Open Textbooks
Access, Affordability, and Academic Success
David Ernst, PhD
University of Minnesota

–United Nations Universal Declaration of
Human Rights
“…higher education shall be
equally accessible to all…”

The cost barrier kept
2.4 million
low and moderate-income college-qualified high
school graduates from completing college in the
previous decade.
The Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED529499.pdf

$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
$5,000
$6,000
$7,000
$8,000
$9,000
1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012
US Higher Education Funding - $/FTE
State Funding Tuition Revenue
http://www.sheeo.org

http://www.sheeo.org

0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Hours@MinimumWage
Year
Affording Annual Tuition at the University of Minnesota

The average borrower owes more than
$29,400
in student loans (class of 2012).
Institute for College Access and Success http://projectonstudentdebt.org/files/pub/Student_Debt_and_the_Class_of_2012_NR.pdf

$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
$1,000
$1,100
$1,200
$1,300
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
$Billions US Debt
Consumer Revolving Credit Student Loan Debt
Federal Reserve http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g19/Current/

What can we do?
Tuition and Fees
Room and Board
Books and Supplies
Personal Expenses
Transportation

What can we do?
Tuition and Fees
Room and Board
Books and Supplies
Personal Expenses
Transportation

0%
100%
200%
300%
400%
500%
600%
700%
1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012
%Increase Increase in Textbook Prices
Textbooks CPI
Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/cpi/

The average student can expect to pay
$1,200
on textbooks and course materials in 2014-15.
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/college-costs/quick-guide-college-costs
Virginia Tech = $1,130 (2014-15)
$1,280 for Vet Med
http://www.finaid.vt.edu/coa/cost-of-attendance14-15.html

What do you think about the cost of
textbooks?

What do you think about the cost of
textbooks?

The Academic Impact
Purchase an older edition of the textbook
Delay purchasing the textbook
Never purchase the textbook

–U of MN Student
"I figured French hadn't changed
that much.”

59%
of students report that they have had to wait
for their financial aid check to purchase
textbooks.
Unpublished Minnesota State University Student Association survey

Have you ever delayed purchasing a textbook because
of cost?

Have you ever delayed purchasing a textbook because
of cost?

7/10
students surveyed hadn’t bought a required
textbook due to cost.
http://www.slideshare.net/txtbks/open-education-and-solving-the-textbook-cost-crisis

63.6% Not purchase the required textbook
49.2% Take fewer courses
45.1% Not register for a specific course
33.9% Earn a poor grade
26.7% Drop a course
17.0% Fail a course
In your academic career, has the cost of
required textbooks caused you to:
http://www.openaccesstextbooks.org/pdf/2012_Florida_Student_Textbook_Survey.pdf

Another model…

Where does the funding come
from?
Universities (SUNY, Purdue, Oregon
State)
Foundations (Hewlett Foundation)
Governments (California, British
Columbia)
Professional Organizations (CALI)

All Rights
Reserved
Some Rights
Reserved

Plus…

With Creative Commons licenses,
you are free to…
Copy Mix
Share Keep
Edit Use

Open Textbooks

open.umn.edu

Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction
(Consortium of 200+ Law Schools)
20+ books

Introductory, algebra-based, two-semester
college physics
1272 pages
Available in
PDF
ePub
Print
Web
Bookshare (accessible)
Instructor solution manual
Powerpoint slides

Open Textbook Reviews

Content improvements
Instructional improvements

63.6% Not purchase the required textbook
49.2% Take fewer courses
45.1% Not register for a specific course
33.9% Earn a poor grade
26.7% Drop a course
17.0% Fail a course
In your academic career, has the cost of
required textbooks caused you to:
http://www.openaccesstextbooks.org/pdf/2012_Florida_Student_Textbook_Survey.pdf

Z-Degree
Tidewater Community College - Norfolk, Virginia
Fall 2013
21 zero textbook cost “Z-courses”
=
Z-degree
(associate of science degree in business administration)

Z-Degree
Drop and withdrawal rates
Access to all course materials from the first day of class.
C or better grade
Cost (25% - $3679)

What can we do?
Take a look!
Write a review!
Adopt if a book meets the needs of you and your
students
Raise awareness - talk with colleagues in your
program and department

Writing a Review
Is there is a textbook in the Open Textbook Library
that fits your class and/or expertise?
Compensation for:
1. attending this workshop, and
2. reviewing a textbook in the Open Textbook Library

Writing a Review
1. You will receive an email with a link to the online
review form.
2. Complete a concise review by April 12, 2015.
3. The review will be posted on the Open Textbook
Library under an open license.
4. Compensation will be paid.

open.umn.edu
David Ernst
dernst@umn.edu