Digital Textbooks:CSU Affordability Strategy for Student Success

California State University

Board of Trustees Meeting

March 20, 2012

Gerry Hanley, Senior Director of Academic Technology Services

About Digital Textbooks in the CSU

Digital textbooks cost 45%-55% less than new print textbook prices

33% of CSU students prefer digital textbooks

1% of all titles sold in CSU bookstores are digital textbooks

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There is an unmet demand in the marketplace

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CSU Provides System Access to No- and Low-Cost Textbook Alternatives

Open Textbooks: Over 2,000 FREE online textbooks are available through the AL$ website

CSU Library eBooks: CSU systemwide electronic library collections provide students FREE access to eBooks

Faculty-Authored Materials: Published and distributed in a variety of ways

Lower Cost Publisher eTextbooks: Digital rentals in the CSU

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Digital Rentals: Design Principles

Choice

Price

Convenience

Accessibility

Lessons learned from CSU research

…..Are Key Success Factors

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Digital Rentals: Business Proposition

Vendors provide more content at a good price

CSU will actively support increases in adoptions and acquisitions

Digital Textbook Publishers and Distributors

Additional lower-cost materials

Different business models

Target:

Significant increases in volume will provide opportunities for:

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Digital Rentals: Here’s the Deal

Price: 60% off new print textbook prices

Publishers choose the titles they will offer

Marketing: CSU and vendors will collaborate on raising awareness, comfort, and competencies in using digital textbooks

Accessibility: Vendors will provide the CSU a roadmap for improving the accessibility of their eReaders

Agreement on 3 key areas:

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Digital Rentals: Who’s Playing?

CourseSmart: Independent bookstores

Café Scribe: Follett bookstores

NookStudy: Barnes & Noble bookstores

Cengage Learning: 27% of higher ed market

Vendors Serve all CSU Campuses

eReader usability and accessibility

Which titles at 60% discount?

Long-term growth in offerings

Resolving Issues

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Digital Rentals: What’s the Schedule?

Faculty awareness to support adoption

April 14 CSU Conference on Teaching

Webinars by vendors + faculty

HEOA memo on textbook affordability

Spring 2012: Faculty-focused activities

Student awareness of choice

CSSA program

CSU Public Affairs program

Fall 2012: Student-focused activities

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If 1/3 of CSU students

choose 1 digital rental per

semester instead of a new

$100 print textbook…..

CSU students will save about $17 Million in 2012-13

Digital Rentals: Student Savings

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Affordable Learning Solutions

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http://als.csuprojects.org

Making It Easier To Find

Alternative Content

Tools

Technologies

Policies

Marketing & deployment strategies

Thank Youhttp://als.csuprojects.org