Senate bill could cut cost of textbooks
Proponents of Senate Bill 365 say textbook prices are rising at a faster rate than inflation
By: Deeda Schroeder
Issue date: 2/28/07 Section: News
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Oregon legislators will consider a bill later this month that is intended to lower textbook prices for college students.
Sponsored by Sen. Bill Morrisette (D-Springfield) and Sen. Vicki Walker (D-Eugene), Senate Bill 365 would require that textbook publishers disclose their wholesale prices to the public and allow students to buy books separate from other components such as CD-ROMs or workbooks.
In addition, the bill would force publishers to disclose plans for new editions of each book, helping students determine whether they will be able to sell the textbook when a course is finished.
The Oregon State Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG) asked Morrisette to consider such a bill after research conducted in Massachusetts in the fall of 2006 revealed how much students are spending on books.
"Books are costing students too much," said Laura Etherton, a consumer advocate with OSPIRG. "The prices are going up faster than inflation."
"According to OSPIRG," said Sen. Walker, "textbook prices are rising at four times the rate of inflation."
Senator Morrisette said he wants to make school less expensive for Oregon's students.
"I'm concerned about the high cost of education in general," Sen. Morrisette said. "In many places, students are not able to sell their books back like they used to, and this bill could save the average student some money."
A common practice, Etherton said, is for professors to take textbook costs into account on behalf of students when designing their courses.
"Most faculty members say they would get the cheaper book if there are two choices," Etherton said.
According to the Massachusetts study, professors often have difficulty determining what prices their students will have to pay for a book. Less than half of the professors surveyed said that publisher's websites listed prices for the books.
Shawn Smallman, Portland State vice provost for instruction and dean of undergraduate studies and a former professor, said that textbook prices are easy to find, for the most part.
Sponsored by Sen. Bill Morrisette (D-Springfield) and Sen. Vicki Walker (D-Eugene), Senate Bill 365 would require that textbook publishers disclose their wholesale prices to the public and allow students to buy books separate from other components such as CD-ROMs or workbooks.
In addition, the bill would force publishers to disclose plans for new editions of each book, helping students determine whether they will be able to sell the textbook when a course is finished.
The Oregon State Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG) asked Morrisette to consider such a bill after research conducted in Massachusetts in the fall of 2006 revealed how much students are spending on books.
"Books are costing students too much," said Laura Etherton, a consumer advocate with OSPIRG. "The prices are going up faster than inflation."
"According to OSPIRG," said Sen. Walker, "textbook prices are rising at four times the rate of inflation."
Senator Morrisette said he wants to make school less expensive for Oregon's students.
"I'm concerned about the high cost of education in general," Sen. Morrisette said. "In many places, students are not able to sell their books back like they used to, and this bill could save the average student some money."
A common practice, Etherton said, is for professors to take textbook costs into account on behalf of students when designing their courses.
"Most faculty members say they would get the cheaper book if there are two choices," Etherton said.
According to the Massachusetts study, professors often have difficulty determining what prices their students will have to pay for a book. Less than half of the professors surveyed said that publisher's websites listed prices for the books.
Shawn Smallman, Portland State vice provost for instruction and dean of undergraduate studies and a former professor, said that textbook prices are easy to find, for the most part.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Don Bishoff, Legislative Assistant to Senator Morrisette
posted 2/28/07 @ 3:36 PM PST
Good story, but one correction: Senator Morrisette is definitely a he, not a she, as the story has him in the sixth paragraph.
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