H.R. 72 Summary

• Requests the University of Hawaii to conduct a feasibility study on adopting an open educational resources (OER) initiative to reduce textbook costs for students.

• Study should include examination of OER training for faculty and individual grants to incentivize faculty use of open educational resources in courses.

• Study must include a strategic plan to increase OER use, recommended parameters for implementation, estimated implementation costs, and projected student savings.

• University of Hawaii must submit findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than 20 days before the 2020 Regular Session convenes.

• References successful OER programs in other jurisdictions, including North Dakota's $110,000 investment that saved 15,000 students between $1.1-$2.4 million in textbook costs over two years.