Four USC Columbia faculty members have been recognized by University Libraries with 2025 SCoer awards.
The awards, given annually through a competitive application process, provide resources and support to assist faculty with the adoption of Open Education Resources (OER) for their classes. To date, use of these materials, which are freely available online, in place of traditional textbooks has saved USC Columbia students more than $3 million.
Ursula Engelbrecht and Sarah Rogers, both from the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, received Track One awards, which will assist in their transition to no-cost OER and library-licensed materials, while Karen Edwards and Armen Shaomian, both from the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, were honored with Track Two awards, given to faculty members who have prior experience with OER and can serve as mentors to those who are in the process of adopting them.
Open educational resources – high quality, openly licensed teaching, learning and research materials available at no cost to students – benefit students and faculty alike. While they can save students hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year in textbook costs, they allow faculty to customize course materials to fit their teaching needs more than traditional textbooks typically can.
To participate in the program, Track One honorees attend a workshop hosted by University Libraries to help them identify or create OER materials for their courses. They commit to switching from the use of a traditional textbook to an OER or library-based resource in one of their classes and are recognized with a certificate and a $1,000 award. Track Two honorees are recognized for their existing use of OER materials and agree to serve as affordable learning advocates and to create resources for other instructors interested in transitioning to the use of affordable learning materials.
Award recipients are selected by USC Student Government representatives and University Libraries staff.
“It was an honor to help recognize this year’s SCoer Award winners,” said Student Body Vice President Jordan Richardson. “These faculty members are making an incredible impact by reducing the cost of course materials and improving access to education for all students. Their work reflects the heart of what we value at USC! Initiatives like this show how powerful collaboration between students and faculty can be in shaping a more inclusive academic experience.”
The award winners themselves identified a range of reasons students and faculty alike benefit from access to Open Educational Resources, from affordability to flexibility to staying as up-to-date as possible.
“We are hoping free access to course materials will make German accessible and more affordable for all students,” said Engelbrecht, noting that through the use of OER, “We can center the course around current events. By allowing the students to choose topics rather than presenting topics from a book, the students can choose topics that are of particular interest to them. We can personalize and include references to the university.”
Likewise, Shaomian said “As an associate professor specializing in entertainment management, I've observed that traditional textbooks often fail to keep pace with the industry's rapid evolution. The dynamic nature of copyright law, royalty structures, streaming platforms, and technological advancements renders published materials quickly outdated. Consequently, my teaching methodology emphasizes the utilization of current, adaptable resources, ensuring students receive the most relevant and up-to-date education.”
Scholarly Communications Librarian and Assistant Head of Acquisitions Amie Freeman, the SCoer Award coordinator, adds “Revising a course to use new course materials is an enormous undertaking. I am pleased that the Libraries has the opportunity to support and thank faculty who are committed to providing students with equitable access to learning materials.”