Majority of CSU students surveyed are not in favor of potential textbook fee – The Cauldron
A recent survey conducted by Cleveland State’s Student Government Association (SGA) revealed a definitive negative student response to the currently paused textbook fee that was slated to be imposed on students as early as fall 2024.
At a recent senate meeting, SGA President Kayland Morris announced the contract was paused and added that she believes “student involvement in this issue changed the tide.”
This textbook fee is a part of a program, called Follett Access, that is being implemented at campuses across the nation. It requires all students to pay the same fee to receive access to most of their course materials for the semester–not all materials are included in the program.
Although the fee and new program are presented as beneficial to students and professors who would be able to select from any of the textbooks included in the Follett Access Program, many students feel otherwise.
In the survey conducted by SGA, the median showed that students spent around $100 on textbooks for the spring 2024 semester. When asked about a potential $100 fee for textbook access, 68% of respondents said they still would like to buy their own textbooks.
In total, 1,715 students responded to the survey. The survey questions asked:
- Whether students purchased textbooks to use for school
- If they used financial aid as payment
- Whether an access code was required
- If they purchased an online textbook this semester
- How much on average they spent on textbooks
- Whether or not they would be in favor of a $100, $150 or $200 charge to their CampusNet account
A chart of students’ survey responses. Photo Credit: Student Government Association at CSU
The responses showed that the average student spends about $131 on textbooks, including both online and hard copies. It also showed that 515 students would rather purchase their own textbooks then be charged $100 to their CampusNet accounts, while 57 students would rather have the CampusNet charge. The results for the $150 charge and $200 charge questions were similar with 491 to 80 in favor of no fee and 400 compared to 172, respectively.
With only 80 of the students who responded to the survey graduating in 2024, most of the other students still have years until they graduate, meaning that this could be a regular fee for them to pay if the program is made active.
When asked how they would feel about this additional fee, “upset”, “hate it”, “angry”, “terrible” and “stupid” were a majority of student comments not in favor of the fee. Others said that it would be fine as it would be added to the tuition charge.
Despite its temporary pause, the fee could potentially be reinstated as early as fall 2024.