Inclusive Access for Textbooks: Home

"Inclusive Access" is a sales model for textbooks from major publishers that adds the cost of the textbook to the tuition and fees.

Benefits: Digital content, such as eTextbooks and online homework programs, are available to all students on the first day of class, through the LMS (Learning Management System like Blackboard). They will lose access when the course ends. Students have a period during which they can opt out. This option is less expensive than purchasing a new book from the campus bookstore, and often less expensive than other online options for online homework access. By having the cost of the textbook combined with tuition and fees, the student can request a payment plan and not have to pay for the textbook as a lump sum at the beginning of the term. 

• Digital content available to students on 1st day of the term
• Students can set up a payment plan, so full cost is not immediate incurred
• US Department of Education says publishers must make these materials "available to students below competitive market rates"

Disadvantages: By using materials from the major publishers, the eTextbook cost is still quite high. 

• Cost still high (especially compared to OER, Open Educational Resources)
• Publisher determines when and for how long the student has access (they are not purchasing the materials)

For more information visit InclusiveAccess.org, a community-driven initiative to raise awareness of the facts about automatic textbook billing.