Building a Culture of Open Education: Faculty Reflections and Student Outcomes from a Small, Liberal Arts College

Abstract

The adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER) in higher education is reshaping the learning landscape by promoting affordability, increasing access, and fostering student engagement. This paper reflects on the authors’ shared experiences with OER integration, with a particular focus on the lead author’s innovative work at a small liberal arts college (Franklin College, Indiana, USA). These initiatives were strengthened through close collaboration with library faculty as well as through support from a state-wide library consortium serving small, private academic libraries. Drawing on student success tracking, surveys of student perceptions, and usage data from an open-access textbook authored by the lead author, the study assesses both pedagogical and institutional effects of OER use. Results show a link between OER usage and improved student performance, with a 2.1% increase in average final grades and more students exceeding an 87% course grade threshold. Student survey responses reflect strong approval of OER quality and accessibility, with a clear preference for digital formats and no negative feedback reported.