbooks.
What issue(s) in higher education do you consider challenging for ACC students?
Financial hurdles, which often lead to academic hurdles. It’s no secret that college textbooks are expensive, and students struggle to purchase them. We’ve all heard of instances in which students shared books or avoided purchasing them altogether to save money. Unfortunately, that often leads to dropping out of college.
Consortial members designate 8 delegates who share what they see and hear in the OEN with their broader community. Who will be filling this important role for the ACC?
ACC’s delegates have been selected for their interest in OER as well as their geographic location so they can aid each of the state’s 22 institutions with OER initiatives. Our delegates are:
- Tina Bradley, Arkansas State University
- Meagan Coats, Southeast Arkansas College
- Gwenda Dobbs, Northwest Arkansas Community College
- Matt Evans, Northwest Arkansas Community College
- Paige Laws, East Arkansas Community College
- Phillip Shackelford, South Arkansas Community College
- Lynn Valetutti, National Park College
- Mark Warnick, Black River Technical College
Is there anything you’d like to add?
I believe this is one of the best moves for higher education in Arkansas. By joining the OEN, we become part of an organization highly committed to working together to make higher education more accessible to all. UA Cossatot will maintain its institutional membership to the OEN. We were making moves to promote OER with an open educational resources taskforce in the Arkansas Library Consortium, and OEN membership will further those efforts.
And who knows, as we learn from the OEN, it may help Arkansas join so many other states that have already passed OER-supportive legislation. I have to say that this membership would not have been possible without the SREB. Their effort to help states work together on initiatives that are impossible alone is highly admirable and much appreciated.
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Thank you, Relinda, for championing OER throughout Arkansas and catalyzing ACC’s membership with the OEN. It’s an exciting example of colleagues sharing open educational resources and practices while growing our community to better serve the common good. We genuinely look forward to working with you and the ACC.
And who knows, as we learn from the OEN, it may help Arkansas join so many other states that have already passed OER-supportive legislation. I have to say that this membership would not have been possible without the SREB. Their effort to help states work together on initiatives that are impossible alone is highly admirable and much appreciated.
_________________________
Thank you, Relinda, for championing OER throughout Arkansas and catalyzing ACC’s membership with the OEN. It’s an exciting example of colleagues sharing open educational resources and practices while growing our community to better serve the common good. We genuinely look forward to working with you and the ACC.
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