The process of completing your education involves a series of choices. At Northern Illinois University, we are working to make sure students do not have to choose whether to purchase course materials as part of that process.
Cost of course materials is a direct factor in how students approach their collegiate experience. A recent study illustrates this, with two-thirds of students saying they did not purchase their assigned course material(s) due to cost. In another study, 50 percent of students said they have taken fewer courses due to the cost of textbooks.
Launched in spring 2021 as a collaboration between the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning and University Libraries, NIU’s Course Materials Affordability Task Force (CMAT) is designed to reduce barriers to education and support student success by increasing the number of NIU courses that require only free or low-cost course materials.
Serving as an example of shared leadership in action, CMAT has since expanded and now includes faculty representation from every college, as well as the Student Government Association. CMAT works in alignment with NIU’s Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Plan 2.0 and university goals to facilitate adoption of affordable course materials wherever possible.
The impact has been significant. In 2022-2023, free or low-cost ($40 or less) course materials were used in 548 course sections at NIU, impacting more than 11,000 students enrolled, resulting in $1.37M savings to students.
Check out the full story in NIU Today.
