Report Shows Faculty Still Prefer Print over Digital and Open Educational Resources

National Association of College Stores Releases Report Covering Faculty Views on Course Materials

OBERLIN, OHIO (August 31, 2017) – During the 2016-17 academic year, college students reported spending an average of $579 on textbooks and other course materials* required for their classes. Even though digital textbooks and open educational resources (OER) have helped to reduce the cost for students, faculty are less likely to assign them, according to a new survey conducted by the National Association of College Stores (NACS).

When asked about their format preferences, 50% of faculty say they prefer a print textbook; 20% prefer print with digital components. Only 7% of faculty stated they prefer using a digital format while teaching. And, despite the buzz surrounding OER, 48% of instructors are not aware of or have only heard about OER. Just 34% are aware of OER and how they can be used.

“There is still a significant knowledge gap among faculty on textbook affordability in general, and specifically on how to find and use digital and OER materials,” said NACS CEO Robert Walton. “However, it’s fair to point out that the majority of the current student population prefers print as well, despite the cost savings of digital formats. As more true digital natives matriculate, this will change. Campus stores, working with administrative leadership and other campus departments such as IT, the library, and instructional design, can help faculty better understand how to discover and use digital and open educational resources.”

Faculty Watch 2016-17 Academic Year: Attitudes & Behaviors toward Course Materials , is based on responses from more than 1,900 faculty at 29 higher education institutions. The report gives insights into faculty opinions on course materials, including adoption considerations, format preferences, affordability, and more. Other key findings of the report include:

• Majority choose the materials assigned, but some do not -Eighty percent of faculty indicated that they select the course materials they assign. Only 29% report using a standard set of required course materials that were selected by a campus or departmental committee/designee or at the district, system, or state level.

• Many do not understand their role in textbook affordability and don’t view it as a priority -While in most instances, faculty are selecting the materials students are asked to buy, 55% of faculty report being unsure about the role they play in textbook affordability and more than 40% of faculty do not view textbook affordability as a priority for their institution, themselves, or the campus store.

• There is not a lot of awareness of or interest in textbook affordability initiatives - Nearly three out of four faculty members are unaware of a textbook affordability initiative on campus and only 32% of them are interested in joining an initiative.

• Some faculty skip the book - While the majority of faculty required at least one course material, 24% indicated that they did not require course materials for at least one of their courses. Sixty-two percent cited that students could get by with other materials and 25% felt the materials were not worth the expense.

About The National Association of College Stores

The National Association of College Stores (NACS), headquartered in Oberlin, Ohio, is the professional trade association of the $10 billion campus store industry. NACS provides education and other resources that help its member stores support student success, the campus experience, and the academic missions of higher education institutions. The association represents all campus stores, which include nearly 4,000 campuses in the U.S. and Canada, and approximately 1,000 industry-related companies that supply course materials and other merchandise and services to campus stores.

*Source: NACS Student Watch Attitudes & Behaviors toward Course Materials 2016-17 Report