The affordability of, and accessibility to, lower cost course resources such as textbooks in higher education is a growing concern in the United States. We discuss how we're addressing that concern at Franklin University.

1. Making Course Resources
More Accessible & Affordable
e-textbooks

2. The Textbook Problem

3. Universities select required textbooks and students
are required to pay for them.
In this way, universities are making a financial
commitment for the students.

4. This can create problems for students
regarding:
Affordability Accessibility

5. The price of textbooks has increased by
from 1978 - 2010.
812p e r c e n t

6. This is nearly 1/3 more than the increase cost of
medical services during the same time.

7. Due to this, 30% of
all textbooks are
now purchased
using students'
financial aid.

8. Franklin University's Solution:
E-Textbooks
What Are We
Implementing?

9. We're seeking ways
to embed digital
course resources into
our courses.
These embedded
resources or e-textbooks
are more affordable and
sometimes even free.

10. OUR GOALS
Increase
affordability of
textbooks
Increase ease of
access to textbooks

11. OUR [SPECIFIC] GOALS
Integrate electronic
resources in all
courses
Ensure student
access in advance
of course start date
Reduce textbook
cost burden
Enable mobile
access across
devices
Improve
international
availability
Improve student
success

12. Franklin University's Solution:
E-Textbooks
How Are We
Doing It?

13. These publishers
represent more than 50%
of all textbook adoptions
at Franklin University.
We have signed agreements
with the top four publishers.

14. Agreement Benefits - Affordability:
The average price
for an e-textbook
from our
publishers is $55.
Students receive
embedded access
and integrated
features at no
extra cost.

15. PRICE
COMPARISON
National Textbook Average (per book)
Franklin's E-Textbook Average (per book)
$68
$55
Based on NACS. (n.d.). National Association of College Stores. Retrieved from https://www.nacs.org/

16. Agreement Benefits - Accessibility:
Integrated via single-sign on to their course in LMS
Available 10 days in advance of the course
If the student drops the course within the first 30 days, the
student is not charged for the e-textbook
Access to all e-texts in a central eBookshelf provided by
VitalSource
Mobile and computer access on up to four devices
The ability to download the e-text for use offline
All e-book resources adopted by Franklin are automatically
billed to the students’ accounts

17. We're expecting
to complete the
switch to
e-textbooks by
2019.

18. We're excited to
increase the
affordability of
higher education
to help our
students
succeed.

19. How can you begin to make your
own course resources more
affordable and accessible?

20. CONNECT
Presented by Franklin University. Based
on the blog post by Patrick Bennett