News Articles
2020
CSUB faculty work to lower cost of course materials (5/5/20)
This spring, the Child, Adolescent and Family Studies Department received a $10,000 award made available through AL$ for having the most courses with no- or low-cost textbook adoptions for the 2019-20 academic year.
Learning Everywhere: Open Educational Resources in the COVID-19 Era (4/9/20)
In these challenging times, the California State University continues to develop ways to reduce students' expenses while maintaining a high-quality education. The CSU's Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$) is an innovative program that enables faculty to choose and provide more affordable (and even free) quality educational content for students across the 23 CSU campuses.
2019
Initiatives Underway for Low-cost, Free Textbooks for California College Students (8/28/19)
... But universities across California, especially in the 23-campus California State University system, have become more transparent about textbooks and more proactive in assigning free, digital or low-cost books to students...
2018
How to Graduate Without Spending a Dime on Books. (8/3/2018)
Faculty across the CSU are making it more affordable to get a degree with the introduction of no-cost digital textbooks and quality educational resources online.
A Free Lunch: CSU Channel Islands offers the CSU's First Zero Textbook Cost Majors. (2/2018)
Everyone knows: “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.” But starting this Fall, there will be such a thing as textbook-free majors at CSU Channel Islands (CI). And it couldn’t come at a better time for CI’s student body.
Here's how California Campuses are Fixing the Problem of Pricey College Textbooks (2/2018)
Five years after California lawmakers directed the state’s public colleges and universities to bring down college textbook costs, campuses are reporting millions of dollars in savings.
2017
CSU's Affordable Learning Solutions Encourages Use of Open Educational Resources (12/2017)
The California State University is committed to seeking new ways to provide equity in access to free learning materials and remove financial barriers to student success as part of the CSU’s Graduation Initiative 2025.
Saving Money with Open Textbooks (8/2017)
Sonoma State Professors are Already Saving Students $180,000 Per Semester with Open Educations Resources — and the Idea is Gaining Momentum
Students Save Millions Each Year Through CSU Affordable Learning Solutions (8/2017)
Cal State University-wide initiative offers a variety of ways for students to save money on textbooks and course materials.
Top Fears Shutting the Door on Open Education (2/2017)
Fear and anxiety can keep many educators from embracing open educational resources and open pedagogy. Here, "open" proponents explain common concerns
The Babson Survey. Opening the Textbook: Educational Resources in U.S. Higher Education, 2017
Responses from over 2,700 U.S. faculty paint both a "Good news" and a "Bad news" picture for the role of open educational resources (OER) in U.S. higher education.
2017 Facts About the CSU
The California State University promotes student success through opportunity and a high-quality education that prepares students to become leaders in the changing workforce, making the CSU a vital economic engine for California.
2016
OpenStax Ranks the Colleges that Save the Most with Free Textbooks (8/2016)
Rice University News and Media
OpenStax, College Stores Partner for Textbook Customization (3/2016)
OpenStax, the Rice University-backed publisher, is partnering with textbook distributor NACSCORP to get its free textbooks into the hands of more students.
2015
Bad Data Can Lead To Bad Policy: College students don’t spend $1,200+ on textbooks (11/2015)
The average US college student does not spend or budget more than $1,200 for textbooks, with that number rising each year, as commonly reported in the national media. The best data available continues to show that students spend roughly half of that amount, and that number is going down over time, not up.
Affordable Learning at Scale With OER of materials (10/2015)
Open educational resources free students and faculty from the tyranny of the textbook. Here's how to encourage large-scale adoption.
Law Could Ease Textbook Costs at California State University and Community Colleges (10/2015)
Long Beach Press Telegram
Cal State Looks for Cost Savings in Academics (5/2015)
Los Angeles Times
Nation's Largest Free and Low-Cost Textbook Showcase Launches at 13 California State University Libraries
PR Newswire
Open Education Thrives in California Through Massive Collaboration
PR Newswire
2014
For Some Students, Virtual Labs Replace Hands-on Science Experiments (11/2014)
Los Angeles Times
Cal State University Tackles Escalating Textbook Costs (8/2014)
Long Beach Press Telegram
Cal State looks for ways to drive down cost of textbooks (8/2014)
Los Angeles Times
Reports and Presentations
National Association of College Stores Study Shows Continued Decline in Annual Student Spending on Course Materials:
National Association of College Stores’ (NACS) twice-yearly survey of college students in the U.S.
National Association of College Stores:
Academic Content Licensing White Paper 2014
Make Textbooks More Affordable:
Student PIRGs Report: Fixing the Broken Textbook Market
CSU Affordable Learning Solutions Initiatives:
CSU Board of Trustees Update
AB 798 and the Open Educational Resources Adoption Incentive Program
Letter to CSU Presidents