Affordable Learning @ CSU | Michael Schwartz Library, Cleveland State University

Co-sponsored by the Michael Schwartz Library and the Student Government Association, the Textbook Hero Award is awarded annually to encourage and reward faculty for their work to reduce textbook costs for CSU students. The criteria for this award include the amount of effort needed and spent to replace a traditional textbook with a low-cost or open alternative, and the impact of that replacement on textbook costs, classroom engagement, and student achievement.

We hope to continue offering this award annually to faculty who are supporting open pedagogy and student success by considering and using openly licensed materials in the classroom.

Our 2026 Textbook Hero

Dr. Clayton Wukich, Associate Professor in the College of Urban Studies

Course: UST 207 - Ohio Government
OER used: Self-authored textbook, An Ohioan’s Guide to State & Local Government
Annual student savings: $32,250

One of Dr. Wukich’s nominators said, “Dr. Wukich eliminated the financial barrier of a $150 textbook by curating and authoring custom course readings. His tailored textbooks on state and local government and public service careers provided a clear, structural understanding of governance and professional networking that a generic text couldn't match.

Most impressively, his original case study on mixed-use development in Shaker Heights turned our classroom theory into a living lesson. By the time we participated in the site visit with developers and city officials, the depth of his materials ensured we weren't just observers- we were informed participants capable of engaging in high-level professional dialogue. Dr. Wukich represents the very best of our faculty.”

Our 2025 Textbook Hero

Dr. Sara Froehlich, Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Course: MTH 181
OER used: Open textbooks she authored (Calculus I and Calculus II)
Annual student savings: approx. $27,300

One of Dr. Froehlich’s nominators said, “[Dr. Froehlich] found, vetted and adapted the listed OERs to decrease course fees for students by a significant amount, $65 per student, per semester. These free resources are in most faculty's opinions, BETTER than the paid resources that were used previously! These have really improved the quality of teaching. …She is one of the most student-centered faculty members at CSU, and her passion for teaching is exemplary.”

Our 2024 Textbook Hero

Dr. Erin Avram, Assistant College Lecturer, Department of Chemistry

Course: CHM 151 - Chemistry Around Us
OER used: Variety of open textbooks (“Chemistry and Global Awareness” by Elizabeth Gordon, “Everyday Chemistry” from Portland Community College, “Chemistry for Changing Times” by Hill and McCreary, “Introduction to Chemistry” from Anoka-Ramsey Community College)
Annual student savings: approximately $10,000

Dr. Avram's student nominators said: “Dr. Avram is a wonderful instructor who truly cares for her students. She creates such a welcoming environment and teaches her curriculum so effortlessly and in-depth so her students have the best chance for success.”

“Many of my peers do not buy their textbooks unless absolutely needed; college is already expensive enough and they do not need the extra costs of textbooks. Additionally, some college students come from low-income families and simply just cannot afford textbooks, so they do not purchase them.”

“Thanks to Dr. Avram, students in CHM 151 have access to a free textbook with all of the content from the course. Students are required to read the textbook and do the in-text activities, which is completely fair because the textbook is free.”

Our 2023 Textbook Hero

Dr. Ramune Braziunaite, Associate College Lecturer, School of Communication

Course: COM 332 - Interracial Communication
OER used: Silent Racism: How Well-Meaning White People Perpetuate the Racial Divide (library-licensed ebook)
Annual student savings: approximately $4,200

Dr. Braziunaite's student nominator said: “[Having a free textbook] positively impacted my educational experience in the course.”

Our 2022 Textbook Hero

Elia Iafelice, Associate College Lecturer, Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

Course: ITN 101/102 - Italian I and II
OER used: Spunti: Italiano Elementare 1 & 2
Annual student savings: $10,000

Elia Iafelice was a recipient of a Textbook Affordability Grant through the Michael Schwartz Library in Fall of 2019.

Professor Iafelice's student nominator said: “Having a free textbook alleviated the financial burden of buying expensive textbooks and allowed for everyone to be able to use the same textbook regardless of financial and socioeconomic status.”

Our 2021 Textbook Heroes

Dr. Monica Gordon-Pershey, Associate Professor, Speech & Hearing Program, School of Health Sciences

Courses: CSD 562, CSD 538, CSD 537 - Communication Sciences & Disorders
OER used: Variety of library-licensed and free content
Annual student savings: $10,500

Dr. Gordon-Pershey uses free, library-licensed, or low-cost materials in multiple classes that she teaches, including SPH 562, SPH 538, and SPH 537.

Our 2021 Textbook Heroes

Dr. April Yorke, Assistant Professor in the Speech & Hearing Program of the School of Health Sciences

Course: CSD 228 - Phonetics
OER created: Phonetics Workbook for Students of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Annual student savings: $10,000

Dr. Yorke was a recipient of a 2020 Textbook Affordability Grant through the Michael Schwartz Library, and the workbook she published has been downloaded over 1000 times since publication and adopted by at least six institutions.

Our 2021 Textbook Heroes

Dr. Toni Paoletta, Lecturer, Department of Marketing

Context: Participant in CSU’s 2020 Textbook Affordability Summer Symposium and poster presenter for the Provost’s Teaching Summit.

The MBA 500 textbook she had been using prior to switching to openly licensed materials cost $120, so her efforts significantly reduced textbook costs for students.

2020 Textbook Hero

Kathy Curnow, Associate Professor, Department of Art and Design

Course: ART 286 - African Art
OER created: The Bright Continent: African Art History
Annual student savings: $10,500

In Fall 2017, Dr. Kathy Curnow received a Textbook Affordability Grant for development of The Bright Continent: African Art History for use in ART 286.

2019 Textbook Heroes

Melanie Gagich & Emilie Zickel, Associate and Assistant College Lecturer, English Department, First Year Writing Program

Courses: ENG 100, 101, and 102 - First Year Writing
OER created: A Guide to Rhetoric, Genre, and Success in First-Year Writing
Annual student savings: $126,000

In 2017, Professors Gagich and Zickel developed and published an openly licensed textbook supported by the Michael Schwartz Library and the Provost’s Office, and it is now used in all of CSU’s first-year writing courses.

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