Education Commons^™

Task Force On Textbook Affordability Final Report, Marian Taliaferro, Paul D. Heideman, Asia Randolph

W&M Libraries Publications

Costs of textbooks and course materials for undergraduates are estimated nationally at up to $1200 per student per year. With that estimate, the aggregate costs for William & Mary’s 6250 undergraduates may approach $7.5 million per year; graduate students may add $1-2 million to that total. Course books and materials increase costs of college attendance, and for some students are barriers to success. The Textbook Affordability Taskforce (TATF) composed of W&M faculty, staff, and students was formed in August 2019. The TATF was charged with examining the issue of textbook affordability and with developing and delivering near-term and long-term recommendations …

William & Mary Student Textbook Survey, Marian Taliaferro, Asia Randolph, Jessica Ramey

W&M Libraries Publications

In Fall, 2019 W&M libraries disseminated a survey to all W&M students in order to understand their textbook spending practices so that the campus administrators would have information useful for programs designed to increase course materials affordability. The objectives of the survey were as follows.

Objective 1: Understand current costs of textbooks for W&M students.

Objective 2: Understand methods W&M students take to lower textbook costs.

Objective 3: Understand potential impact of implementing cost saving measures.

Objective 4: Understand options that W&M students might consider to lower the cost of textbooks.