Administrative Responses to the Issues on the Cost of Textbooks and Course Materials<\/h3><\/span>\n
I asked Trinity Provost Carlota Ocampo<\/strong> to explain what Trinity is doing to help all students manage the cost of books more effectively.\u00a0 Her response:<\/p>\n“As Provost, I am keenly aware of the high cost of textbooks and the hardship this causes students. \u00a0In fact, I still remember my own college days when I struggled to afford the expensive books my courses required.\u00a0 I am highly motivated to reduce textbook costs while at the same time ensuring that Trinity provides the highest quality education possible.\u00a0 My office does this in a number of ways.\u00a0 For example, we analyze the cost of texts each semester, and when we find texts that stand out, we work to identify less expensive alternatives:\u00a0 used copies, rentals, e-books, open access resources, etc.\u00a0 Trinity\u2019s library has strongly focused on open access resources as it partners with the faculty in supporting the curriculum \u00a0\u2013 Trinity\u2019s librarians seek out and compile sites where faculty and students can explore and adopt high-quality, peer-reviewed, open access digital books, journals, and educational materials.\u00a0 In most cases, these resources can be freely accessed on devices such as tablets, pads and cell phones, or can be downloaded at minimal cost.\u00a0 The library conducts information sessions and workshops with instructors to encourage adoption of these resources.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0While we have moved the needle somewhat on lowering the overall cost of texts, there is still work to be done.\u00a0 It is always helpful to know when students need help, so please let your program chair or dean know when a particular text is too expensive.\u00a0 Once we know where the problems lie, we can work to address them!”<\/em><\/p>\nThe academic deans are also very much on top of this issue.\u00a0 Dr. Sita Ramamurti, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, ha<\/strong>s addressed specific issues with faculty particularly around the high cost of online access codes along with course textbooks.\u00a0 In some notable cases, Dean Ramamurti and the faculty were able to find much cheaper alternatives after some research.<\/p>\nSchool of Education Dean Nicole Strange-Martin<\/strong> has a philosophy about books that we all share:\u00a0 “As a conscious educator, leader, absolute literacy lover (aficionado) … my goal has always been to deliberately evaluate textbooks used in our academic programs. \u00a0 In fact, affordability initiatives remain at the forefront of my mind while offering the best content information is key! \u00a0Faculty want the best for you! \u00a0We all want the best for our new leaders and global-citizens.”<\/em><\/p>\nDr. Peggy Lewis, Executive Dean of the School of Professional Studies and School of Business and Graduate Studies<\/strong> wants students to know that, “Deans and program chairs carefully research textbooks for each course. It is a big decision that we take seriously. We look for content clarity, accuracy, relevance, and readability. And we \u00a0consider whether the cost is reasonable. We were once students who struggled to pay for books so we get it. We also look for comparable open source resources and have found some excellent ones with the help of our librarians. But we also want to know if a required textbook is not being used in a course. Students have a responsibility to get the assigned textbook and read what is required on the syllabus. And if there is a problem, they need to let us know about it so we can try to resolve the issue quickly.”<\/em><\/p>\nTrinity’s academic leadership team and I will continue to work with the faculty to make sure that the books we ask you to purchase for your courses are reasonably priced and used in the courses for which you purchase them.<\/p>\n
The problem of high textbook costs is rampant throughout higher education, and the publishing industry seems immune from criticism on this topic. We will continue to advocate for open source materials, lower prices and better value for our students.<\/p>\n
A final note on my own philosophy about books:<\/p>\n
Books are essential to great learning — contrary to a few comments some students made on the survey, it is simply not possible to do without books!\u00a0 Books — in print or online as you wish — contain the treasury of human knowledge.\u00a0 Our role and responsibility as your teachers is NOT to regurgitate all of that knowledge for you to absorb, but rather, to teach you how to be self-actualized learners, how to discover and find knowledge, how to keep learning throughout your lifetime.\u00a0\u00a0 Reading — every day, constantly, across a wide range of subjects —- is essential for intellectual growth and development.\u00a0 It’s not enough to read Facebook or Twitter or online media outlets, important though some of those sources may be.\u00a0 Reading REAL BOOKS with real content, deep and complex ideas, research and criticism, is essential to become the well-educated professionals and citizen leaders we expect Trinity students to be.<\/p>\n
I say all of this as somebody with dozens of books downloaded to my smartphone at any given time, both digital versions and audible books, as well as hundreds of hard copy books begging for my attention in the office and at home.\u00a0 I graduated from Trinity a long time ago, and I have learned far more since graduation day than I ever could have known then — but it’s thanks to the habits of intellectual curiosity and critical reading that\u00a0 developed at Trinity that I’ve been able to keep growing intellectually and to expand my world view and base of knowledge.\u00a0 This is the essential lifelong foundation of a Trinity education!\u00a0 We will help you figure out how to get the books, one way or the other — but never skip books, they are essential for academic success and an educated life!<\/p>\n
NEXT:\u00a0 other expenses associated with going to college….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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<\/a>This blog continues the analysis of a survey of student living expenses.\u00a0 See my previous blog for the first section of the report on housing, food and transportation costs.<\/a><\/p>\n