In May 2022, Associated Students and Sonoma State Enterprises, in consultation with the Academic Senate, signed an agreement with Barnes & Noble to change SSU’s textbook purchasing model. Instead of students being responsible for purchasing their own textbooks and learning materials each term, students will pay a flat fee per unit each term for their course materials, and all course materials selections turned into the University Store by the adoption deadline will be available for students by the first day of class. Students will still have the option to opt-out of this fee and acquire their textbooks via another source. This new textbook purchasing model will be in place for the Fall 2023 semester.
This new model, which SSU is calling the “Seawolf Bundle,” has the potential to both decrease student textbook costs and increase equity, accessibility, and convenience. For programs with higher textbook costs, initial estimates are that students will save significantly over the sticker costs for new textbooks, and since the cost will be bundled into their regular fees, it should be easier to apply student loans to these costs. However, faculty support will be necessary to ensure that students get the most value out of this opportunity.
If you are interested in knowing more about this program, Neil Markley, SSU’s AVP of Administration and Finance, and Steve Higgenbotham, director of SSU’s University Store, will host a Q&A session about the program at CTET’s seminar room, Salazar 1061, and over Zoom on Friday, February 10 from 12PM to 1:30PM. We especially encourage you to attend if you use open-access course materials or other free or low-cost textbooks, such as your own readers, so that you understand how this change could affect the costs of students in your courses and how you can support your students to keep their costs as low as possible.