Faculty Express Strong Interest in Affordable Access Programs at a Time of Deep Concern With Student Preparedness

NACS Faculty Watch Report:

OBERLIN, OHIO (February 17, 2024)— The newest Faculty Watch™ Report from the National Association of College Stores (NACS) confirms school curiosity in inexpensive entry applications stays excessive as extra establishments take motion to decrease textbook and course supplies prices for college students.

Affordable entry applications, generally often called Inclusive Access (IA) when provided on a course-by-course foundation or Equitable Access (EA) when provided for all programs campus-wide, guarantee college students have entry to all their required course supplies on or earlier than the primary day of class at beneath retail costs with the selection to decide out of the applications. When surveying school who had not beforehand participated in an inexpensive entry program, greater than 70% of respondents expressed curiosity in IA applications and 75% of respondents indicated curiosity in EA applications.

The survey additionally assessed the largest private {and professional} challenges going through school members and located scholar preparedness stays a main concern, which can clarify the rising curiosity in inexpensive entry applications. Forty % of respondents ranked scholar preparedness amongst their prime 5 greatest considerations, outmoded solely by considerations about scholar wellbeing (45%) and work duties akin to instructing load and analysis calls for (41%).

“Faculty members’ concern about affordability has grown over the previous three years,” mentioned Lacey Wallace, OnCampus’ Research Analyst. “It’s not stunning that school categorical excessive curiosity in inexpensive entry applications. These applications assist decrease prices and be certain that college students have entry to all their supplies earlier than lessons begin.”

Further, 63% of school view textbook affordability as a prime precedence for his or her establishment, up from 57% in 2021 – a sentiment additionally expressed by college students in the 2023 Student Watch ™ Report, which discovered almost two-thirds (60%) of college students expressed satisfaction with inclusive entry applications, in comparison with solely 16% dissatisfied. Over three-quarters (77%) of college students who had been happy with inclusive entry applications highlighted accessing their required supplies by the primary day of class as a main perk of this system.

Faculty adoption of eTextbooks jumped to 68% in 2023, up from 37% in 2016. Faculty desire for print books with digital elements declined barely by 3% and desire for eTexts remained regular.

Other key findings from the report, which compiled responses from roughly 1,017 school school from 20 two- and four-year faculties and universities in the U.S. and Canada, embody:

The prime two areas the place school needed help from the faculty retailer had been assist with understanding affordability of course supplies choices (41% of school), and assist studying about various course materials fashions like inclusive entry and open instructional assets (OER) (additionally 41% of school).

Despite a 92% consciousness of OER and extra assets accessible, school use of OER remained regular at 39%, up one % since 2020.

Print stays essentially the most broadly used course materials format by school. In 2023, 72% of school used print supplies.

Intent to make use of courseware or adaptive studying platforms in the approaching yr remained regular at slightly below 32%.

72% of school say they contemplate sustainability at least a little when selecting supplies.

About 39% of school didn’t require supplies for at least one of their programs. This is a rise from 30% final yr, however in line with 40% in 2020.

Faculty Watch™ is developed by OnCampus Research™, the analysis arm of the National Association of College Stores. Reporters in acquiring a copy of the report ought to e mail publicrelations@nacs.org.