Author: Sara Hilbert

College students are being pushed to new levels of creativity, not in their studies or community involvement, but merely for survival with the frustrating costs of textbooks. USPIRG has studied the rise of textbook costs, claiming that students spend as much as $900 a year on textbooks. In a technical field, this expense can increase by as much as double. Largely due to insufficient communication about the textbook market, publishers can get away with these rising costs. These lofty expenses result from new editions constantly produced every three and a half years, even with subjects that have not changed significantly. These same publishers also”bundle” study guides, CD-ROMs, and extra materials with a textbook that significantly increase a textbook without the option to purchase the textbook only.

To put it all in perspective, a Government Accountability Office study shows that textbook prices have been rising at double the rate of inflation over the past two decades.

The cost challenges force students to share textbooks, hunt for bargains online, set up book fairs, or, worse, do without. When given enough time, students can find the very same textbook and class material overseas for almost 90% less (Michelle Singletary Washington Post column “The Color of Money” interviewed on NPR). The only downfall with buying internationally is the longer shipping time. This option is less valuable because most colleges do not give out book lists in a reasonable time to purchase online. Worse, some college bookstores do not make the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) available, restricting students from purchasing low-cost textbooks.

You can imagine the support when Representative Julia Carson sponsored “College Textbook Affordability and Transparency Act of 2007″(HR 3512). The proposal was introduced only 3 months before Julia tragically passed away from cancer. Julia’s bill would ensure that college textbooks and supplemental materials are available and affordable. Carson hoped , and her long list of cosponsors are still pursuing, to inform students about the costs of textbooks before registering for classes in order to be aware of the full cost of higher education. This bill has three main points. First, to encourage students to purchase early and always look for used editions. Second, this bill would require universities and faculty to review materials and editions that are required, without compromising high quality course materials or purchase unnecessary editions. The third point H.R.3512 emphasizes is timeliness. Timing truly is everything; schools would be required to disclose textbook lists, costs and ISBN numbers soon enough to students to give them a fair chance at accessing textbook costs in time. Despite the fact that it may not be the most effective way of cutting down costs, the bill interestingly enough seeks to give out a full history of revisions for the college textbook and/or supplemental materials that helps explain the real difference and what will be missed between editions.

While entailing a comprehensive list of objectives, H.R.3512 marks the beginning of what should become one of the most important objectives in reforming our higher education system. It is unnecessary in its entirety to keep such a costly, unneeded structure for such necessary materials in place. 

Author: Jared Fallon

To most people’s surprise, the most recent study conducted evaluating the overall increase of higher education costs shows satisfyingly minute changes. According to the nonprofit organization College Board, for the current academic year the average list price increase for four-year colleges is less than 1 percent over inflation – one of the smallest increases seen in the college world in a long time. Additionally, the average financial aid package increased, allowing colleges greater admission rates than will most likely be seen as the financial crisis begins to surface in other parts of the economy. According to the College Board however, the situation is not nearly as optimistic for the future, based on both past costs and expected future trends…reform is needed quickly.

The College Board assumes the average tuition cost to increase by 6% annually, a figure that is notably larger than both the general inflation rate and the average increase in expected incomes. According to the same data set, the anticipated cost of attending a public college/university for four years in 2026 will cost a staggering $81,900, with private institution costs totaling around $313,800 – and keep in mind these costs only reflect college tuition and standard fees. These estimates do not include other significant costs of attending a higher learning institution, such as room and board, books, and transportation. The increasing costs of the already colossal investment of acquiring a bachelor’s degree is intensified when considering that according to the USA Today 52% of college students take 5 years to earn their degrees.

Some of the pending legislation awaiting actions beyond their respective committee statuses aim to reduce the overall costs of higher education in anticipation for the shocking price increases. These increases will soon begin to hit some families beyond the current near-crisis point of nearly having to remortgage their homes. One such proposal has been introduced by Herb Kohl (D-WI) and is hoping to authorize the Education Department to match grants to high schools that establish dual enrollment programs, in the attempt to encourage students to start considering college at an earlier age and help reduce overall college costs by decreasing the amount of time it takes to earn a bachelor’s.

Another interesting proposal deals with a more systemic approach and requires less of an increase in government spending or grant/award programs. H.R.4149’s official goal is to “limit excessive fluctuations in tuition to help students and families plan for college costs.” The bill would require institutions to offer a binding, multi-year tuition and fee schedule for at least four years for the attainment of a degree. The proposal is rightly named the “Truth-in-Tuition Act of 2007” and would be enforced through amending the Higher Education Act of 1965. To discover what other reforms are on the table, follow this link and make sure your opinion is heard.

The future “war on the middle class” is going to get a lot worse if the increasing costs of education are not addressed. Reforms such as these need more dialogue if they are to have any hope of getting passed or, at the very least, inspiring other legislatures to step up to the plate and help combat the greatest outlet for opportunity that our future generations may very well be laregly excluded from. 

Missouri is only ranked 47^th in the country in regards to higher education funding; students struggle with paying alternative education loans because federal scholarships, grants, and loans do not cover the insurmountable cost of colleges and universities around the state. Graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1980, U.S. Representative Kenny Hulshof is familiar to the numerous problems within higher education programs. He wants to help fix these kinks by better equipping and supplying school administration, which will give more students the opportunity to reach higher education and, in turn, will boost Missouri’s economy as a whole.

One plan Hulshof is a part of is the establishment of the ‘Missouri Prosperity Initiative.’ It is a partnership that will strengthen programs within science and math as well as designing new programs for more efficient research. He believes that the specific branches of study that will be most effective to the state of Missouri are those in math, engineering, biotechnology, and chemistry. Better funding is an absolute necessity for students studying in these areas in order to thrive. This initiative includes higher accountability measures and increased funding for those in need of scholarships.

Hulshof also supports the ‘Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative.’ This program has raised $335 million for Missouri’s higher education for the benefit of students without raising the state tax. He believes that through good administration and the feedback of the schools that receive this new support many goals will be accomplished; he truly understands education is something worth investing in.

Evidence of Hulshof‘s interest in education reform is enhanced by the fact that he has recently been taking the time to go to colleges and universities around the state to speak and share his visions. This month one of the colleges he visited was Hannibal La-Grange College in Hannibal, Missouri – partaking in the 150^th sesquicentennial celebration the college was holding. Hulshof was the guest speaker and shared with the students his ideas while congratulating the institution for its efforts. Hulshof stated, “I’m less concerned with what my approval rating is going to be at the end of my term, but graduation rates, how many new start-up businesses have we had, how many plant expansions have we had, how have our math scores improved, how about higher education are we making progress.” He also spoke on a more personal note, telling the audience of his childhood, and how he is the, and I quote, “black sheep” of his family by following a career in politics.

Also, although Hulshof is putting much emphasis on higher education, he has not forgotten K-12. He has in mind to hire better math and science teachers around the state as well as make it easier for a student to apply and study at technical and community colleges. He does not want someone to miss out on an education due to financial reasons. According to Hulshof, this is going to aid the economy of the entire 21^stcentury. For more information on legislative bills concerning higher education in Missouri, click here.