Facts about Inclusive Access for faculty.
Is automatic textbook billing really inclusive? Judge for yourself.
As an educator, you want your students to have easy access to the materials they need to learn and succeed. Inclusive Access is a sales model that automatically bills students for temporary access to your course content in a digital format. While this ensures all students have access on day one, it prevents students from keeping this content after the course ends. Students who want—or need—to save money by renting, borrowing, or shopping for used books are forced to “opt out,” potentially losing access to components like online homework that can affect their grades.
In addition, research shows that the majority of decisions about Inclusive Access are made solely or partially at the administrative level. These decisions can limit faculty’s academic freedom to choose course materials that may not be part of Inclusive Access models but that best meet their students’ needs.
Does Inclusive Access sound inclusive to you? Learn more about how Inclusive Access impacts the freedom of faculty and students to choose the materials that are right for them.
Who makes the decision about Inclusive Access?
A national faculty survey found that the majority of decisions about Inclusive Access are being made solely or partially at the administrative level. That is a significant shift that could impact academic freedom.
“The growing adoption of inclusive access models is fundamentally changing the
decision-making dynamic.”
Resources for Faculty
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Faculty Senate Resolution
The Academic Senate of the California Community Colleges passed a resolution regarding “inclusive access” in 2019.
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Faculty Advocacy Resources
The Open Textbook Alliance offers resources to support faculty advocates including a model faculty senate resolution.
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Share Your Experience
Have you encountered Inclusive Access on your campus? Please consider sharing your story with us to help other faculty.
10 Questions Faculty Should Ask About Inclusive Access
Is it my choice whether to adopt Inclusive Access materials for my course?
If Inclusive Access doesn’t work for my students, will I have the option to stop using it in my course?
Will I be informed about the exact price of Inclusive Access materials when I am deciding what to assign?
Will my students be asked for consent before being automatically charged for Inclusive Access materials?
What agreements are in place to ensure that the price of my materials does not increase for my students next year?
If students opt out of Inclusive Access, will they be able to purchase all of their materials on the general market?
What support mechanisms are in place for students who cannot afford Inclusive Access materials?
How long do students have access to Inclusive Access materials?
What data do Inclusive Access materials collect on me and my students, and who has access to it?
Has Inclusive Access been approved by the student government and faculty senate?
Explore the Facts
