Chemistry professors earn accolades for cost-saving educational resources

November 2024

Just this year alone, Chemistry I & II students at Rowan University have saved $171,405 in textbook costs thanks to the efforts of faculty in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry who developed the Open Education Resources (OER) needed to move to free online textbooks.

Instead of spending $195 on textbook software from an external publisher, students can now access free assignments, videos, and resources created by Dr. Allison Kelly, associate teaching professor; Dr. Siobhan Toal, assistant teaching professor; and Dr. James Grinias, professor; materials which pair with a popular online textbook. With support from the department, the team created OER materials that any chemistry professor can download and import into Canvas courses. 

In recognition of their high-quality materials, Kelly, Toal and Grinias were awarded Best Whole Course Packet at an Open Textbook Collaborative (OTC) Conference hosted by Middlesex College on September 27. 

Dr. Robert Hilliker, Associate Provost for Rowan University Libraries, is the principal investigator on Rowan’s sub-award for the OTC grant project, led by Middlesex College, that funded the Chemistry I & II resources. The OTC is an initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Education that supports the creation of OER for entry-level classes with the goal of reducing cost burdens on students and keeping them on the path to careers in growth industries. 

“The OTC has funded over two dozen projects over the last four years in subjects including everything from accounting to biology to construction management,” said Hilliker. “OER has been a big part of Rowan’s affordability initiatives like the Textbook Alternative Program (TAP), which has been managed by Student Success with support from the libraries and other partners.”