Equitable new approach sees Southern Cross University students farewell text books – and save thousands

Claire Halliday
Claire Halliday

A social justice initiative led by Southern Cross University (SCU) senior lecturer Dr Desirée Kozlowski has the potential to help psychology students save thousands of dollars.

The use of Open Educational Resources (OER) means the 173 Bachelor of Psychological Science students commencing in 2023 can avoid buying costly textbooks and, instead, save between $2,000-$4,000 over the course of their three-year degree.

OERs include freely available online learning resources and e-Textbooks that offer an affordable – and environmentally friendlier alternative – to traditional textbooks.

Following the psychology example, the Southern Cross University Library has since created a special collection to map OER texts across all faculty areas.

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“Since the start of 2023, all 16 core units within the Bachelor of Psychological Science have adopted the Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) program and are also exam-free,” said Dr Kozlowski, who is based at the University’s Coffs Harbour campus.

“This is an equity issue and a social justice issue. Apart from the often-prohibitive costs of traditional, prescribed textbooks, many do not represent the changes in social and gender equity now integral in today’s society, and they are not relatable to the careers our students can and will pursue.”

For many Australians, Dr Kozlowski says that “inequity and financial pressures on students feel like they’re at an all-time high right now”.

“As I watch rent stress and costs of living increase, I feel such empathy for students trying to excel while juggling so many other demands,” she told The Bursar. “I also feel proud that Southern Cross is moving quickly toward making quality education more accessible – especially for first-in-family and disadvantaged students.”

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An education sector evolution

When Dr Kozlowski stopped prescribing textbooks to her students six years ago, she admits there was “a vocal minority of students who felt somewhat cut adrift without the accustomed single textbook model”.

“But many, many more took to the idea immediately,” she told The Bursar.

The impetus for broader transformation started in 2020 when a former student revealed they had been unable to afford a single textbook throughout their entire degree.

“I had invited the student to speak to first-year students and they explained how much extra pressure this had placed upon them,” said Dr Kozlowski. “Their story spurred me on and when I became course coordinator, I decided to try to make a material difference to all students of psychology at Southern Cross University.”

In 2020, she helped make that difference by presenting the psychology team with the challenge of transitioning to a ZTC course by 2023.

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“We committed to it with a lot of encouragement and support from the Southern Cross University Library team,” Dr Kozlowski said.

Librarian (Library Education & Research) Ms Carlie Daley said OERs had been on the library’s radar for some time – but the first significant steps towards enabling student access to free learning resources meant first wrangling financial barriers created by academic publishers.

“Desirée immediately popped into my mind as a possible OER champion because of her innovations and passion for student learning,” said Ms Daley.

The OER initiative affirms the University’s commitment to teaching practice that places students at the centre. Hopes are it will also encourage greater student diversity, including better representation of female students, and the disadvantaged.

Current Course Coordinator, Dr Dylan Poulus, described the initiative as a home run for students.

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“It is an important and timely breakthrough, especially for those from low socio-economic situations,” he said.

“For many students, who are often the first members of their families to come to university, just getting here can be a big enough struggle without then facing the high cost of prescribed textbooks.

“This initiative helps to relieve stress, enhance studies and student retention, and will eventually boost the health sector.”

And the sustainable benefits, Dr Kozlowski told The Bursar, offer more than mere money-saving.

“Easing the financial burden was an obvious reason, but moving to non-traditional and open educational resources also tends to offer more diverse and contemporary viewpoints and representation. This resonates particularly well now.”

In an area already experiencing disruption, Dr Kozlowski believes there is “potential for plenty more”.

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” I sense that Australian educators have an appetite for ambitious, inclusive, and exciting collaborative work on open educational resources. A national approach to nurturing, coordinating, and curating collections of high-quality resources would be welcome,” she told The Bursar.

“I think innovation is only beginning, and I look forward to being part of it.”

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Claire Halliday has an extensive career as a full-time writer - across book publishing, copywriting, podcasting and feature journalism - for more than 25 years. She lives in Melbourne with children, two border collies and a grumpy Burmese cat. Contact: claire.halliday[at]brandx.live