{"id":15893,"date":"2023-08-02T00:58:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-02T00:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/librarynews\/?p=15893"},"modified":"2023-08-02T00:58:00","modified_gmt":"2023-08-02T00:58:00","slug":"findings-from-temple-universitys-affordable-course-materials-survey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/librarynews\/2023\/08\/02\/findings-from-temple-universitys-affordable-course-materials-survey\/","title":{"rendered":"Findings From Temple University\u2019s Affordable Course Materials Survey\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the spring 2023 semester, Temple University Libraries participated in the Affordable Learning Pennsylvania (ALPA)<\/a> student course materials survey. In addition to obtaining results from Temple students, the survey provided both state and national comparative data. Surveys of this type provide insights into how textbook costs impact our students and their behaviors related to purchasing or obtaining course materials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students Concerns About Textbook Costs <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students responded to 20+ questions about their experience with course materials, mostly textbooks they are required to purchase. We learned that 49% of our students indicated they were moderately or extremely worried about the cost of their course materials<\/strong>. That is a greater percentage of respondents than either the state or national results for that same question.\u00a0**<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When asked if the cost of required course materials ever caused them to not purchase a textbook, 57% of our students indicated that they occasionally or frequently did not purchase required course materials<\/strong>. That exceeds both state and national responses by several percentage points.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Compared to a national sample of undergraduate students and other Pennsylvania colleges and universities, Temple students spent about the same amount on their textbooks. More Temple students reported spending $100 or less on their course materials. Temple students may be spending less owing to more instructors adopting open educational resources<\/a> or licensed library materials, or fewer faculty may be assigning traditional textbooks. Approximately 37% of our student respondents still reported spending $200 or more on their course materials for the spring 2023 semester. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Strategies for Avoiding Textbook Costs <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A more revealing question asked students to indicate what strategies they use to reduce the cost of required course materials throughout their college career. Only 2% of Temple students reported that they do not attempt to lower their costs. Rather, based on these responses, significant numbers of Temple students use multiple strategies to reduce their costs, including purchasing used textbooks, searching for free online versions (often pirated PDF copies), and sharing with classmates. In many of these cases, Temple students engage in these practices, especially \u201cDo Without\u201d at numbers that exceed both national and Pennsylvania rates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Comments Reflect Difficult Circumstances <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students shared numerous comments on the impact that the cost of their course materials has on their academic and broader life experience. Among them we found students sharing: <\/p>\n\n\n\n