Communicating with Students

If you've adopted OER, library-licensed content, or course reserves in your course(s), it's important to clearly communicate this to students as early as possible. Below is sample language you may include in your syllabi, which you are free to reuse and revise without attribution. It can be helpful to spend a few minutes on the first day of class discussing course materials and clarifying the options available to students for accessing required resources.

Sample Language for OER

Your textbook for this class is an open educational resource (OER), meaning it is available for free online. You can access the web version of the text from the book's landing page [link text] or from within Canvas. You may visit the book’s landing page to download the text for free in the format that works best for you (including PDF, MOBI, and EPUB). The OER is openly licensed and DRM-free, so you may also print individual chapters or the entire text without restrictions. If you prefer, you may opt to purchase a professionally bound print version at a low cost from the UTA Bookstore or XanEdu.

Learn about how you can make a difference on the Open for UTA Students guide.

Sample Language for Library-Licensed Content

Your textbook for this class is available free to you online through UTA Libraries. You can access the web version of the text from the Libraries’ website [include permalink for text]. Please note that you will have to login using your NetID. You may also print individual chapters or the entire textbook without restrictions.

Learn about how you can make a difference on the Open for UTA Students guide.

Sample Language for Course Reserves

Your course materials for this class are available free to you through UTA Libraries Course Reserves. On-Site Reserves are assigned short loan periods and can be checked out at the circulation desk on the first floor of the Central Library or the service desk at either the West Campus Library (formerly AFA) or the Science and Engineering Library. You may find your print reserves location and call number by searching through the Course Reserves website.

You can access electronic reserves from the Course Reserves website or through a direct link embedded within Canvas. Please note that you will have to log in using your NetID and password.

Learn about how you can make a difference on the Open for UTA Students guide.