horizons 2017 - establishing the actual costs of textbooks

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Image: CC(BY) 2.0 Thomas Leuthard Jamison Miller, The College of William and Mary Amanda Carpenter-Horning, John Tyler Community College Kim Grewe, Northern Virginia Community College Establishing the Actual Costs of Textbooks Data from Virginia’s Community Colleges Image: CC(BY) 2.0 Thomas Leuthard

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Page 3: Horizons 2017 - Establishing the Actual Costs of Textbooks

Image: CC(BY) 2.0 Thomas Leuthard

BACKGROUND1.Phil Hill deconstructs myth of $1,200 number

http://mfeldstein.com/how-much-do-college-students-actually-pay-for-textbooks/

2.Quill West devises an approach to generate “real” numbers

3.[LibOER] group begins to replicate approach and compile data

4.Richard Sebastian introduced the authors; collaboration explored

5.Discussed methodology with Quill West; room for customization

6.Discussed needs with Cat Finnegan & Megan Healy at VCCSa. Full time students most commonly enrolling in 4-year transfer programs, widely

known across VCCS as “general education” programs and certificates

b. First year most important in terms of retention

Page 4: Horizons 2017 - Establishing the Actual Costs of Textbooks

Image: CC(BY) 2.0 Thomas Leuthard

DESIGN & DELIMITATIONS1. Contact academic advising offices at each college, N=23

2.Ask for a sample schedule that reflects:

“a general education approach, for a college-ready student enrolled full time and ultimately intending to transfer to a four-year institution.”

Page 6: Horizons 2017 - Establishing the Actual Costs of Textbooks

Image: CC(BY) 2.0 Thomas Leuthard

AMENDED DESIGN & DELIMITATIONS1. Analyzed responses from academic advisors to find common

courses recommended for first-year students.

2.Cross-referenced the commonly recommended courses to the VCCS Master Course file to develop a first-year schedule that could be taken at all 23 institutions.

Page 7: Horizons 2017 - Establishing the Actual Costs of Textbooks

Image: CC(BY) 2.0 Thomas Leuthard

First-Year ScheduleFall-

ENG 111 (College Composition 1)BIO 101 (General Biology 1)MTH 163 (Pre-Calculus 1)

SDV 100 (College Success Skills)HIS 121 (US History 1)

Spring-ENG 112 (College Composition 2)

BIO 102 (General Biology 2)ART 101 (History and Art Appreciation 1)

SOC 200 (Principles of Sociology)HIST 122 (US History 2)

Page 8: Horizons 2017 - Establishing the Actual Costs of Textbooks

Image: CC(BY) 2.0 Thomas Leuthard

AMENDED DESIGN & DELIMITATIONS

1. Visited each college’s bookstore website

2.Recorded the highest cost option available (new textbook)and lowest cost option available (used, rental, or digital versions)

3.Analyze data

After determining the 23 course schedules, next we

Page 14: Horizons 2017 - Establishing the Actual Costs of Textbooks

Image: CC(BY) 2.0 Thomas Leuthard

LIMITATIONS1. Data generating schedule consistent across colleges

(sample schedules not directly from advisors at each college)

2.“Minimum cost” data collected after start of semester(lower values possible when more used/rentals still available)

3.A “production side” approach(Based on bookstore prices: doesn’t capture every student’s experience, schedule, or other purchasing routes)