Open Nebraska Initiative Increases Student Affordability

A highly collaborative partnership between the campus bookstores, campus libraries, campus registrars, Information Technology Services and the University of Nebraska Provost’s Office is focused on saving students money by increasing the use of high-quality free and reduced-cost digital course materials directly within Canvas in lieu of purchasing standard textbooks. This effort – referred to broadly as Open Nebraska – has now saved NU students more than $7.7 million. These digital course materials have the additional benefit of being available to students on the first day of the semester, which increases a student’s ability to be successful by having consistent, day-one access to required course materials.

Beginning with the Spring 2022 semester schedule, which goes live in early October, students at UNK, UNL and UNO will now be able to search for which classes are a part of Open Nebraska as they select and register for specific course sections. Students will see free course material options designated within Open Nebraska, and will also see which courses utilize digital course materials that are less than $40. UNMC plans to utilize this course search feature later in 2022. We greatly appreciate the efforts of former NU Student Regent and 2020-21 UNO Student Government President Jabin Moore for his leadership and advocacy supporting the Open Nebraska initiative and course marking feature.

The University of Nebraska is committed to student affordability, setting a goal of saving NU students $10 million by 2023 through this program. We would like to thank the Women Investing in Nebraska organization for their generous grant in 2019-20 to further extend and support these efforts.