Name: Jenna Raths What are some of the classes you teach? Basic Nursing Skills How long have you been with CVTC? 4.5 years How long have you been using low-cost and/or no-cost textbooks? 1.5 years What is your favorite part of using low-cost and/or no-cost textbooks? As the program director, I have the privilege of sharing with students that their first semester of nursing school will be all no-cost textbooks that are interactive, evidence-based, and accessible anywhere! Any estimated student cost savings from using low-cost and/or no-cost textbooks? Hundreds of dollars for their first semester! Fun fact: I helped as a contributing author to the Nursing Skills and Nursing Management & Professional Concepts OER texts.

Name: Jeff LeCount What are some of the classes you teach? Speech, Oral Interpersonal Communication, and Applied Communication How long have you been with CVTC? This is my 20th year at CVTC. How long have you been using low-cost and/or no-cost textbooks? I have been using OER/AER for the last 3-4 years. What is your favorite part of using low-cost and/or no-cost textbooks? I think my favorite aspect of OER/AER texts is the fact that they are often electronically available. Any estimated student cost savings from using low-cost and/or no-cost textbooks? The savings for students is usually between $75-150 per book. Fun fact: If people ask me how I'm doing, I usually respond with some weird statement like, "I've pretty much got life down to the point where I'm only crazy on the days that end in 'Y'!"

Name: Dawn Barone What are some of the classes you teach? Mental Health & Community Concepts, Advanced Nursing Skills, and Intermediate Clinical Practice (Behavioral Health) How long have you been with CVTC? This past spring was my sixth semester. How long have you been using low-cost and/or no-cost textbooks? About a year. I trialed our OER for Mental Health in my summer 2022 course, and we transitioned into using it this past fall. Since this past spring semester, we are now fully integrated with the OER for Metal Health. I also helped prepare for the OER for Advanced Skills to be trialed in the spring 2023 semester. What is your favorite part of using low-cost and/or no-cost textbooks? They are so convenient —not only for students but for me too! I love being able to have the OER saved on my bookmarks to easily access them when I need them for preparing for class or planning the semester or reviewing items with students. Students love them for the low-cost and for the convenienc...

Name: Marian Smith What are some of the classes you teach? Online Success Strategies, Editing & Proofreading, and Information Design How long have you been with CVTC? 20 years How long have you been using low-cost and/or no-cost textbooks? At least the past five years. What is your favorite part of using low-cost and/or no-cost textbooks? Using low-cost and no-cost textbooks/resources helps students save so much money. Any estimated student cost savings from using low-cost and/or no-cost textbooks? Thousands of dollars over the past few years. Fun fact: Each semester, I teach classes that are required for students in three different programs. I can see how the use of affordable/free resources has a direct impact on students' success.

Name: Jennifer Cook What are some of the classes you teach? Reference Services, Adult Literature, and Outreach & Community Services How long have you been with CVTC? 5 years How long have you been using low-cost and/or no-cost textbooks? 5 years — when we started the program, we set out to have no-cost textbooks from day one. What is your favorite part of using low-cost and/or no-cost textbooks? In the library world, things are constantly changing. I am always able to pull the most recent information about trends and news and update them every semester. Any estimated student cost savings from using low-cost and/or no-cost textbooks? $5,000/semester Fun fact: I am an avid gardener and have backyard chickens!

Name: Joe Sonsalla What are some of the classes you teach? Introductory Psychology courses How long have you been with CVTC? 25 years How long have you been using low-cost and/or no-cost textbooks? 7 years What is your favorite part of using low-cost and/or no-cost textbooks? Knowing I am helping students lighten their financial burden without sacrificing their content knowledge opportunities. Any estimated student cost savings from using low-cost and/or no-cost textbooks? As of today, $305,000 in total textbook cost savings for students in my courses alone. Several other members in the Humanities, Behavioral, and Social Sciences Department are also now using no-cost/low-cost resources.

Name: Jessica Stensen What are some of the classes you teach? Basic Skills & Intermediate Clinical DEU How long have you been with CVTC? 4.5 years How long have you been using low-cost and/or no-cost textbooks? A couple of years What is your favorite part of using low-cost and/or no-cost textbooks? The savings for the students and how readily available it is to students and faculty anywhere! Any estimated student cost savings from using low-cost and/or no-cost textbooks? A couple hundred dollars! Fun fact: I love sitting in the middle of fields taking in all the scenery, sounds, and scents.