University partnership will produce low-cost learning materials with focus on diversity

Four universities, three of them located in the Bay Area, have received $1.5 million grants from the U.S. Department of Education to lead and support a three-year initiative to increase access to open educational resources, according to a release from St. Mary’s College.

Open educational resources (OER) are low-cost teaching and learning materials without barriers and permission for open use, according to the release. OER has the potential to save at least 6,000 students more than $500,000 within its first year of adoption.