13.01 Recognition of Course Sections with Low-Cost Course Material Options

Fall 2017; Resolution Number: 13.01

Whereas, The significant rise in costs of textbooks is a barrier to college attendance, student access, and student success, and many colleges are interested in reducing the cost of textbooks to increase student access to necessary course materials;

Whereas, The intent of the College Textbook Affordability Act of 2015 (AB 798, Bonilla, 2015) is to reduce costs for college students by encouraging faculty to accelerate the adoption of lower cost, high-quality, open educational resources (OER), and the Zero-Textbook-Cost Degree Grant Program focuses on the development of degrees with no associated text costs;

Whereas, Senate Bill 1359 (Block, 2016) requires all segments of public higher education in California to “Clearly highlight, by means that may include a symbol or logo in a conspicuous place on the online campus course schedule, the courses that exclusively use digital course materials that are free of charge to students and may have a low-cost option for print versions” (CEC 66406.9.) as of January, 2018; and

Whereas, Efforts to substantially decrease the costs of course materials should be recognized and, in some instances, reducing costs to zero may not be immediately possible;

Resolved, That the ASCCC support efforts to increase student access to high-quality open educational resources and reduce the cost of course materials and supplies for students in course sections for which open educational resources may not be available to accomplish zero cost for students; and

Resolved, That the ASCCC encourage colleges to implement a mechanism for identifying course sections that employ low-cost course materials.