Of the major principles that form the foundation of the implementation of OER, those of diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the forefront of OER initiatives. OER has important connections to DEI goals: 

• Studies have shown that offering zero-cost textbooks and course materials levels the playing field for underrepresented students struggling to balance paying for tuition and day-to-day living costs.

• The availability of OER offers academic instructors the freedom to explore materials written by a wide range of authors and incorporate a diverse body of work into their courses.

• For university campuses, representation matters, and the inclusion of texts by BIPOC, women, and other underrepresented or marginalized communities can foster an inclusive environment and culture on campus.