Search this section • RSS Feed
One
thousand professors
from over 300 colleges in all 50 states released a statement declaring their preference for high-quality,
affordable textbooks, including open textbooks, over expensive commercial
textbooks. Open textbooks are high quality open-access textbooks reviewed and written by academics that can be used online at no cost and printed for a small cost. Open textbooks are already used at some of the nation’s most prestigious institutions, like Harvard, Caltech and Yale. Textbooks cost students an average of $900 per year, which is a quarter of tuition at an average four-year public university and nearly three-quarters of tuition at a community college, according to the GAO. Research conducted by The Student PIRGs identifies publisher tactics as the primary cause of escalating prices. Bundling textbooks with unnecessary supplements forces students to purchase items they do not need; unnecessary new editions undermine the used book market; and withholding critical price information keeps faculty in the dark. “As faculty members, our top priority is to choose the textbook that is best for our students. We share concerns about affordability, and face similar frustrations with publisher practices,” said Sandra Schroeder, Chair of the American Federation of Teachers Higher Education Program and Policy Council. “Open textbooks and other affordable options, when appropriate for a course, are a win-win for everyone.” Here are some examples of open textbooks: Introduction to Economic Analysis A First Course in Linear Algebra Introduction to Physical Oceanography Check out a great front-page article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |
|
WASHPIRG chapters released the "Campus Credit Card Trap" report,
which outlined the unfair marketing practices of the credit industry.
Students overwhelmingly support limits on campus credit card marketing,
according to the results of the nationwide USPIRG survey of more than
1500 students at 40 colleges in 14 states. Learn more at: truthaboutcredit.org |
|
On December 6th, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a 21st Century energy bill that will harness American ingenuity and put us on a path to cleaner, smarter new energy future for America. |
|
The event was covered in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. |
|
On September 7th, 2007, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act by broad bipartisan votes of 79 to 12 and 292 to 97 respectively. The bill now goes to the President who has said he will sign the legislation into law. The College Cost Reduction and Access Act is the most meaningful higher education reform in more than 15 years. The bill addresses the financial challenges of access and affordability that face American college students. It provides billions of dollars a year in additional grant aid to low-income students through the Pell Grant program. It will also help students address the burden of rising student debt through lower interest rates and a new repayment system. The bill also trims excessive subsidies that benefit a handful of banks and directs them to millions of students and families who are working to pay for college. The College Cost Reduction and Access Act will:
|
|
On July 11th, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "College
Cost Reduction Act of 2007" (HR 2669) by a vote of 273-149. The bill
will substantially increase the purchasing power of the Pell Grant, the
nation's premiere need-based grant program which benefits millions of
low income students, increasing the maximum grant amount by $100 for
five years beginning in 2008-9. It will make student loan debt more
affordable by cutting the interest rate on student loans in half, to
3.4%, by 2012, and by capping loan repayment amounts to a reasonable
percentage of a graduate's income. HR 2669 goes a long way toward
solving the college affordability and access crisis in the country. |
|
For Immediate Release: May 9, 2007 |
|
Governor Christine Gregoire signs the Washington textbooks bill (SHB 2300). From left to right: Senator Derek Kilmer (D-Gig Harbor), sponsor of Senate companion bill; Bryce McKibben, Director of Government Relations, ASUW; Daron Williams, WashPIRG student; Steve Lindstrom, Advisor, Washington Student Lobby; James Mellinger, WashPIRG student, Shirin Ebrahimi, WashPIRG student; Nicole Allen, WashPIRG organizer; Katie Reigelsperger; Chris Reigelsperger, Director of Legislative Affairs; ASWSU; Rep. Bob Hasegawa (D-Seattle), bill sponsor. |
|
The Washington Student Lobby, WashPIRG's partner in the effort to pass textbooks bill SHB 2300, met Saturday to wrap up the Legislative Session and determine the leaders for next school year. The WSL saw at least five pieces of legislation beneficial to students that they backed pass in Olympia, check out this article for info on some of them. WashPIRG is also pleased to announce that ASUW Director of Government Relations Bryce McKibben was elected President. Bryce has been an incredible ally over the past year - leading efforts with the New Voters Project, pushing reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, and of course lobbying for the first textbooks price disclosure bill in the nation this year. WashPIRG looks forward to continuing its relationship with the Washington Student Lobby, and combining our strengths to ensure the student voice is heard loudly in Olympia and DC! www.wastudents.org
|
|
U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today announced the formation of a Task Force on Student Loans to build on the progress and work of the negotiated rulemaking of the Commission on the Future of Higher Education, which convened in 2005 and concluded at the end of 2006. This new task force includes representatives from the Department's Office of Post Secondary Education, Federal Student Aid and Office of the General Counsel. Much like the Commission on the Future of Higher Education, the Task Force will have no student representation. The negotiated rulemaking process will still provide an opportunity for public comment; it is required by the Higher Education Act to provide an inclusive forum for interested parties to address federal policy and regulation. The Task Force will focus on key issues such as preferred lender lists, prohibited inducements and the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). Recent investigations into the lending industry have shown that misuse is widespread, and it is clear that reform will be necessary.
