Kansas State University

Education majors yield major savings thanks to technology initiative, faculty

Submitted by Patrice Scott

College of Education faculty members in all three departments parlayed university and college alternative textbook awards totaling $96,500 in to a savings of $600,000 for education undergraduate and graduate students, representing a 522 percent return on investment. 

The awards were made possible through two funding streams. In the fall of 2013, the university created the Open/Alternative Textbook Initiative, which was designed to reduce the amount students spend on textbooks. Debbie Mercer, dean of the College of Education, followed suit and offered college-level incentives as well. By 2014, eight faculty members had created digital resources for their classes. Today, 20 current faculty members have participated. 

"The beauty is these savings will continue well into the future," Mercer said. "While the investment of time and expertise is intensive in the development stage, faculty members have shared how easy it is to revise or add content so their course materials are always current and relevant. Because this aligns with the college's mission to prepare future teachers for a digital environment, it truly is a win-win-win situation."

The college recently awarded the following faculty members:

• * Kakali Bhattacharya, associate professor of educational leadership.
• Brad Burenheide, associate professor of curriculum and instruction.
• Doris Wright-Carroll, associate professor of special education, counseling and student affairs.
• Christy Craft, associate professor of special education, counseling and student affairs.
• **Lori Goodson, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction.
• ** Ann Knackendoeffel, assistant professor of special education, counseling and student affairs.
• * Cynthia Kuhn, instructor of curriculum and instruction.
• Jessica Lane, assistant professor of special education, counseling and student affairs.
• Lotta Larson, associate professor of curriculum and instruction.
• Lori Levin, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction.
• Mickey Losinski, associate professor of special education, counseling and student affairs.
• Tonnie Martinez, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction.
• ** Leah McKeeman, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction.
• * Della Perez, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction.
• Suzanne Porath, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction.
• Vickie Sherbert, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction.
• Deepak Subramony, associate professor of curriculum and instruction.
• Dan Wilcox, assistant professor of special education, counseling and student affairs.
• Thomas Vontz, professor of curriculum and instruction.
• Yang Yang, assistant professor of special education, counseling and student affairs.

* Denotes more than one college award.

** Denotes awards from the college and university.