Abstract
In the spring of 2022, FGCU Provost, Mark Rieger sent out a call for faculty volunteers to serve on a textbook affordability task force. The task force was charged with identifying the true cost of textbooks and course materials to FGCU students and provide several recommendations for reducing those costs. The task force focused on data gathering to identify what students were paying and the impact of their purchasing behaviors on their academic success. They also looked at best practices on campus and at other institutions. The task force identified that there is almost no way to know for sure what FGCU students are paying on average, since less than 40% of the students purchase their materials through the campus bookstore. However, they did report that in AY2023, less than half of all classes taught required a textbook purchase. In fact 53% of instructors reported using OER or not assigning a textbook to be purchased. This suggests that FGCU students are paying far less than reported by the bookstore. The committee made 4 recommendations: 1) The university at large recognize the value of OER to faculty and students, 2) Increase the use of library collections as a replacement for expensive textbooks and encourage consultations with the librarians to assist in locating and identifying suitable content, 3) Codify promotion documents to credit faculty for creating scholarship when they create OER content and use of OER and library licensed content in place of expensive textbooks as a form of teaching excellence, and 4) The university adopt the Barnes & Noble Inclusive Access Program (First Day) on an OPT-IN basis.