MU enacts textbook affordabilty committee

Semester after semester, students are spending hundreds of dollars on textbooks and class materials.

Marshall University has recently established the textbook affordability committee, routed by the Higher Education Opportunity Act and West Virginia's state law, which addresses the operations of the university and college bookstores. The state is required to meet at a minimum once per year. At these meetings the committee has to develop policies and practices that are consistent with the Higher Education Opportunity Act as well as the state code. Textbook affordability to students means more options when purchasing your textbooks.

"It is the right thing to do," said Rudy Pauley, associate vice-president and member of the committee. "The driving force is the price of textbooks and materials nationwide and everyone is interested in the topic even Follett Bookstore."

The committees seek to find reasonable alternatives for students purchasing textbooks. Students now have the opportunity to either rent the book or purchase it electronically.

"Within all this, students have an opportunity to sell the textbook back, which will give them some money," Pauley said. "Likewise, it provides the bookstore with used books."

This issue is not just a statewide issue; it's a national mandate. But each state is handling the situation differently, and the committees are asking for the students' help regarding this issue.

"Students are the other side to this equation," Pauley said. "All we ask of the students is to be cognitive of the possibilities. When going to the bookstore, look at the rental program, the used books and the online books to review all the options you have. They should be utilized mainly because everyone benefits from it."

 Alianna Telles can be contacted at telles@marshall.edu.