Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA)
The Textbook Provision of the Higher Education Opportunity Act requires that students have access to the cost of course materials at the time they register for classes. Below is an excerpt from the law:
‘‘(a) PURPOSE AND INTENT. —The purpose of this section is to ensure that students have access to affordable course materials by decreasing costs to students and enhancing transparency and disclosure with respect to the selection, purchase, sale, and use of course materials. It is the intent of this section to encourage all of the involved parties, including faculty, students, administrators, institutions of higher education, bookstores, distributors, and publishers, to work together to identify ways to decrease the cost of college textbooks and supplemental materials for students while supporting the academic freedom of faculty members to select high quality course materials for students."
Links to additional information regarding the HEOA:
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Draft UW System Guidelines for Making Textbooks More Affordable (submitted to the Board of Regents)
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UW System News Release, "UW System recommends policy managing textbook costs for students"
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UW System Program Review: Textbook Costs in Higher Education
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American Council on Education: Implementing the Textbook Provision of the HEOA