Inequitable Impacts of Textbook Costs at a Small, Private College: Results from a Textbook Survey at Gettysburg College

Sarah Appedu,Mary Elmquist,Janelle Wertzberger,Sharon Birch

doi:10.5944/openpraxis.13.1.1147

Abstract

Recognizing that higher education settings vary considerably, librarians at Gettysburg College sought to better understand textbook spending behaviors and the effects of costs on our students. We adapted the Florida Virtual Campus 2016 Student Textbook and Course Materials Survey to suit the context of our small, private, liberal arts college. Most students spent $300 in Fall 2019. Financial aid awards did not cover the cost of required books and course materials for most students receiving aid. Negative effects were more pronounced for first-generation students and Pell Grant recipients, who were more likely to not purchase required books, to not register for a course due to cost, and to struggle academically. Some reported negative effects beyond their academic lives, as well. We recommend adoption of Open Educational Resources as an equity-minded practice that addresses this academic success barrier.

Highlights

Gettysburg College is a private, residential, liberal arts college with 2,600 undergraduate students located in Adams County, Pennsylvania
While the list price of textbooks and other course materials is set by the publishing industry, students related that local individuals and offices should make certain that all students have access to necessary materials. 25 suggested that ensuring access to course materials was the responsibility of professors, while 10 identified the college and 4 identified academic departments as responsible entities. 18 students named the bookstore as being responsible for textbook prices, while 5 expressed that the library had a role
8 students used this question to express dissatisfaction with the underutilization of required books and asserted that they were not worth the cost. 12 students singled out the cost of access codes and subscriptions as a major frustration; 6 expressed that the cost of an online homework system access code was excessive when paired with the textbook cost; one pointed out that the access code prevented them from having access to materials after the semester ended. 10 respondents used this item to report frustration with the overall cost of college and how the cost of textbooks factors into the overall cost of being a student. 6 students shared that their financial aid award didn’t adequately cover their textbook and materials costs

Summary

Introduction

Gettysburg College is a private, residential, liberal arts college with 2,600 undergraduate students located in Adams County, Pennsylvania. Despite the common assumption that students who attend private liberal arts colleges come from primarily wealthy backgrounds, our own institutional data reveal that 79.3% of Gettysburg College students received financial aid awards in the 2018–19 academic year, constituting a 33% increase in funds awarded from 2014–15 to 2018–19 (Office of Institutional Analysis, 2019; 2020). To put this in context, the cost of attendance at Gettysburg College increases approximately 3.5% each year, rising from $60,870 for the 2015–16 academic year to $69,850 for 2019–20 (Office of Institutional Analysis, 2020).

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Conclusion