|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 21, 2007 CONTACT: Nicole Allen, WashPIRG, 203-216-7112, Nicole@washpirgstudents.org Olympia - Making Washington the first state to act in 2007 on the growing problem of college textbook prices, Governor Christine Gregoire signed a landmark measure this morning that will help lower the cost of textbooks for Washington college students. The law requires textbook publishing companies to disclose prices and change-of-edition information when marketing course materials to faculty in the state of Washington. The law effectively ends a longstanding practice by the publishing industry of withholding pricing information from faculty, resulting in more expensive textbooks hitting the shelves – and students’ pocketbooks. “This is a huge victory for students, since it will ensure faculty have the tools they need to choose lower cost textbooks,” said Bryce McKibben, the Student Lobbyist for the Associated Students of the University of Washington and a Legislative Liaison for the Washington Student Lobby. “Many students are already struggling to pay for college, and textbook prices have become a large part of college costs. Students are glad to see the Legislature include this issue in its efforts to make higher education more affordable.” Research by the Make Textbooks Affordable Campaign has found that textbook prices have risen four times the rate of inflation over the past decade and the average student pays $900 per year on course materials. A recent study of faculty found that publishers do not adequately disclose price information to faculty, who care about the cost of textbooks and want better information. Specifically, only 23% of faculty rated publishers’ websites as “informative and easy to use”, and that 77% of faculty said that publisher sales representatives “rarely” or “never” volunteer price information. Even when professors directly asked for the price during a sales meeting, only 38% reported that the sales representative would always disclose the price. “The cost of textbooks to students is largely dependent on which books instructors choose to require. This shows that professors are willing to choose cheaper books but they do not always know the information necessary to do so,” said Daron Williams, a junior at the University of Washington and the leader of WashPIRG’s efforts. “That is why this legislation was so necessary.” Bill sponsor Rep. Bob Hasegawa (D-Seattle) and sponsor of the Senate companion bill Senator Derek Kilmer (D-Gig Harbor) worked closely with students throughout the process. WashPIRG generated hundreds of phone calls from students to state legislators in support of the bill, while the Washington Student Lobby drove the effort in Olympia. "Textbook prices have risen faster than inflation and tuition," said sponsor Rep. Bob Hasegawa, D-Seattle. "Professors understand the burden faced by students and parents, and are sympathetic. This bill will help reduce costs, while not compromising the faculty's ability to select the best material for their courses." Students should still keep in mind that they may not see dramatically lower prices immediately, since lower cost materials to meet all course needs may not exist. “However,” continued Williams, “as more instructors choose less expensive textbooks, publishers will need to reevaluate their prices and offer lower cost versions.” “Every student knows that textbook prices are out of control, but most students accept it as a fact of life. This bill gave students the opportunity to be engaged in the democratic process on an issue that affects us,” concluded Williams “It is easy to feel helpless against the textbooks industry, but the Governor’s signature will prove that if we speak up our representatives will listen.” With the issue of textbook prices being heard from Sacramento to Little Rock, students in other states may benefit from similar efforts. Concerns may even reach the U.S. Congress when the Department of Education Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance releases a report on textbook costs this spring. The law’s text can be found at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2300. |
|
Washington is the second state in the country to allow online voter registration under a new state law signed by Governor Christine Gregoire. "This bill acknowledges that technology and times have changed," said Sen. Eric Oemig, D-Kirkland. "We do many things on the Internet today." Students will attest to that. WashPIRG worked with ASUW last November on the New Voters Project - which registered 1,900 student voters in just a few weeks. All registrations were in the form of paper forms that students filled out on campus thanks to the arduous work of PIRG and ASUW volunteers who commonly asked "can't we just have people do this online?" The answer then was no, but thanks to this new law the answer is yes. This is especially significant news to students, who are know for both lower voter registration rates and an obsession with the internet. "I think that it's going to be particularly helpful for connecting
with young people," said Secretary of State Sam Reed, who noted that
the state already faces challenges in getting younger people to
register to vote. Student organizers hope to see an increase in youth voter registration with this new measure, and are planning to adjust their voter outreach tactics to work with the new system.
