ACADEMIC SENATE RESOLUTION

(#RS11 - 285)

RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH AN AFFORDABLE TEXTBOOK TASK FORCE

WHEREAS, San Francisco State University students face economic challenges in completing their

degrees. The 2008 California Bureau of State Audits Report indicates that the average CSU student pays an estimated $812 per year for textbooks, a non-trivial percentage of students’ total expenses for their education;

WHEREAS, the growing availability of low or no cost, high-quality instructional content on the

web as well as lower-cost commercially published content has provided a possible alternative to print textbooks in many disciplines;

WHEREAS, new technologies are becoming available that make it possible for SF State faculty,

staff and students to discover, choose, create and use digital content;

WHEREAS, the Affordable Learning Solutions Program is an initiative launched by the CSU

Chancellor’s Office in 2010 to assist faculty in choosing and providing quality affordable educational content for students;

WHEREAS, the goal of the Affordable Learning Solutions initiative campaign is to make a CSU

degree more affordable while protecting quality learning experiences for students;

WHEREAS, the target 50% reduction in the costs of instructional content for CSU students

within the next five years would save students an estimated $150 million system-wide;

WHEREAS, the Academic Senate of San Francisco State University has supported measures to

increase the accessibility and affordability of textbooks through prior resolutions (RS04-231 and S08-249); therefore be it;

RESOLVED, that the Academic Senate of San Francisco State University applaud CSU system-

wide efforts that encourage CSU faculty to consider using high quality, low cost or no cost, accessible textbook alternatives, such as those promoted by the Affordable Learning Solutions initiative; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Academic Senate of San Francisco State University urge all faculty to

continue exploring ways to increase the use of high quality, low cost or no cost, accessible instruction materials alternatives; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Academic Senate urge the SF State Administration to create a Task Force

which includes stakeholders to recommend alternative course materials that are more affordable; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Academic Senate urge that all recommendations must meet current

disability-access standards in order to ensure unrestricted access by all faculty, staff, and students; and be it further

RESOLVED, that Affordable Task Force shall submit a progress report at the end of each

academic year and be evaluated at the end of AY 2012/13.

***Approved by the Academic Senate at its meeting on April 26, 2011***