SUNY Oneonta Textbook Survey: Undergraduate Students’ Preferences and Behaviors on the Use of Textbooks and Course Materials

Abstract

Textbooks represent the fastest growing price tag for college students among many rising college expenses. In addition, the market for course materials has become more complicated with the rise of rentals, digital textbooks, online homework systems, and a diverse world of vendors from which to choose. This poster describes the results of a student-led survey about undergraduate students’ preferences and behaviors related to the attainment and use of textbooks and course materials. The survey asked how SUNY Oneonta students are experiencing the impact of rising textbook costs and increasingly complicated decisions. We explore how those results can inform our campus Open Educational Resources (OER) Initiative and other SUNY student success programs.