ISSUED: 19 February 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Hans Fogle
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Shepherd University has received a $25,000 Open Educational Resources (OER) Challenge Grant from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WV HEPC) to increase the use of free course materials and reduce textbook costs for students. Shepherd is one of ten institutions statewide selected for the competitive award for the 2025-2026 academic year.
The grant will support the University’s development of a “z-degree,” a zero-textbook cost pathway that enables students to complete degree requirements without purchasing textbooks. Beginning this spring, three Business Administration courses will implement open educational resources for the first time, with five additional core courses scheduled for development over the next year.
By replacing traditional textbooks with free, openly licensed materials, Shepherd is helping lower the cost of a college education while ensuring students have immediate access to required course content. Over the past year, seven courses in the College of Business, Recreation, and Education have already offered sections using OER, and this grant will expand those offerings.
Faculty and students will collaborate to develop, adapt, and package course content, and create tools and training to support broader adoption of the open educational resources. Shepherd students will also contribute to the development of open content, gaining valuable academic and professional experience. Materials created through the grant will be shared through statewide OER efforts, helping expand access to affordable course materials across West Virginia.
Since 2021, OER initiatives supported by the WV HEPC have saved West Virginia students nearly $10 million in textbook costs, demonstrating the financial impact of open educational resources.
The Shepherd University project is co-led by Dr. James Dovel, associate professor of business administration and chair of the Department of Business, Accounting, Economics, and Finance, and Robert Szarka, assistant professor of business administration. Additional faculty members on the team include Dr. Joshua Beck, assistant professor of business; Dr. Amanda Mandzik, associate professor of economics; Dr. Zahra Pourabedin, assistant professor of business administration; and Dr. Jimmie West, adjunct professor of business administration. The initiative also includes instructional designer Yildiz Nuredinoski, lecturer of English, and IT consultant Richard Lanham, who works in Shepherd’s IT Services Department.
For more information about the initiatives by the College of Business, Recreation, and Education, CLICK HERE.
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