East Carolina University’s J.Y. Joyner Library has announced the names of faculty who will receive $1,000 stipends to develop or incorporate alternative texts in their courses. Alternative texts provide learning materials distinct from traditional, often high-cost, textbooks, and may include Open Access Textbooks, freely-available articles and books, or library-licensed resources. Joyner Library’s pilot program launched in January 2016 with a call for proposals. The response was so positive that Joyner Library Director Janice S. Lewis decided to expand the number of stipends awarded from 10 to 15. Proposals included adopting existing open textbooks, incorporating library subscription resources such as journal articles, e-book chapters and streaming video in courses, and creating completely new content.
Recipients are from the Thomas Harriot College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Technology, the College of Fine Arts and Communication, and the College of Health and Human Performance. In addition to a stipend, each recipient will be paired with a librarian who will assist with identifying potential course materials and offer copyright guidance.
The program’s primary goal is to reduce costs for students. A proposal for an introductory Economics course offers potential savings of close to $100,000 per semester if the alternative textbook is used for all sections of the course. One professor noted, “I think we have a responsibility to first-generation and low-income college students to reduce barriers to getting the knowledge needed to succeed.” Many proposals touted other advantages of alternative textbooks such as providing more timely and relevant content, engaging students in active learning, and ensuring that every student has access to course materials on the first day of class.
Faculty receiving stipends are:
Teal Darkenwald – Dance
Christyn Dolbier – Psychology
Carol Goodwillie – Biology
Joseph G. L. Lee – Health Education & Promotion
Lisa Maag – Psychology
James McKernan – Special Education, Foundations, & Research
Karen A. Mulcahy -Geography, Planning, & Environment
Margaret O’Hara – Management Information Systems
Erol Ozan – Technology Systems
Randall Parker – Economics
Kennetta Hammond Perry – History
Tracy Tuten – Marketing & Supply Chain Management
Jennifer M. Valko – Foreign Languages & Literatures
Cecelia Valrie – Psychology
Jeffrey D. Wilhelm – History
The alternative textbook program is funded by library donors and income from the Fred Timms Langford and Verona Lee Joyner Langford Endowment Fund. For more information, contact the Joyner Library Scholarly Communication Department by email [scholarlycomm@ecu.edu] or telephone [252-328-2261].