In an effort to help address affordability issues in higher education, the Course Pack Consultation Service (CPCS), allows faculty to reduce or eliminate the costs associated with readings-based course packs for students. Faculty participating in the CPCS will work with a librarian who is a copyright expert and receive $200 in professional development funds at the conclusion of the consultation.
The CPCS helps eliminate the course pack costs by taking advantage of best practices and exceptions found in U.S. copyright law, including:
Whenever possible, linking to works made freely and legally available to students, such as the library’s online collections (article databases and eBooks) or other works made legally and freely available online by rights holders (e.g., a news story on the Washington Post website);
Considering fair use for making PDF copies of print works such as chapters from books available to students via the instructor’s Canvas course page;
Seeking permission to use works that are not made freely and legally available online and that do not fall within the scope of one of the exceptions found in U.S. copyright law;
Identifying alternate works in the library’s online holdings that can substitute for selected readings that could not otherwise be made freely and legally accessible to students.
To be eligible for this grant program, faculty must:
Currently be using a readings-based course pack (e.g. articles and book chapters) that students are required to purchase.
Agree to use Canvas for making reading accessible to students moving forward.
Faculty who have continuing appointments and teach large enrollment courses will be given priority for this program.
Those interested in participating in this grant program should complete the application form which is available on a Canvas site. Please contact Amy Bergerson, Associate Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education, at bergera9@MiamiOH.edu, for access to the site. Applications are considered on a rolling basis during the academic year. Processing priority will based upon the number of students in the course, the cost of the course pack, and when the course is next being taught.
Questions about this program should be directed to Carla Myers, Coordinator of Scholarly Communications, at 513-529-3935 or myersc2@MiamiOH.edu
View the video for an overview of the Course Pack Consultation Service (Miami login required).
