Villanova faculty:

Spring book adoptions for the Affordable Materials Project are due Oct. 15. The Affordable Materials Project (AMP) is a collaboration between the Office of the Provost, CASA, Falvey Library, and the Villanova University Bookstore to reduce the staggering costs for students’ textbooks by making them accessible online. You can submit your book adoptions to the Villanova University Shop by emailing Course Materials Manager Bernadette Mania (bmania01@villanova.edu).

A book adoption submitted by the Oct. 15 deadline helps the Villanova Bookstore get better deals with wholesalers and gives students more time to save for books and search for the most affordable options.

The high cost of course materials is a significant burden to students. From 2003 to 2013, textbook prices rose by 82%, about three times the rate of inflation. On average, Villanova students are expected to spend $940 per year on course materials.

A recent national poll revealed that a majority of students forego purchasing textbooks because of the high cost. And we should not think that Villanova is an exception in this regard.

The lack of consistent access to course materials is damaging to students’ ability to succeed, both in their classes and in their university experience as a whole.