Cerritos College Aims to Increase Student Access and Success through Open Educational Resources

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 16, 2017

Media Contact: A ya Abelon, Public Affairs; (562) 653-7878

NORWALK, Calif. – November 16, 2017 – Cerritos College recently hosted the Student Success Conference – Open Educational Resources (OER). The conference brought together faculty members from California community colleges across the southland to discuss the possibilities of OER to enhance student learning.

Free access to textbooks and open licensed resources reduces financial barriers that many first-generation students face. Nearly 55 percent of Cerritos College students are the first in their families to attend college. The conference focused on key concepts, including: the high-cost of textbooks, open licensed resources, and z-degrees. A z-degree is an innovative, zero-cost textbook program that can be completed using only open educational resources.

Cerritos College is a leading innovator in OER. The College developed an OER pilot project in its business department in 2008 to reduce textbook cost for students. The College successfully expanded its online coursework to over 4,000 students at a savings of nearly $500,000. More than half of the students taking courses in the business department save an average of about $150 per course in over 77 classes. In 2016, The College received the Online Learning Consortium’s Digital Learning Innovation Award, and the Campus Technology magazine selected the project as a Campus Technology Innovator in 2012. The College’s goal is to expand its online resources to save students over $1 million in the coming semesters.

About Cerritos College: Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 180 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently averages 23,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu.

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