PASCAL News

Professor for Affordable Learning (PAL) Award Program Enters its Fourth Year

Over 115 faculty across South Carolina have reported using zero cost course materials since Fall 2018, resulting in an estimated $3.3 million in savings for over 27,000 students.

In Fall 2018, through its South Carolina Affordable Learning (SCALE) initiative, PASCAL launched the  Professor for Affordable Learning (PAL) Award program. The PAL award program recognizes faculty around the state who have chosen to use zero-cost materials in one or more courses, thus ensuring that textbooks costs are not a barrier for students. Using zero cost course materials also means that all students have the necessary resources on the first day of class.  A national survey conducted in 2020 by the by the Student Public Interest Research Groups found  that 65 percent of students surveyed reported skipping buying a textbook because of cost, despite concerns it will impact their grade.  A faculty member who adopts affordable resources makes that class affordable and accessible to all students.

Since the PAL award program began in Fall 2018, over 115 faculty members from 22 institutions have been recognized as a Professor for Affordable Learning. These faculty members have replaced costly traditional textbooks with zero cost materials in more than 150 courses. Those courses enrolled more than 27,000 students since 2018, resulting in an estimated cost savings of over $3.3 million in just under 4 years.

We are excited to continue this program, now entering its fourth year. If you’ve helped your students by adopting zero-cost course materials, we’d like to recognize and thank you! Faculty at any PASCAL member institution can apply by visiting the SCALE website and completing the Professor for Affordable Learning application. Applicants are asked to provide details on the affordable resources they are using. Affordable resources can include Open Educational Resources (OER), materials that the library licenses or owns, or other zero cost materials. Faculty awardees receive a certificate, a PAL decal, and are recognized on the SCALE web site.

Visit the SCALE website to learn more about the Professor for Affordable Learning Award.