Compton College president and CEO, Dr. Keith Curry, sets an ambitious goal of utilizing open educational resources (OER) in 85-100% of all courses and degree programs by fall 2035.
“When students don’t have to worry about their financial situation, including textbook costs, they do better in their classes and become more engaged in their learning. It makes sense that textbook cost reductions can support equity goals.” — Dr. Keith Curry, Compton College president & CEO. Photo credit: LA Sentinel
Compton College’s Commitment to Open Educational Resources
The Michelson 20MM Foundation is always excited to support visionary leaders and their work benefiting students, particularly when the students impacted are in our backyard. With that in mind, we are happy to award a Michelson Spark Grant to Compton College. The school’s president and CEO, Dr. Keith Curry, recently set an ambitious goal of utilizing open educational resources (OER) in 85-100% of all courses and degree programs by fall 2035.
“The visionary goal of implementing an all-OER campus is a catalytic initiative that will make college more affordable for students who need these educational resources most”. – Dr. Gary Michelson
Compton College serves a large number of students who come from backgrounds that are traditionally underserved, including 61% Latinx and 23% African American students. Moreover, 61% of Compton’s students receive financial aid and many students struggle to meet their basic needs.
The college has 59% of students experiencing food insecurity, 68% facing housing insecurity, and 18% experiencing homelessness. All of these percentages are greater than the state averages. Recognizing the struggle of so many students, Compton’s leadership team strived to lower the cost of instructional materials. With community college students spending approximately $700 per year on textbooks, this commitment will truly impact the lives of students, particularly those most in need.
Read more about Compton College’s commitment here.
