A new federal law will require textbook publishers to disclose more information to professors, such as the retail price of textbooks and alternative cheaper options.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), the original sponsor of provisions of College Textbook Affordability Act, said students should see three major changes starting this semester. As a part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, this new law will require publishers to provide the textbook’s retail price, cheaper methods and a history of revisions, Durbin said in a telephone conference with reporters Wednesday. “Professors don’t know the prices of textbook’s, which is hard to believe, but it’s true,” he said. “Now, there is no excuse.”
The estimated average cost for books and supplies for fall 2010 is $900 for SIUC students, according to College Board, a non-for-profit association. The national average at four-year public colleges in 2009-10 is $1,122, according to College Board’s website.
Larry Dietz, vice chancellor for student affairs, said the issue of textbook prices and affordability overall has been on everyone’s minds.
To help battle textbook prices, SIUC launched its new textbook rental system website Friday.
“Students should see their textbook costs alleviated with the help of this federal law and SIU’s rental program,” he said.
Although the rental system will not have all textbooks available immediately, introductory courses — which are the most common — will be available to rent, Dietz said.
Lori Stettler, director of the Student Center, said the new federal law is designed to provide faculty with more options, but it’s ultimately the student’s decision to buy new, used or older editions.
Durbin said he hopes universities and students will take this law seriously and understand their rights under it.
“Students are emerging with more and more debt and lowering the cost of textbooks is a sensible way to try to reduce that debt,” he said.
Books sold only in bundles provide supplemental, extra material students and professors are sometimes unaware of, or do not use, Durbin said. Under the new law, textbooks and supplemental materials usually sold as a bundle must also be sold individually.
“CDs, workbooks and website access now can be sold in pieces instead of as a package, which should bring the overall cost down,” he said.
Colleges will be required to include the list of assigned textbooks during course registration, according to Durbin’s website.
Durbin said students will know what they are in for if they have the information ahead of time.
Other steps in the process to lower the cost of textbooks include the Open College Textbook Act, passed by Congress last year. The act allows the Secretary of Education to award one-year grants to institutions of higher education, higher education professors and producers of open textbooks to create or update open textbooks — electronic college textbooks or course materials the public has the right to access, customize and distribute — or adapt textbooks into open formats, for postsecondary coursework, according to the Library of Congress’ website.
“(With this bill), we’re trying to provide a short-term federal investment in developing open college textbooks,” Durbin said.
“With the internet, a professor can create a lecture, a lesson, a book or entire curriculum and share it online. A teacher across the country can access that educational material, adapt it for their own uses and put it in the classroom.”
Under this bill, the Secretary of Education would award grants to colleges to create introductory level college textbooks, Durbin said. He said the text would be available online to anyone for free.
“If there is a way to find an approach that is more economical and gives students an opportunity to learn at a lower cost, it means less cost to the government and ultimately less student debt,” he said.