By MacKenzie MacDonald
Elm Staff Writer
Paying for textbooks is a concern for many people pursuing higher education. While there are cheaper options — like buying used or renting — textbooks are often expensive. When a class requires an online access code, for instance, the textbook must be purchased new.
Being unable to purchases textbooks hurts students, because if they don’t have the required materials, they can’t complete assignments or participate in the course with their classmates. To ensure this doesn’t happen, institutions should start incorporating the cost of textbooks into tuition or having the required books in the description of the course.
According to Assistant Professor of Hispanic Studies Dr. Martin Ponti, the Hispanic studies department puts a great deal of work into researching both the material of a textbook or online access and the cost.
“We try to find the most affordable [option] that still meets the needs of our students,” Dr. Ponti said.
In previous years, Washington College required a different book for each Hispanic studies course. However, after receiving complaints from students about the cost, the department decided to switch to a company that allows students to purchase multiple courses of the textbook and online access for cheaper.
However, finding affordable options is not always easy. According to Dr. Ponti, since the language department has to be so particular in the content they give students, they are limited to a select few companies.
“Because we’re limited [to specific companies] they can control the price,” Dr. Ponti said.
When prices are controlled in this way, it can make it more challenging for professors to ensure that textbook costs for their courses are reasonable.
Other departments at the College are also focused on keeping costs for students in mind.
“Individual instructors are responsible for selecting their own textbooks with the exception of the general biology textbook, which we select as a department,” Director of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Majors and Chair of Natural Science and Mathematics Division Dr. Mindy Reynolds said.
According to Dr. Reynolds, the department and individual professors consider accessibility, content, and cost. Many professors are aware of the cost of textbooks and try to find the ones that students can purchase through a variety of vendors.
A way for the College to reduce stress about the cost of textbooks for students is to incorporate it into the cost of tuition. This would make it easier for students to put student loans and scholarships toward books, which could help those struggling to pay out of pocket.
This is an option some schools have already explored.
According to textbookrush.com, Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tenn. covers the cost of textbook rentals for all its students. Keystone College includes the price of the textbooks needed for their courses in their tuition.
Professors have to plan out the textbooks they will use for their courses ahead of time, so once this is done, the books could be added to the price of students’ tuition. Tuition is calculated each semester, so the cost of textbooks could be factored in once class registration is completed.
“Textbooks and online access codes should at least be told to students before the first day of class, preferably in class descriptions when deciding your schedule for next semester,” junior Nailah Gowon said.
Many students rely on their own income to purchase their textbooks, so informing students what they will need beforehand would help. Students could then save up the money while working either during summer break or the school year. However, this is harder if a student is relying on an on-campus job in order to buy their books.
If students can’t afford their textbooks right away, they could fall behind on their work, especially if the teacher utilizes sites with online access codes for homework assignments.
Finding the money to pay for higher education is hard enough for many students, so requiring them to pay for textbooks out of pocket sets those who cannot afford them up for failure.
While listing the required textbooks alongside class descriptions during registration would ameliorate some financial strain, incorporating the cost of textbooks into tuition would be a more equitable solution.
Photo by Kayla Thornton
Featured Photo Caption: Students who are unable to pay for textbooks out of pocket may benefit from the incorporation of their cost into tuition.