AAC&U Research Identifies Open Educational Resources as a New High-Impact Practice

Landmark national study finds OER can improve student success while reducing costs, supporting AAC&U’s designation of OER as its 12th high-impact practice.

Washington, DC—The American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) today released Open Educational Resources: A New High-Impact Practice, a groundbreaking national research report demonstrating that open educational resources (OER) can positively influence student success outcomes while making higher education more accessible and affordable.

Drawing on nearly 700,000 student records from 15 colleges and universities representing six Carnegie-derived institutional classifications, as well as survey and focus group data from more than 200 instructors, the two-year study is among the largest and most comprehensive examinations of OER implementation conducted to date.

The report concludes that OER implementation merits recognition as AAC&U’s 12th high-impact practice (HIP), joining a distinguished group of educational practices shown to improve student learning, engagement, persistence, and success.

AAC&U designates teaching and learning practices as “high-impact practices” based on evidence that they provide significant educational benefits for students, particularly those from populations historically underserved by higher education. Current HIPs include first-year seminars, undergraduate research, internships, service learning, learning communities, and capstone experiences.

“Over the past two decades, OER have transformed the conversation about affordability in higher education,” said Lynn Pasquerella, president of AAC&U. “This research demonstrates that their impact extends beyond reducing costs. When thoughtfully implemented, OER can serve as a powerful catalyst for student success, equity, and educational excellence.”

The study, supported by a grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, examined OER implementation across community colleges, doctoral institutions, historically Black colleges and universities, regional public universities, private institutions, and a tribal college.

Among the report’s key findings:

• OER implementation was associated with lower course withdrawal rates, though the magnitude of the effect varied by institutional context.
• The number of students earning A grades increased following OER implementation across all institutional contexts.
• Students who completed at least one OER-supported course showed improved time-to-completion outcomes, particularly those taking longer than four years to earn a credential.
• One-third of instructors reported changing their teaching and learning practices after implementing OER.
• OER implementation demonstrated particular promise for supporting student success among populations that have historically faced barriers in higher education.

The research also highlights the importance of implementation conditions. Faculty experiences varied considerably depending on the level of institutional support available, including access to professional development, instructional design assistance, funding, and time for course redesign.

“One of the most important findings is that OER implementation is not simply a textbook substitution,” said C. Edward Watson, AAC&U vice president for digital innovation and lead author of the report. “When supported appropriately, OER can encourage more intentional course design, increase access to learning materials from the first day of class, and contribute to improved student outcomes. Like all high-impact practices, success depends on thoughtful implementation.”

The report argues that OER are uniquely positioned among high-impact practices because they can be implemented at scale, either by individual faculty members or through broader institutional initiatives, while simultaneously addressing concerns about educational affordability and equity.

AAC&U hopes the findings will encourage colleges and universities, policymakers, and higher education leaders to invest in sustainable OER initiatives that support both faculty and students.

The full report, Open Educational Resources: A New High-Impact Practice, is available at https://www.aacu.org/research/open-education-resources-a-new-high-impact-practice.  

About AAC&U

The American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) is a global membership organization dedicated to advancing the democratic purposes of higher education by promoting equity, innovation, and excellence in liberal education. Through our programs and events, publications and research, public advocacy, and campus-based projects, AAC&U serves as a catalyst and facilitator for innovations that improve educational quality and equity and that support the success of all students. In addition to accredited public and private, two-year and four-year colleges and universities, and state higher education systems and agencies throughout the United States, our membership includes degree-granting higher education institutions around the world as well as other organizations and individuals. To learn more, visit www.aacu.org.