OER Promotes Equity
The high cost of college doesn’t stop at tuition, according to a new state survey. More than 30% of California students said they did not have enough money to pay for housing, and another 35% said they can’t afford books and supplies. (Cal Matters)
According to The Education Data Initiative, "the average college textbook costs an estimated $105.37." Students taking multiple classes (some requiring multiple textbooks) often have to weigh choices like eating or other necessities over the cost of their grades as "25% of students reported they worked extra hours to pay for their books and materials and 11% skipped meals in order to afford books and course materials."
Even when students are awarded book vouchers and other sources to offset the cost of textbooks, many times the wait to receive that money means they cannot access a course textbook for weeks into a new semester. By selecting OER materials for their courses, faculty can assure that all students have equal and equitable access to textbooks.
Sources and More Reading
- "CA college students shell out $2k a month for housing, books, food alone" Cal Matters Links to an external site.
- "Average Cost of College Textbooks" Education Data Initiative Links to an external site.
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