Textbook Heroes

Noah Ries

2018-2019 KU Student Body President

OER support for students:

When I announced that textbook affordability would be part of presidential platform, KU students loved the idea. It makes sense that in order to provide a quality education, we need to make materials affordable. With how expensive higher education already is, providing access to OER and low-cost materials is a prominent issue that we all need to be talking about. KU students deserve better.

KU Libraries as partners:

All of my work started from the motivation and the wisdom of KU Libraries faculty and staff. In September 2018, I didn't even know what OER meant — fast forward to April 2019, and I presented an award for textbook affordability. Kevin Smith and Josh Bolick of the libraries taught me so much about OER that I never expected.