University Library News

By Angiah Davis and Denise George

The Affordable Learning Georgia (ALG) program began over 10 years ago as an initiative to reduce the cost of course materials for students and to increase the discovery and use of library resources through GALILEO. To support instructors and raise awareness about open and affordable materials, ALG established ALG Champions—ambassadors who advocate for the initiative across the University System of Georgia (USG).

Each USG institution has at least three champions: a Faculty Champion, a Library Champion, and a Design Champion.

• Faculty Champions are instructors who integrate no- or low-cost materials into their courses, drawing on their experience with Open Educational Resources (OER). On campus, they serve as advocates for ALG, helping faculty, staff, and students explore the benefits of OER and its role in fostering affordable, inclusive learning environments.
• Library Champions promote library resources, OER, and affordable course materials. Through active collaboration with faculty, they help identify and recommend high-quality, cost-effective resources that enhance student access and success—strengthening the institution’s commitment to equitable education.
• Design Champions are instructional designers or representatives from Centers for Teaching and Learning who specialize in open and OER-enabled pedagogy. They collaborate with faculty and library champions to raise awareness of open teaching practices and to integrate OER-enabled pedagogy into courses, enhancing affordability and accessibility across the institution.

At the Georgia State University Atlanta campus, the current champions are Scott Jacques (Faculty Champion), Denise George (Library Champion), and Walt Justice (Design Champion). At Perimeter Campuses, the champions are Cyntoria Johnson (Faculty Champion), Angiah Davis (Library Champion), and Mustafa Elsawy (Design Champion). Across GSU’s campuses, champions host workshops, support grant writing and applications, and share information about ALG/OER initiatives and opportunities.

ALG Program Manager Nakita Afaha highlighted the champions’ impact:

“Through the dedication of ALG Champions, affordable resources move from ideas to impact for students across the state of Georgia. Champions have been essential in supporting our mission to promote student success by advancing the adoption, adaptation, and creation of affordable and open educational resources across the USG,” said Afaha.

According to the ALG USG Institution Rankings by Savings and Markings, All-Time Spring 2025 Report, GSU leads all USG institutions—saving 181,905 students a total of $19,645,339.63 since 2014.

As the top public university in the nation for Undergraduate Teaching for the sixth consecutive year (U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2026), GSU continues to prioritize student success both inside and outside the classroom.

Dr. Nicolle Parsons-Pollard, GSU Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, affirmed how GSU’s ALG initiative supports this commitment:

“Georgia State’s faculty continue to lead the way in finding innovative, affordable solutions that put students first. Through partnership with the Affordable Learning Georgia program and a commitment to adopting open, low-cost, and no-cost materials, our faculty are removing financial barriers and ensuring students have access to the resources they need from day one. These efforts enhance equity, foster academic success, and demonstrate our collective dedication to empowering every learner to thrive.”

The success of this initiative depends on creating or using open and affordable course content that can be implemented in GSU courses. The ALG program has resulted in the publication of textbooks and other course materials—most under CC BY licenses—that can be freely adopted and adapted by anyone. In many cases, the materials you need for your course may already be available or easily customizable.

The Open ALG collection includes 63 textbooks created or adopted for courses across the USG, many originating at Georgia State. Additionally, the University of North Georgia Press has published a small collection of free digital textbooks developed through ALG initiatives. Faculty can also browse USG Open Textbooks, ALG Grants Collections, and USG Ancillary Materials through GALILEO Open Learning Materials.

Moreover, the GSU Library can often purchase ebooks (that are not textbooks) to serve as required reading materials for courses—available to students at no cost. Contact your subject librarian or use our online form to Suggest a Purchase.

The work continues. In partnership with CETLOE, the GSU Champions are hosting virtual ALG/OER Drop-In Hours every Friday from October 3 to December 5, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Faculty are invited to learn more about ALG and OER initiatives. Click here to join.