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Affordable Learning Solutions at Sacramento State

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Affordable Learning Solutions

Welcome to the Affordable Learning Community at Sacramento State, a collaborative effort among the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), Disability Access Center (DAC), the Sacramento State University Library, and the Hornet Bookstore.
We are here to help improve course affordability for students, support faculty in accessing and using open educational resources, and familiarize the campus community with the California State University’s (CSU) Affordable Learning Initiative. We strive to provide information and resources to create a learning environment that benefits our campus community as a whole.

"More affordable textbook options mean that I don't have to pick between passing a class or paying rent and eating." - Vanessa Kmetz

What is the Affordable Learning Initiative?

Textbook affordability isn’t just a faculty choice issue, it’s also an equity issue. Students are often forced choose between purchasing textbooks and paying rent.

To make course materials accessible to all students, regardless of income level, the California Legislature passed a series of bills that empower professors to adopt high quality, free and open educational resources for course materials, and make these courses visible to students when registering for courses.

The Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$) Initiative is the CSU’s response to this legislation, providing funding, resources, and training for each campus.

What is the impact on students and faculty?

In addition to saving students more than $50 million across the CSU system annually, AL$ and OERs give faculty more flexibility and choice in course materials, making those materials more responsive to advances in research and current events.

AL$ Impact on Students across the CSU: Millions of Dollars Saved

Image of Impact of affordable learning solutions on students

“I sometimes have to decide whether to eat or buy a textbook. It’s hard when professors don’t offer alternative routes that are accessible.”

José Arias-Ruiz

Training & Development Opportunities

AL$/OER Faculty Learning Community (TBD)

The Affordable Learning Solutions & Open Educational Resources faculty learning community will support faculty members who are committed to reducing the cost of instructional materials to students with the goal of improving access, learning, and student success.  Faculty will learn about various options for adopting and remixing open educational materials. $1,000 stipend upon completion of the culminating event.

Faculty Resources

icons used in Class Schedule for low- and no-cost materials

Contact For Support

Affordable Learning Solutions/Open Educational Resource Coordinator: Andrea Terry

  • Integrating OER materials into your courses through Canvas
  • Consultation on course design/redesign with online textbooks and multi-media

Contact Center for Teaching and Learning at (916) 278-5945 or e-mail CTL@csus.edu

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Sacramento State provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Sacramento State complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.


Sacramento State is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Sacramento State, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.