UC Davis to Pilot a “Spotify For Textbooks” Subscription Service Next Year

UPDATED September 4, 2019 UC Davis Experiments with a New Textbook Model: An Interview with Jason Lorgan (via TSK)
Rick Anderson interviews Jason Lorgan.
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From the The Daily Democrat/NorCal Community Publishing:

Many college students don’t know what textbooks they’ll need and how much they’ll cost until they’ve enrolled in courses and checked their professors’ syllabi.

But universities across California, especially in the 23-campus California State University system, have become more transparent about textbooks and more proactive in assigning free, digital or low-cost books to students. And some institutions, such as UC Davis, are working to revolutionize the textbook market and make it more affordable for all students.

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Instructors at UCD are optimistic that a new way of purchasing textbooks will further help to drive down costs for students.

Next year, the university will launch a pilot textbook subscription service.

“Think Spotify, for textbooks,” said Jason Lorgan, executive director of campus recreation, Memorial Union and Stores for UCD.

The opt-in service would charge students a flat fee of about $200 each term for their course materials regardless of major or requirements. Lorgan said such a model could revolutionize the textbook industry in the way that the music industry changed how fans access and pay for music.

Read the Complete Article (approx. 880 words)

See Also: Slide Deck From a Presentation at UC Davis: Equitable Access Course Materials Pilot

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