Consider This: As You Prepare for the Next Term, Be Book Smart

Textbooks have always been an integral component of education and they often complement the content covered in the classroom. However, research shows that the high price of academic materials coupled with rising costs also means students are less likely to purchase tools like textbooks, negatively impacting their learning experience and eventual academic success. In fact, textbooks account for 15.4% of a student's' average educational expenses. The rising cost of academic materials, non-academic fees and increases to tuition are a primary concern of students who are already struggling to afford a quality post-secondary education. Fortunately, tackling the cost of academic material is a feasible goal. While publishers may set the price of academic materials, instructors themselves hold the key in deciding the material they assign for their courses, and can be a partner in challenging the burden textbook prices place on students.

I would like to bring to your attention a number of fairly simple strategies that you can utilize when you're planning your future classes to help students in your classes. We believe these will provide both yourself and your students with a combination of alternative options for affordable and conveniently accessible academic material, without compromising on quality instruction and learning.

You can:

1. Let students know if they can use older editions of the textbook for your class.
2. Design a copyright regulation compliant course pack customized to your curriculum, which are often cheaper than textbooks. You can learn more and order course packs here.
3. Assign journal articles accessible through the Libraries, rather than a textbook. You can then submit your class reading list to library staff who will create persistent links to available e-resources that you can share with your students, at no additional cost.
4. Consider using an open educational resource (OER). These are academic materials that are available in the public domain. The University Library has created a guide on OERs that can be found here. On this page you can find databases which feature open access textbooks, exercises and learning materials among many other things. These resources have an open license to allow for free use, adaptation and redistribution. The Centre for Teaching and Learning also has a new award initiative that will give you funding and support to adapt, modify or create openly licensed course material!
5. Link students to less expensive alternative materials, where possible, on your course website and syllabus.
6. Order textbooks earlier before classes start as late orders have rush shipping and additional handling fees that are passed directly to your students.
7. Encourage your students to visit the Libraries to borrow your course textbook. If the Libraries don't currently own your course textbook, submit a request that it be purchased and put on reserve for your course at no additional cost to you.

If you already make an effort to save students money on textbooks, thank you very much! I can assure you that as a student, we do notice and your efforts are very sincerely appreciated. I would also love to hear more about the initiatives you as instructors are undertaking to make academic materials more accessible - shoot me an email at vp.academic@su.ualberta.ca with a description of your innovative solution to ease academic materials' costs and I will ensure it does not go unnoticed.

For more resources and tips on what you can do to save your students' money, visit the SU's Be Book Smart website.

I hope your semester is enjoyable, and I wish you the very best.

Shane Scott - Vice-President (Academic), University of Alberta Students' Union

Shane is a 5th year Political Science student with a minor in sociology. A first generation university student, Shane has spent most of his life in Calgary before moving to his new home at the University of Alberta.His passions include advocating for the interests of all students, discussing social issues and current events, and giving a voice to groups often overlooked. In his spare time Shane likes to hang out with friends, discover new music, and (obsessively) watch the news.