Dear Adjunct and Tenured Faculty Members,
We need your help. According to the U.S. Department of Education, only 20% of young people who begin higher education at a two-year institution graduate within three years. Many college students at the community college level cannot afford to buy course-required paper-based textbooks ("traditional textbooks" that are printed and bound). As a result, these financially strapped students are either "winging it" through their courses without textbooks, borrowing textbooks from other students when possible, or copying pages and chapters from friends' textbooks on an as-needed basis. Or worse, they are leaving/dropping out of college due to the cost of their education.
In recent years, the concept of a "textbook" has been changing and there has been a movement to shift from a "premium" college textbook retailer mentality to a digital or eBook model of textbook delivery. Unless a lower cost, more affordable model (including the delivery of high-quality, free content) is adopted and embraced by California Community Colleges, it will be extremely difficult for California to maintain or increase post-secondary transfer, degree or certificate completion rates.
How can you help?
The California Community College Chancellor's Office is looking for Faculty insight and input to develop a comprehensive, resource-rich, searchable, CCC-Sponsored "Refer-a-torium" website that highlights the myriad of "affordable content" options and choices that support faculty and students in achieving success in their academic endeavors. As we explore these options, other than traditional textbooks, we want the faculty voice to be heard and to take the lead. Faculty can be a major part of the solution to affordability, choice and access that make textbooks, and thus education, more affordable.
Thank you for your help!
Sincerely,
Catherine McKenzie
Director, Telecommunications and Technology
Chancellor's Office, California Community Colleges
cmckenzie@cccco.edu
Icasiana Barrs
Consultant, Affordable Content Initiative
Chancellor's Office, California Community Colleges
ibarrs@cvc.edu
P.S. As an incentive to complete this survey, the Chancellor's Office will conduct a drawing and award two $200.00 gift certificates from Apple or American Express...YOUR CHOICE. Survey ends June 7th, 2011 and two winners will be selected shortly thereafter.
