SGA + Libraries = affordable textbooks
All Libraries, Digital Support Posted: October 14th, 2020
This fall SGA partnered with UCF Libraries to locate and purchase eBooks to replace course textbooks. Here’s a snapshot of the impact.
Posts Tagged: textbook affordability
Faculty Support: Textbook Affordability
All Libraries, Digital Support Posted: September 14th, 2020
One way that faculty can help reduce the cost of a college education and positively impact student academic performance is to remove the barrier of high cost, commercially produced textbooks. There are several options for faculty to support textbook affordability efforts.
- See if the library can offer your textbook as an electronic book. The library will check for eBook candidates that allow unlimited users and offer favorable digital rights management (DRM). Contact your Subject or Campus Librarian for more information.
- Join faculty who have adopted an open textbook. Open textbooks allow anyone to read, copy, distribute, or modify the course content at no cost.
- Donate a copy of your print textbook to the library. Contact your Subject or Campus Librarian to donate currently assigned textbooks to the library.
- Work with the bookstore! Submit your assigned course textbook(s) on time to allow students to shop the cost of course materials and the bookstore to locate used and rental textbooks.
To date, UCF faculty have taught over 500 classes using open or library-sourced materials, in turn reaching almost 35,000 students and potentially saving them just over $3,200,000.* *Savings are calculated as cost of a new book by number of course enrollments as of Spring 2020.
For more information: library.ucf.edu/textbook-affordability
No Textbook Required
All Libraries, Scholarly Communications Posted: March 2nd, 2020
Not being able to afford a textbook shouldn’t get in the way of learning. In recognition of Open Education Week (March 2-6), UCF Libraries are spotlighting the efforts of just a few faculty who have made course materials available to students at no cost.
Course: AML 3031
Professor: Farrah Cato created this textbook as part of the Challenge Florida: Open Access Grant.
“Open Anthropology of American Literature” (No Longer Available)
Semester started: Fall 2019
Students Impacted: 36
Potential Savings: $ 2,641
Course: ENL 2012
Professor: Christian Beck
“Anthology of Medieval Literature”
Semester started: Fall 2016
Students Impacted: 493
Potential Savings: $ 34,510
Course: ANT 2000
Professors: Michael G. Callaghan and Lana Williams created this textbook as part of the Challenge Florida: Open Access Grant.
“Exploring Our World: Biological and Archaeological Principles of General Anthropology”
Semester started: Fall 2019
Students Impacted: 508
Potential Savings: $ 45,443
Course: POS 2041
Professor: Bruce Wilson
“American Government” by OpenStax
Semester started: Summer 2018
Students Impacted: 1223
Potential Savings: $ 138,100
Course: AST 2002
Professor: Thomas Brueckner
Semester started: Fall 2017
Students Impacted: 1466
Potential Savings: $ 306,394