'Textbook Rebellion' Launches Cross-Country Tour Coalition Promotes Textbook Affordability on 40 Campuses

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Over the next six weeks, the Textbook Rebellion aims to collect 10,000 petition signatures calling on decision-makers to prioritize open textbooks, a type of OER that is rapidly gaining traction at colleges nationwide. Open textbooks reduce costs 80 percent on average over traditional, expensive textbooks.

“Students are really suffering,” said Samantha Zwerling, Chapter Chair for MaryPIRG and sophomore at the University of Maryland. “However, we are also in a position to usher in change. The Textbook Rebellion tour gives students an opportunity to participate in the movement and to raise awareness of new options, like open textbooks, that are already out there today.

”Among the speakers at today’s event was Dr. Charles Stangor, Professor of Psychology at the University of Maryland, and author of Introduction to Psychology,  an open textbook published by Flat World Knowledge.

"There’s a growing awareness among professors that textbook costs are an increasing financial burden on students,” said Stangor. "What we need are high-quality, affordable options, like open textbooks and other open resources, that give all students access to the knowledge they need to succeed in their courses.”A new survey released by the Student PIRGs found that 70 percent student respondents reported not purchasing one or more of their assigned textbooks because the cost was too high. Of those students, 78 percent said they generally believed that they would do worse in a course without the required materials.

The Textbook Rebellion was created earlier this year out of widespread frustration with the skyrocketing cost of college textbooks. Prices have been rising more than four times the rate of inflation for the past two decades. The College Board estimates that the average student will spend $1,137 on textbooks each year. Unnecessary new editions, expensive bundles and e-books that expire are common publishing industry tactics to further increase costs.

“In an economy where a college degree is practically a necessity for securing a good job, students need to be able to afford the course materials they need to learn in school,” said Jamil Scott, Vice President of Academic Affairs for the Associated Students of the University of Maryland College Park.

The Textbook Rebellion coalition released the schedule for the 40 events of its fall semester tour. Contact James Nabholz at 914-575-9479 or jnabholz@flatworldknowledge.com for more information.

Wed 8/31 - University of Maryland

Thu 9/1 - Rutgers Camden NJ

Fri 9/2 - Rutgers Newark NJ, Rutgers New Brunswick NJ

Tue 9/6 - UConn Storrs, UConn Hartford, Trinity College

Wed 9/7 - UMASS Amherst, Worcester State College

Thu 9/8 - UMASS Boston, Boston College

Fri 9/9 - UMASS Lowell, Salem State College

Mon 9/12 - UMASS Dartmouth

Wed 9/14 - Indiana University

Thu 9/15 - University of Wisconsin Madison

Fri 9/16 - Truman College, Wilbur Wright College (City Colleges of Chicago)

Mon 9/19 - Colorado University Denver, Colorado University Boulder, Colorado University, Colorado Springs

Tue 9/20 - University of New Mexico

Wed 9/21 - University of Arizona, Arizona State University

Thurs 9/22 - University of California Los Angeles, University of Southern California

Fri 9/23 - University of California Irvine, University of California Riverside

Mon 9/26 - University of California San Diego

Tue 9/27 - University of California Santa Barbara

Wed 9/28 - University of California Santa CruzThu 9/29 - University of California Berkeley

Fri 9/30 - De Anza College, City College of San Francisco

Mon 10/3 - University of California Davis

Tue 10/4 - Southern Oregon University

Wed 10/5 - University of Oregon, Lane Community College

Thu 10/6 - University of Washington

Fri 10/7 - Evergreen State College

Textbook Rebellion is a movement of students, faculty and others affected by the high cost of textbooks working toward affordable solutions. Leading coalition partners include Flat World Knowledge, the Student PIRGs, Campus Progress, Rock the Vote, World Wide Center of Mathematics and student government associations. For more information, visit www.textbookrebellion.org.