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Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$)

A guide to Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$) at California State University - Dominguez Hills (CSUDH).

What is AL$?

csudh affordable learning solutions AL$ logo

CSU’s Affordable Learning Solutions enables faculty to choose and provide more affordable, quality educational content for their students.

By reducing CSU student course material expenses, more students acquire the course materials they need to succeed and benefit from their CSU learning experience.

Now, CSU faculty and students have greater access to quality free and low-cost learning materials through a variety of ALS programs and partnerships.

Did you know...

  • AL$ and AB 798 have been supported by two different funding sources? (SB1359 and AB798)
  • CA institutions are required by law to tag zero-cost textbook courses in their course schedules?
  • All US institutions are required to communicate the price of course materials to students at the time of registration?

Questions about AL$?

Please contact our AL$ Librarian who can be reached at als@csudh.edu and 310-243-2062.

Why is AL$ important?

Textbook prices have risen at 2x the rate of inflation over two decades (US General Accounting Office Report) and continue to be a key economic issue for students.

The high cost of textbooks negatively impacts student access, success, and completion. A recent study of over 21,000 students at institutions of higher education in Florida found that:
 
• Students did not purchase some of their required materials (66%)
• May have earned a poor grade (37.6%),
• Or even failed a course (19.8%) as a result of not having a textbook.
 
Students also report taking fewer courses, not registering for courses, dropping courses, and withdrawing from courses due to textbook expenses.
 

Recorded Webinars

Faculty Panel Discussion: OER at CSUDH

A panel discussion with three CSUDH faculty members as part of celebrating Open Education Week 2022. The panel is led by the CSUDH AL$ Coordinator and covers topics related to finding, using, and creating Open Educational Resources as course materials at CSU Dominguez Hills. Recorded March 10th, 2022.

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Open Café Express: Discovering Open Textbooks

This workshop is for those who are interested in alternatives to the traditional textbook. Open textbooks can increase access to higher education by eliminating student costs and give faculty direct control over their instructional resources. If you’re interested in Open Textbooks or other types of Open Educational Resources (OER), but aren’t sure where or how to find them then this is the workshop for you. Tune in for a quick overview of Open Textbook repositories and learn how to find the most relevant instructional resources for your course. Recorded Nov. 19, 2020