Carmen Galaz García, an assistant teaching professor in UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, completed her undergraduate degree in mathematics in Mexico, where specialized textbooks were prohibitively expensive. She recalls how important it was that professors provided notes and materials so students wouldn't have to buy expensive books they'd only use for a few months. Today, she sees students at UCSB facing similar systemic barriers.
Exorbitant textbook prices force many undergraduates to skip required readings, avoid specific courses or withdraw from classes entirely. These financial hurdles disproportionately affect students from low-income and historically underrepresented backgrounds. Consequently, these hidden costs decrease student retention and graduation rates, undermining the University’s equity goals.
Motivated by her personal experience, Galaz García designed her environmental data science curriculum around open educational resources (OERs) — free online teaching and learning materials licensed for reuse, revision and redistribution. She also assigned an e-book available for free to students through the UCSB Library.
The financial and academic outcomes were immediate. "The first time I used OERs, they replaced a costly textbook, collectively saving the students more than $2,400," Galaz García said. Furthermore, she hosts her course notes on GitHub, an open-content platform, inviting students to suggest text revisions via pull requests. This pedagogical shift transforms students from passive recipients of information to active collaborators. "Since the notes are publicly available online, alumni have reported back that they continue to consult them after graduation," she noted.
Galaz García’s work exemplifies UCSB Library's broader efforts to advance student success through open and affordable course materials. In October 2025, the Library appointed its first Open and Affordable Course Materials Librarian, Angela Chikowero, to lead this initiative, which provides instructors with the tools and guidance needed to adopt, adapt and create affordable alternatives to traditional textbooks. By championing OERs and expanding access to Library collections and services, this work is reducing financial barriers, promoting equitable education and supporting innovative teaching practices across campus.
