Organizing and conducting an Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$) deployment involves making organizational commitments and setting goals, as well as assigning or approving the roles of individuals, the allocation of resources, and the decision making and review process.
An AL$ deployment involves translating high-level objectives into a project plan that identifies specific names, resources, due dates, success and progress metrics, etc. and lays out an effort that results in the implementation and operation of one or more AL$ products and services.
Strategies to Launch Your Campus AL$ Initiative
There are several phases to launching your campus AL$ initiative.
Phase 1: Pre-Deployment
Campus leaders participate in ad hoc brainstorming, demonstration, and exploratory activities that lead them to recommend deployment of an AL$
Phase 2: Initiation
Determine objectives and business need; identify deliverables, constraints, and assumptions: assess cross-functional impacts and resource requirements. Individuals (executives and leaders) who will be accountable for deployment agree to start the Initiation Phase and accept or are assigned responsible roles.
Phase 3: Strategic Planning
Individual tasks and deliverables required to complete the deployment project are defined.
Phase 4: Deployment
Campus plan is deployed and outcomes are monitored as an on-going process.

Campus Planning
It is critical to develop a campus plan for your course materials affordability initiative so the community of people who will need to collaborate together all know their collective goals, roles, and responsibilities.
The CSU has developed a number of recommendations for a comprehensive plan as well as online templates for crafting your plan. The CSU Campus AL$ Project Plan and Reporting Template.
Course Materials Affordability Program Elements
Featured below are the major elements of a course materials affordability program.
Communication and Outreach: How will the campus and faculty communicate about the course materials affordability program and encourage participation? How will you brand your program?

Campus Coordinators
Implementing your campus’ course materials affordability program will require:
- The coordination of activities for faculty, staff, and students.
- Crafting and coordinating the communication between a variety of stakeholder groups.
- The allocation and accountability of resources.
- The evaluation of and reporting on the program processes and outcomes.
- A textbook affordability campus coordinator (TACC) is required in order to receive AL$ funding and is responsible for performing coordination and implementation tasks.
- A TACC can help your campus align your textbook affordability program with your other strategic priorities, campus culture and policies, and campus capabilities.
- The TACC should also have an advisory committee to address and manage issues through a shared governance and transparent process.
- Visit the Coordinator’s page to learn more about this body of work.

Course Materials Affordability Legislation
- We have compiled relevant Federal and State legislation.
- Additional Federal and State Legislation information is available in the Auxiliary and Bookstore Resource Guide.

AL$ Strategy
For more detailed information, review a more detailed overview of the CSU AL$ Strategy.