Associated Students approved a series of resolutions to push for the use of Open Educational Resources on March 8, which will ease the costs of textbooks for students but still awaits approval from college administration.

Encouraging faculty to accelerate the adoption of OER to reduce high textbook costs is part of the AB 798 College Textbook Affordability Act of 2015, which was approved by Governor Jerry Brown on Oct. 8, 2015 and written by Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla.

“A significant portion of college expenses are spent on required textbooks,” said Bonilla in a press release. “Open Educational Resources are a great solution to the rising costs, which are not only hurting students financially, but hindering their academic success when they’re being forced to get additional jobs or work extra hours to afford school.”

OER are online teaching and high-quality learning materials such as textbooks, course materials, tests and any other materials used to support access to knowledge. These materials are freely available for instructors and students. They can also be used in place of traditional textbooks and resources that students currently pay for.

Associated Students Vice President Carmel Gutherz explained the importance of the approved resolutions.

“AB 798 is so critical because it is a call to action for ASGs (Associated Student Government) to take a stance on textbook inflation,” Gutherz said. “This is an issue, which affects every student in our system and has yet to be addressed at Moorpark College.”

Gutherz said the next step will be to bring this resolution to the Academic Senate’s attention.

“Only after this resolution is jointly passed will there be any action taken in regard to textbook affordability and OER,” said Gutherz. “A plan must be drafted by Academic Senate to undertake the project and this is entirely up to their jurisdiction.”

A.S. also recommends the Academic Senate to submit the plan of implementation along with the resolutions to the California Open Educational Resources Council no later than June 30 for an initial grant of up to $50,000.

Academic Senate President Mary Rees said the bill will bring a positive impact to Moorpark students.

“I think this bill could have some very positive applications for our Moorpark students,” said Rees in an email. “I’m delighted Carmel brought it to the ASG attention.”

The approved resolutions of the A.S. will be discussed in the Academic Senate meeting on Tuesday, March 15. The meeting will start at 2:30 p.m. in A138 and the public are welcome to give their comments at the beginning of the meeting.