Four Nicholls State University educators will help develop free interactive courses for Louisiana high school students seeking college credit. The project is part of the federal Open Textbooks Pilot Program, funded by a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Participants from Nicholls, selected by the Louisiana Library Network, are Elizabeth Batte, director of the Ellender Memorial Library; Brandy Burbante, cataloging librarian; James Gilley, assistant professor of political science; and Kevin McQueeney, assistant professor of history and geography. The goal is to create 25 general-education courses available for free with an open license, officials said. The classes will reduce the cost for over 250,000 students across the state.
