Ohio University's Affordable Learning Initiatives
Ohio University’s Textbook Affordability Task Force collaborates with academic departments, faculty, and students to examine the most effective ways to manage and reduce the hefty price tag for course materials. The Task Force includes representatives from the offices of instructional innovation, information technology, the registrar, auxiliaries, as well as the libraries and the faculty and student senates.
In addition to educating faculty and students about what they can do right now to improve affordability of course materials, the task force works to increase compliance with the federal requirement that instructors post accurate details regarding required textbooks for courses well in advance of the semester. Doing so enables students in many cases to buy textbooks at lower prices. The task force also approaches departments and courses with the most expensive textbooks and materials to explore ways to reduce cost. Finally, the task force also supports campus-wide negotiations for course tools and content to reduce the costs to students.