Textbook Pilots Chief Finance and Facilities Officers Meeting, January 2009

Background Minnesota Office of Higher Education Textbook Advisory Task Force 2006 Minnesota Legislature considered a bill directing the MN Office of Higher Education to convene a task force to study and report on the costs of textbooks. The task force met monthly from August 2006 to January 2007 Wide representation Report delivered in February 2007.

Background Average Textbook Prices Nationally academic year Percent change over 3 year 2-year public $727$850 17% ↑ 4-year public $786$942 20% ↑ 4-year private $807$935 16% ↑ Source: College Board Annual Survey of Colleges, average prices for full-time, full-year students

Textbook Price Comparisons

$109.00

Textbook Price Comparisons $ $95.69

Textbook Price Comparisons $ $95.69 $49.50

Textbook Pilot Project Review Task Force Task Force formed consisting of Student Association members, Faculty and Administrators. Assignment Construct an RFP to allows campuses to respond to the Review RFP responses and recommend projects that meet the goals to reduce ongoing textbook costs textbook.project.mnscu.edu

Initial Textbook Pilot Projects Library Reserve Program (Maverick Reserve Program) Rental and Custom Publishing Faculty and Staff focus – raise awareness, utilize lower cost alternatives, incorporate expanded array of course materials.

Textbook Pilot Projects Textbook Rental Program (limited scope) Increase Used Textbook options for students. Present several low-cost textbooks for some faculty to adopt. Textbook Lease Program

Additional Textbook Pilot Projects Producing an index of free and licensed materials that are currently available. Through the library. Textbook Swap Software. Through the bookstore. Online Textbook pilot, with a research component

Additional Textbook Pilot Projects Additional Textbook Cost Reduction Programs We are currently working on developing additional projects aimed at lowering the costs associated with textbooks for students. These include additional pilots that may focus on the use of online and alternative format textbooks.

Contact Information Todd Digby System Director of Libraries Project Site