| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 61.45 |
| Liaison | Natalie Sobrinski |
| Submission Date | Dec. 23, 2022 |
Muhlenberg College
IN-41: Textbook Affordability
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.50 / 0.50 |
Natalie
Sobrinski Sustainability Specialist Office of Sustainability |
Does the institution host a peer-to-peer textbook exchange program, textbook lending library, or alternate textbook project?:
A brief description of the textbook exchange program, textbook lending library, or alternate textbook project:
The College offers an "in-store" rental whereby selected titles' shelf tags show both the new/used purchase prices and rental price. Transactions are done at the Bookstore's cash register area. In many cases, both new and used copies are rentable. Most forms of payment currently accepted at the store can be used for rentals. A credit card is required to secure the transaction, even if you pay with another method.
We also offer an "online" rental program through our vendor partner, Campus Book Rentals (CBR). Transactions are conducted directly with CBR and books can be shipped direct to a student's home address or to the College. CBR provides a box for convenient rental return at the end of the rental period. Note that all correspondence related to online rentals comes direct from CBR, NOT The 'Berg Bookshop, even though the Bookstore has a custom-designed page made by CBR.
Does the institution provide incentives for academic staff that explicitly encourage the authorship, peer review, and/or adoption of open access textbooks?:
A brief description of the incentives to encourage the authorship, peer review, and/or adoption of open access textbooks:
The following is an excerpt from:
A Year-long Institute and New Grant Grow Digital Offerings
With an emphasis on student co-creators, Muhlenberg’s Open Educational Resources program receives recognition and new opportunities.
By: Kristine Yahna Todaro Wednesday, November 2, 2022 04:42 PM
"In July 2021, a team of Muhlenberg faculty, administrators, staff and students was chosen to participate in the inaugural American Association of Colleges and Universities’ Institute on Open Educational Resources (OER).
Muhlenberg was one of 66 institutions selected for the program. Working in collaboration with an AAC&U mentor, the team was able to advance its efforts to support the creation and adoption of free and affordable instructional materials for more students at the College. The 12-month program concluded with a capstone event in July.
One of the team’s tasks throughout the AAC&U program was to identify sources of funding to promote and incentivize the work. With Provost Laura Furge's support, Muhlenberg received a $22,000 grant in May from the Pennsylvania Consortium for the Liberal Arts (PCLA) to support the College’s OER efforts.
It’s perfect timing, says Taub, who noted that receiving this grant just as the AAC&U program was ending allows the College to fund five faculty to work on their individual OER projects over the next year.
The faculty members — Associate Professor of Psychology Erika Bagley, Professor of Chemistry Joseph Keane, Professor of Environmental Science Jason Kelsey, Lecturer in Spanish Amelia Moreno, Lecturer in Spanish Camille Qualtere and Assistant Professor of Spanish Mirna Trauger — hail from across the academic disciplines. "
Website URL where information about the textbook affordability incentives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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