Textbook Affordability
A perspective from Rachel Cieslik
TEXTBOOKS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE.
Textbook prices have been raised by an absurd amount in the past decade, and many students do not even bother buying them anymore. About 65% of students skip out on buying their textbooks because it is too expensive.
NCPIRG is striving to reduce those costs and approve price transparency at UNC. Students do not even know what they are getting into when they hit that register button. Is it going to be a twenty-dollar packet or a four-hundred-dollar textbook?
On average, students spend about $1200 a year on textbooks, and the average price of digital textbooks rose 23% in 2020. It has caused students to take out more loans and aid, which could potentially affect their futures. If they were to know how much the book was to cost, it could prevent a lot of struggles for less privileged students.
The textbooks affordability campaign is working endlessly to reinstate a grant, which could help hundreds of students be able to afford their necessary course materials.
It should not be the case that students should have to take classes without the proper resources because it was too expensive. UNC students are already paying a lot of money to learn and go to school here, the price of textbooks should not be an additional cost. We, as students, must strive for textbook affordability on the UNC campus.
Transparency With Textbooks
A perspective from Victoria Magbagbeola
In 2015, an all-time high was met with the requirement that the first $400 textbook was required for course material at the University of Michigan at Flint.
In recent years, the increase in the price for textbooks has increased dramatically with an 88% increase from January 2006 to July 2016. Textbooks are an integral part of achieving success in college classes so it’s no surprise that so many students spend a lot of money towards them. However, college students are often burdened with hidden fees and forced to spend high prices on textbooks that often make them inaccessible to low-income students.
NCPIRG, a student-led activist group that advocates for many issues of the public interest, is trying to create affordable textbook options on campus. We are working to increase faculty awareness of student struggles, implement affordable course materials, and make textbook prices available to students ahead of time.
Education should be accessible to all. We urge UNC to adopt a price transparency system to achieve equity for all students.
“Viewpoints” is a place on Chapelboro where local people are encouraged to share their unique perspectives on issues affecting our community. If you’d like to contribute a column on an issue you’re concerned about, interesting happenings around town, reflections on local life — or anything else — send a submission to viewpoints@wchl.com
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines