New and Noteworthy is the City Tech Library OER Team’s monthly roundup of notable open educational resources. We try to include at least one open resource relevant to each school at City Tech in every post. At the end of the month, these resources will be compiled and distributed by the library liaison for your department. Please contact us if you know of new or particularly interesting OER to share with our colleagues or would like more information about open educational resources initiatives at City Tech.
Architecture
- Redesigning Lives: Learning How Space Impacts Residents in Affordable Supportive Housing Initiatives, by Bethany Osborne and Shannon Pirie, Sheridan College (2020). License: CC BY-NC
“The goal of this research was to look at the impact that design can make to mental health and wellbeing and community-building through the lens of affordable and supportive housing. Bringing together the strengths of the two disciplines, this research looked at physical design and how it intersects with social determinants of health (SDOH).”
Career & Technology Teacher Education
- Digital Resilience of ePortfolios During and Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons for the Future, edited by Mpho-Entle Puleng Modise and Norman Vaughan, Mount Royal University Library (2025).
License: CC BY-NC
“Digital Resilience of ePortfolios During and Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons for the Future delves into the transformative role that ePortfolios have played during and after this global crisis. This online open educational resource (OER) explores how ePortfolios have sustained educational and professional activities and fostered a new level of digital resilience.”
Computer Systems Technology
- Culturally Responsive Computing: An Introduction into Computer Science, Security, and Technology: An Introduction into Computer Science, Security, and Technology, by Devan J. Walton, ROTEL (Remixing Open Textbooks with an Equity Lens) Project (2024). License: CC BY-NC-SA
“Culturally Responsive Computing is an essential textbook that explores the intricate relationship between technology and global societies. It gives students and professionals a deep understanding of how cultural contexts shape and are shaped by computing practices, from algorithm design to user interface development. This book equips readers with the knowledge and skills to create inclusive, ethical, and culturally sensitive technological solutions for our diverse world. This includes a newly added AI-Powered Adaptation Tool that will help educators customize the content for their specific teaching contexts.”
Construction Management & Civil Engineering Technology
- 2025 Innovation in the Construction Industry, edited by Carrie Sturts Dossick and Lauren Ray, University of Washington (2025).
License: CC BY-NC-ND
“A collection of case studies about adopting new technologies and changing practices in design, construction, and operations of the built environment.”
Human Services
- Human Behavior and the Social Environment II by Whitney Payne, University of Arkansas Libraries (2020). License: CC BY-NC-SA
“These materials will help students and instructors alike explore human behavior and how it is shaped and impacted by both traditional and non-traditional paradigms. This text will also support the reader in having a deeper understanding of how the environment, in all of its complexity, can affect individuals, families, groups, and communities. It is my hope that the information contained in this book will help you, as a future social worker, approach client systems with empathy, understanding, and a compassionate curiosity that allows for comprehensive assessment, individualized approaches to treatment, and continuity of care.”
Law & Paralegal Studies
- Constitutional Law with a Twist: Less Is More by Alisa Klein, CALI’s eLangdell® Press (2025). License: CC BY-NC-SA
Constitutional Law with a Twist: Less is More is designed for a one-semester survey course on federal constitutional law. The casebook covers the content of a typical four-credit survey course: the structure of the U.S. government and individual rights (other than First Amendment rights and rights unique to criminal law). What differentiates this casebook from most other constitutional law casebooks is that this book is deliberately short. It reflects the author’s philosophy that students often experience more joy, more depth, and more growth in an introductory course on constitutional law when there is less reading, more emphasis on contemporary cases, and more feedback on interim work. The book’s preface and the introduction to the accompanying teacher’s manual describe the book’s approach in detail to help faculty decide whether this casebook is a good fit for them and their students. - Civil Rights and Liberties edited by Rorie Spill Solberg, Oregon State University (2023). License: CC BY
This volume focuses on the constitutional doctrine and law in the areas of civil rights and liberties. It contains excerpts of landmark cases covering the first amendment, second amendment, fourteenth amendment and the right to privacy. The excerpts include the constitutional issues in these cases that are related to civil rights and liberties with other questions of law and dicta omitted. - Government Powers and Limitations edited by Rorie Spill Solberg, Oregon State University (2024). License: CC BY
This volume focuses on constitutional doctrine and law in the areas of government powers and limitations. It includes excerpts of landmark cases related to the judiciary and executive, contracts and takings clauses, and due process. The excerpts include the constitutional issues in these cases that are related to government powers and limitations with other questions of law and dicta omitted.
Nursing
- Mental Health for Undergraduate Nursing by Russelyn Connor, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (2025). License: CC BY-NC
“Mental Health Undergraduate Nursing is designed to support a one-semester psychiatric-mental health nursing course offered at both two-year and four-year institutions. Serving a student base of both students specializing in psychiatric nursing and those from other health disciplines, the course integrates evidence-based practices with practical strategies for communication, readying students to build therapeutic relationships with clients and caregivers.” - The Science of Nutrition by Heather L Lehman, The Pennsylvania Alliance for Design of Open Textbooks (PA-ADOPT) (2026). License: CC BY-NC-SA
The Science of Nutrition offers a clear and engaging introduction to the fundamental principles of nutrition. This textbook bridges evidence-based research with practical application, making it ideal for both nutrition or science majors and non-majors. Students will explore how nutrition is studied, how dietary recommendations are developed, and why these guidelines matter for health. - Microbiology (OpenStax) by Dr. Valory Thatcher and Dr. Nadine Phoenix, MHCC Library Press Open Educational Resources (2026). License: CC BY
Microbiology covers the scope and sequence requirements for a single-semester microbiology course for non-majors. The book presents the core concepts of microbiology with a focus on applications for careers in allied health. The pedagogical features of the text make the material interesting and accessible while maintaining the career-application focus and scientific rigor inherent in the subject matter. Microbiology’s art program enhances students’ understanding of concepts through clear and effective illustrations, diagrams, and photographs.
City Tech OER team:
Cailean Cooney, Associate Professor, OER Librarian: ccooney@citytech.cuny.edu Joshua Peach, Adjunct OER Librarian: jpeach@citytech.cuny.edu
Jo Thompson, Adjunct OER Librarian: jthompson@citytech.cuny.edu
Sara Sarmiento, Adjunct Reference and Instruction Librarian
