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Affordable Access programs
The Rutland Herald & The Barre-Montpelier Times Argus, 10/31/24: Affordable Access programs help us meet our students where they are by offering stability at a time when everything is in flux. Consider this: In addition to our on-campus students, Norwich also serves a large population of online students, many of whom are on active military duty or reserve. Norwich Access means these adult learners can continue to pursue their degree program regardless of where they may be deployed — they have all the digital textbooks they need right in their LMS, so they don’t need to worry about finding a university bookseller near their military base or wherever they are stationed globally.
Biden targets textbooks in his war on ‘junk fees.’ But it’s students who will pay the cost.
USA TODAY, 5/28/24: Outrage from legions of Beyoncé and Taylor Swift fans about hidden concert ticket fees helped spark a national conversation around “junk fees." It has even filtered into the 2024 election cycle.
The term is now being used on the campaign trail to describe everything from hotel amenity charges (annoying) to the cost of title insurance on a home mortgage (valuable). And while we all appreciate the importance of fighting back against hidden fees specifically designed to skim more money off the backs of hardworking Americans, some of the costs being labeled as “junk” by politicians actually help consumers save money.
Case in point: The federal government now wants to label college textbooks as “junk fees” and take action to upend popular programs that automatically provide students with their required course materials at a steep discount.
Don’t Roll Back Progress on Textbook Affordability
Inside Higher Ed, 5/22/24: This has been a tumultuous year on America’s college campuses, with protests, counter-protests, and shocking mismanagement of the system that provides students with federal financial aid. As researchers — one of us tracks costs associated with attending college, and the other studies the impact of course materials acquisition models on academic performance — we’ve joined together to sound an alarm about yet another coming calamity in hopes that raising awareness will stop a proposed change from the U.S. Department of Education that will impact American higher education just as seriously as any of the events mentioned above.
New Textbook Rule Threatens Biden’s Equity Agenda
RealClear Education, 4/3/24: From tackling college affordability to encouraging institutions to improve their enrollment, transfer, and financial aid policies, the Biden administration has made college access and completion a signature component of its higher education agenda. Now, new regulatory changes to how students pay for their textbooks and digital course materials will severely undermine the administration’s very same goal of improving completion and reducing disparities in college outcomes, particularly for those from historically underrepresented backgrounds.
A small change in wording — with big implications
Community College Daily, 4/24/24: Last month, a rule-making committee failed to reach consensus on a U.S. Department of Education proposal that will bar colleges from automatically billing students for books and supplies. Now, institutions and curriculum developers nervously await the department’s decision on whether it will advance the proposed regulation.
Inclusive access must stay inclusive
The Cavalier Daily, 4/4/24: Earlier this semester, the Biden Administration announced that it wants to amend an Obama-era policy that established the inclusive access textbook program for students across the nation. This program gives college students automatic access to online versions of textbooks from the beginning of the semester and - here at the University — the cost of these textbooks are ultimately charged directly to student’ financial services accounts.
Ending Auto Access program for course materials could be costly for college students
Columbia Missourian, 3/18/24: As a sophomore at the University of Missouri studying health and wellness, Washington, D.C., government agencies and testimony don’t usually figure into my daily schedule. But that changed when I heard from one of my instructors that the federal government is considering a new rule that would likely force Mizzou to stop offering a popular program for course materials that we call AutoAccess…
Local opinion: Arizona students need the Department of Education to keep course materials affordability programs in place
Arizona Daily Star, 3/1/2024: As a student at the University of Arizona I am very concerned about the fact that the U.S. Department of Education is currently considering a proposal that would eliminate a program that provides course materials to students on the very first day of class...
Textbook rule change harms students
The Gazette, 2/23/2024: As a sophomore at the University of Iowa I want to focus on doing my best in class and not on whether or not I have the tools I need to succeed. That’s why I testified to a U.S. Department of Education rule-making session earlier this month…
Biden’s attack on textbook affordability is unwarranted
The Hill, 2/22/2024: College is expensive already, but the price tag is often even higher than students anticipate. It’s not just tuition and fees, but also housing, transportation, and other expenses that come along with the experience.
Department of Education Needs to Rethink Financial Aid Rule Change
Sun Sentinel, 2/20/2024: Currently, the U.S. Department of Education is debating new rules about course materials that would dramatically impact students like me at Broward Collage in Fort Lauderdale…
Column: Affordability Programs Threatened by Federal Rule Change
The Virginian-Pilot, 2/10/2024: The U.S. Department of Education is considering changes to its regulations on how students can access books and supplies that will have a direct negative impact on our students here at Norfolk State University…