Illinois Course Materials Survey: Student Perspectives
- Illinois Course Materials Survey: Student PerspectivesThe Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI) and its Open Educational Resources Subcommittee developed this survey to help identify Illinois students’ needs regarding affordable course materials and interest in OER or other affordable course material options. 558 Oakton College students participated in this survey during the 2023 Fall Semester. Oakton College had the highest response rate in the state of Illinois!
- 2023 Illinois Course Materials: Student Perspectives ReportThis report reflects the collective responses of 4,617 eligible student participants attending 52 Illinois institutions, including 22 community colleges, 21 private colleges and universities, and 9 public universities.
General Findings of the Illinois Course Materials Survey
8 key findings emerged from the statewide survey results:
- Course materials costs are adversely impacting students' academic careers.
- Course material costs are lowering students' abilities to meet basic needs, increasing their debt, increasing their work hours/jobs, and increasing their emotional stress.
- 60% of students considered costs of $0 to less than $40 to be low cost for the course materials in one course.
- On average, students are spending $297.71 on course materials per term.
- Students are extremely frustrated by online paid-access code materials required to complete assignments/quizzes.
- Students emphasized a wide variety of benefits when faculty provided materials that were free to students.
- 74% of students prefer digital course materials with no cost over traditionally published course materials with a cost.
- Over 75% of respondents identified that all course materials features that allow them to use the materials how, when, and where they want are very helpful or helpful.
Finding 1. Course material costs are adversely impacting students' academic careers.
Effect of Course Materials on Academic Careers
N=558
Has the cost of required course materials caused you to – Not purchase required course material - across ethnicity
N= 457
Has the cost of required course materials caused you to – Take fewer courses - across ethnicity
N=457
Overall Sample at Oakton
Total N=457 Total Sample Size= 558
Finding 2: Course material costs are lowering students' abilities to meet basic needs, increasing their debt, increasing their work hours/jobs, and increasing their emotional stress.
Finding 3. Most students consider cost of $0 to less than $40 to be low cost for the course materials in one course.
Finding 4. On average, students are spending $297.71 on course materials per term.
This average is for all respondents statewide and ranged from $227.28 for those taking one course to $445.83 for those taking seven courses. This includes 11.66% of students who noted they spent $0 for course materials.
Finding 5. Students are extremely frustrated by online paid-access code materials required to complete assignments/quizzes.
Finding 6. Students emphasized a wide variety of benefits when faculty provided materials that were free to students.
Finding 7. Most students prefer digital course materials with no cost over traditionally published course materials with a cost.