|
|
Over the past week, the student loan industry has been exposed in the national media for questionable business practices. At the University of Washington, students who have long been active on the issue of student debt are hopeful that this will push Congress to reform higher education policy. |
|
With the cherry trees blooming and the smell of spring in the air, spring-cleaning is always as inevitable as the season itself. This year, however, University of Washington WashPIRG students are participating in a different kind of cleaning. The 23rd Annual Hunger Cleanup is a national event that will be taking place among PIRG chapters all across America on Sunday, April 15th. Volunteers from WashPIRG will be helping local thrift stores, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters throughout Seattle in the U-District, Bellevue, and Downtown with their much needed spring-cleaning. |
|
Washington students may find that they pay less for their textbooks next year, thanks to legislation that was passed unanimously yesterday in the Senate. The bill (SHB 2300) was sponsored by Bob Hasegawa (D-11), and Derek Kilmer (D-26), and was strongly backed by students across the state. This bill requires publishing companies to disclose prices and change-of-edition information when marketing course materials to Washington faculty. The Senate was its last stop before being signed into law by the Governor. |
|
Approximately 20-30 percent of plant and animal species are at increasing risk of extinction if the global average temperature increases by another 2.2 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit, according to a major consensus report released today by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC is a United Nations body charged with assessing the scientific record on global warming. |
|
In a landmark decision in one of the most important environmental cases ever heard by the Supreme Court, the Court ruled today that the Clean Air Act gives the U.S. EPA the authority to regulate carbon dioxide and other global warming pollutants from cars. |
|
The bill that would require textbooks price disclosure (HB 2300) passed in the Washington State House of Representatives by a vote of 93-4 this afternoon. Thanks to support from the 43rd's own Speaker Chopp and sponsor Representative Hasegawa, students are one step closer to lower textbook prices. The original authors WashPIRG and ASUW are now officially joined by the Student Lobby and Faculty Lobby. HB 2300 is now referred to the Senate to be passed. It is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Higher Education Committee on Monday, March 19th. In order to pass during this session, it must be pulled from the Rules Committee by March 30th. To acheive this, students at UW are counting support from co-sponsor Senator Murray of the 43rd District. |
|
In the wake of a large grassroots effort from students, President Mark Emmert of the University of Washington has officially signed on to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. Students from the Campus Climate Challenge Coalition at UW, which includes WashPIRG, SEED and the Sierra Student Coalition, organized a rapid-response petitioning event that gathered and delivers hundreds of student signatures to President Emmert. The Climate Commitment is an agreement between presidents of colleges and universities across the nation to eliminate carbon emissions from their campuses. The actual commitment requires:
Additionally, President Emmert is part of the Leadership Circle, so his responsibilities also include leading the initiative and recruiting colleagues. For more information, visit www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org. The Campus Climate Challenge Coalition expects to have a seat at the table to plan and execute these new responsibilities. |
|
WashPIRG students are working to convince the state Legislature to pass a bill requiring
publishers to disclose textbook prices to faculty. The bill, sponsored
by Representative Bob Hasegawa (D-11) and Senator Derek Kilmer (D-26),
was worked through legislative committees by students of WashPIRG and
the Associated Students of the University of Washington. The bill would
give faculty the information they need to choose the lowest cost
versions of the course materials they require. View the Daily video cast. |
|
