Equitable student success via library support for textbooks

Abstract

Purpose The cost of course materials to the individual student has increased over the past decade, contributing to educational inequity. Open educational resources (OERs) may be a solution and research validates their positive impact on student success outcomes (Colvard et al., 2018; Feldstein et al., 2012). Few studies, however, examine the role that library collections play in addressing course materials cost and student success. This paper aims to investigate whether materials costs are a significant factor in course pass rate and whether the library has a positive impact on pass rates. Design/methodology/approach Using required texts listed in syllabi for select undergraduate courses at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), the authors compare course materials costs for each course to the pass rate. The authors then measure the impact of course materials cost on the achievement gap between Pell Grant eligible and non-eligible students. Findings This study confirms previous research indicating that reduced course materials costs have a measurable impact on student success, in that the total minimum cost of required materials has a statistically significant effect on the percentage of students who pass a course. However, course reserves slightly increase the disparity between high-income and low-income students, suggesting that course reserves are a less effective way of supporting the latter compared to OERs. Originality/value This study is unique in examining the effect of the cost of course materials on students, regardless of the source of cost reductions. Most literature focuses on the qualitative efficacy of OERs instead of measured impact or the relationship between the cost of course materials and student success. The authors investigate the connection between OERs, library engagement and student success.

Shifting Priorities: A Look at a Course Adopted Text (CATs) e-Book Program and How Its Success Realigned One Library’s e-Book Collection Priorities

“…Recently, Wimberley, Cheney, and Ding (2020) investigated the material costs for select undergraduate courses at California University State-Northridge and compared the materials costs for each course to the pass rate for the course. While they include OER, library supplied e-books, and course reserves as options for reducing the costs of CATs, they found that simply "lowering the overall price of course materials is what meaningfully improves aggregate student success outcomes" (Wimberley, Cheney, and Ding 2020). Students in higher education want relief or alternatives to the cost of CATs and libraries have a role to play which, for some, means rethinking traditional collection development strategies.…”