Textbook PilotsTextbook Pilots

Chief Finance and Facilities Officers Meeting, January 2009

BackgroundBackground

Minnesota Office of Higher EducationMinnesota Office of Higher Education

Textbook Advisory Task ForceTextbook 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.

BackgroundBackground

Average Textbook Prices Nationally

2003-20042003-2004

academic yearacademic year

2006-20072006-2007

academic yearacademic year

Percent changePercent change

over 3 yearover 3 year

2-year public2-year public $727$727 $850$850 17% 17% ↑↑

4-year public4-year public $786$786 $942$942 20% 20% ↑↑

4-year private4-year private $807$807 $935$935 16% 16% ↑↑

Source: College Board Annual Survey of Colleges, average prices for full-time, full-year students

Textbook Price Comparisons

Textbook Price Comparisons

$109.00

Textbook Price Comparisons

$109.00

$95.69

Textbook Price Comparisons

$109.00

$95.69

$49.50

Textbook Pilot Project Review Task ForceTextbook 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 ProjectsInitial 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 ProjectsTextbook 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 ProjectsAdditional 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 ProjectsAdditional 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 InformationContact Information

Todd DigbySystem Director of Libraries

651.649.5759todd.digby@so.mnscu.edu

Project Sitehttp://textbook.project.mnscu.edu