Washington students may find that they are paying less for their textbooks next year if the state Legislature passes a bill requiring publishers to disclose textbook prices to faculty. The bill, sponsored by Representative Bob Hasegawa (D-11) and Senator Derek Kilmer (D-26), was worked through legislative committees by students of WashPIRG and the Associated Students of the University of Washington. The bill would give faculty the information they need to choose the lowest cost versions of the course materials they require. |
|
Students from Bellevue Community College and The University of Washington met with Congressman Dave Reichert (WA-8) in his district office on Mercer Island Monday afternoon. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the upcoming legislation to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, which is many years overdue. WashPIRG presented the following platform: Attending the meeting: Nicole Allen, WashPIRG Campus Organizer Shirin Ebrahimi, UW Student and WashPIRG Intern
Julia Abelev, BCC Student and WashPIRG Intern
|
|
For Immediate Release:
February 5, 2007 The FY08 budget calls for a significant increase in the maximum Pell Grant award to $4,600 but also calls for deep cuts to critical student aid programs including the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), the Perkins Loan Program and the LEAP Program. While this budget acknowledges the importance of increasing the Pell Grant award, unfortunately it largely represents a rearrangement of federal spending rather than a new commitment to making college accessible for low income students. We’re happy to see that the budget also makes cuts to the excessive subsidies to banks. In an analysis released in 2005, U.S. PIRGs’ Higher Education Program found that the average public college student from a family with an annual household income of $62,240 or less will have an average of $3,600 in annual unmet need. Students deal with unmet by taking out additional loans, working longer hours or, in some cases, changing college choices or not attending college at all. |
|
As youth across North America demanded immediate action on climate change last week, over 130 students in the Northwest gathered over the weekend to collectively call upon local officials in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia to adopt bold climate policies. The Northwest Climate Justice Summit was scheduled to finish off the international Week of Climate Action put on by the Campus Climate Challenge. Students at 586 locations registered to take action during the week, which makes it the largest youth mobilization on climate ever. |
|
The world’s scientists are more than 90% certain that human activity – primarily burning fossil fuels to power cars, power plants, and factories – is responsible for most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century, according to a consensus report released early this morning by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations body charged with assessing the scientific record on global warming.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The U.S. House of Representatives voted to increase the size of the maximum Pell Grant by $260, to $4,310. This is the first time the size of the Pell Grant has been increased since 2002. The Pell Grant is the federal government’s premier need-based grant aid program, providing aid to more than five million low-income students. Over the last five years, while students have paid more for college, the maximum Pell Grant has remained frozen. As a result students have had to make up the gap between tuition and aid with more work and larger loans. This increase will start to provide students with the aid they need to access an affordable college education. To fully restore the Pell Grant to its historic value, we’re continuing to call for the maximum to be increased to $5,100 in the coming budget cycle.
|
|
On
January 18th, by a vote of 264 to 163, the
U.S. House of Representatives passed the Clean Energy Act. The U.S.
PIRG-backed measure closes some tax loopholes for big oil companies, recovers
billions in lost royalties for drilling in public waters, and shifts more than
$14 billion to investments in clean energy. For more information, read http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7006189616. |
|
On January 17th, by a vote of 356 to 71, the U.S. House passed, by an
overwhelming bipartisan majority, legislation to lower the interest rates on
student loans over the next five years. According to an analysis by the Student
PIRGs, the move would save the average low or middle-income borrower starting
school in 2007 $2,300 in debt. |
|
UW students formed a giant question mark on the quad to film a video for the upcoming CNN/YouTube presidential debate. In the video they ask the candidates: "What's your plan for global warming?"
