CMAT used the affordable course materials designators in MyNIU to identify the departments offering the highest percentage of course sections with affordable course materials ($40 or less). The top three departments for the 2023-2024 academic year are:
- Departmental Achievement Award: Department of English with 75% of their courses designated as low or zero cost
- Departmental Honorable Mention Award: Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment with 44% of their courses designated as low or zero cost
- Departmental Outstanding Effort Award: Department of World Languages and Cultures with 30% of their courses designated as low or zero cost
In addition to receiving a plaque and digital badge, the ACM Department Awards come with monetary prizes funded by University Libraries. Winning departments were presented their awards at department and college senate meetings.
Last year, English was awarded the Departmental Outstanding Effort Award for achieving the third highest percentage. Past department winners must increase their percentage from previous years by at least 10% to be recognized again—English grew their low and zero cost course materials offerings by 11% in 2023-2024 to earn top honors.
Dr. Robert Brinkman, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, remarked, “We are so proud of the Departments of English and World Languages and Cultures for their work in providing affordable textbooks for our students. Both of these departments see hundreds of students every semester and they are making an incredible difference on our campus.”
Dr. William Pitney, Dean of the College of Education, declared, “I am very proud of the ETRA faculty for their commitment to course materials affordability. Indeed, the faculty have addressed a key financial barrier that exists for many students. This recognition is a testament to the department’s student-centric focus and desire to promote student academic success.”
These are incredible accomplishments and signal an expanding campus commitment to equitableteaching practices and supporting student success.
