University of Houston Libraries, in collaboration with the UH Office of the Provost, is pleased to announce the 2020-21 recipient cohort of the UH Alternative Textbook Incentive Program (ATIP).

UH instructors applied for an award ranging from $500 to $2500 that would go toward implementation of an open or alternative textbook in a summer 2020, fall 2020, or spring 2021 course. Awards were granted based on projected cost savings for students; the type of project; and feasibility of the successful implementation of the proposal.

2020 – 2021 ATIP winners are:

Tres Bodet, PSYC 3341: Physiological Psychology

Justin Burris, Carrie Cutler, and Shea Culpepper, ELED 4315: Mathematics in the Elementary School II

Carrie Cutler, Justin Burris, and Shea Culpepper, ELED 4314: Mathematics in the Elementary School I

Agnes DeFranco and Arlene Ramirez, HRMA 4343: Financial Administration for the Hospitality Industry

Shelley Gonzales and Ginger Lucas, SOCW 6306: Social Work Practice Skills

Layci Harrison, ATP 6191/6192/6193: Clinical Education I, II, and III

Rachelle A.C. Joplin, ENGL 1304: First-Year Writing II

Polina Kharmats, POLS 3315: International Organization

Ksenia Krylova, MANA 3335: Introduction to Organizational Behavior and Management

Vassiliy Lubchenko, CHEM 4373: Survey of Physical Chemistry

Luis D. Medina, PSYC 4397: Latino Health and Disparities

Kevin Rowland, MEDI 5035: Musculoskeletal System

Jaspal Subhlok, Daniel Biedeger, Carlos Rincon, and Stephen Huang, COSC 1306: Introduction to Computer Science and Programming

Benjamin Tamber-Rosenau, Donald Foss, Gunes Avci, and Pamela Harlan, PSYC 2301: Introduction to Methods in Psychology

Giulia Toti, COSC 2306: Data Programming

Anna Vershynina, MATH 2331: Linear Algebra

Wei Wang, CHNS 3354: Chinese Culture and Language

Xiaojing Yuan, ELET 3403: Sensors Applications

Sandra Zalman, ARTH 1381: Art and Society: Renaissance to Modern

Now in its third year, ATIP is part of the University’s initiative to improve students’ academic experience by mitigating the high cost of textbooks. Faculty members are incentivized to replace required traditional textbook(s) in their course with adoption, adaptation, or creation of open educational resources (OER), or assembly of freely available or library sponsored resources.

Six of this year’s awarded projects were for adopting OER or library materials, one is for authoring OER, and twelve involve a combination of adopting, adapting, and/or authoring open resources. Projected savings for students in the first year of implementing alternative textbooks in these courses is $426,556.23, benefiting an estimated 3,352 students.

“I’m excited to see the impact that UH instructors continue to have through this program,” said Ariana Santiago, open educational resources coordinator at UH Libraries. “By using or developing alternative textbooks they provide all students with free and immediate access to course materials, make higher education more affordable, and improve student learning.” 

Learn more about open educational resources at UH.