This is the first in a series of posts on the importance of addressing the affordability of course materials.
The cost of course materials is easy to overlook as a major factor in student retention and success. However, as students are increasingly price sensitive, it’s important to address the benefits of addressing the cost of course materials. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the cost of textbooks increased 88% between 2006 and 2016. According to the Trends in College Pricing the average student at a private four-year college spends around $1,200 on books and supplies each year.
Directly addressing the rising cost of textbooks and other course materials can have a dramatic effect: A 2018 study at the University of Georgia found that students performed better in courses that had adopted freely-available course materials. Drop, fail, and withdrawal rates decreased dramatically for students hypothesized to most benefit from affordable course materials: Pell-eligible students, part-time students, and students from underserved communities.
Several Concordia programs and courses have already moved away from traditional course materials by using freely-available and Library-provided resources. This effort is already saving students over $120,000 each semester. However, there is still much work to be done to address affordability.
Interested in learning more about addressing textbook affordability in your program or course? Reach out to the Library at library@csp.edu.
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