One day a few years ago a student came to ask Sonoma State University Chemistry Professor Steve Farmer a question during his office hours. The student was shaking slightly. When he asked why, Farmer was shocked to hear it was because the student hadn’t yet eaten that day. It was then he realized the high cost of textbooks led to some students skipping meals to buy required books. Farmer knew at that moment he had to do something to help.
“I found out that one of my class’ books was $400 in our campus bookstore,” he says. “So I started looking into alternatives to these expensive books.”
In the eight years since that encounter, Farmer has become one of the most prolific users of the free, open-source textbook website LibreText (formerly ChemWiki). Now, using open source information on the site, 200 Sonoma State chemistry students are able to save roughly $10,000 total per year on textbooks.
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Saving Money with Open Textbooks
August 31, 2017
College Tips open source textbooks Leave a comment
iFlipd and GoFundMe Make Paying for Textbooks Easier for College Students
August 17, 2017
Textbook Rental News, Textbook Rental Sites Textbook Rentals Leave a comment
iFlipd, the only pay-as-you-go weekly textbook rental provider, announced a new partnership with GoFundMe, the world’s largest social fundraising platform, so college students can raise money from family, friends, and community organizations to help pay for their textbooks needs. All of the contributions raised go straight to the cost of the textbooks, so their supporters know their money is well spent.
“Paying for college is hard enough and many students can use some help. Our pay-as-you-go weekly textbook solution provides a flexible experience at an affordable price,” said Kati Radziwon, iFlipd CEO and founder. “GoFundMe is the number one fundraiser for textbook costs to date and our partnership with them extends our simple and flexible payment process to a wider and needed audience.”
“With college tuition on the rise, it’s more important than ever to help support students pursuing their higher education,” said Rob Solomon, GoFundMe CEO. “Many students have a network of family and friends who are ready to help them out with expenses like textbooks. With this new partnership with iFlipd, we’re excited to make it easier and faster for college students to get the financial support they need.”
How can students start to raise money?
The process is simple for students to get started:
- Create a free iFlipd account
- Set up their GoFundMe account
- Share their story, invite family & friends to help fund their textbooks
- Apply the funds directly through iFlipd to rent and pay for textbooks
Why iFlipd?
As the only pay-as-you-go weekly textbook rental provider, iFlipd allows students to pay for only the time they need through weekly rentals. Students instantly have access to the books they need in print and eBook format. Students can return them any time they like while earning reward points each time.
30 essential items for college students
August 8, 2017
College Tips college students, dorm items Leave a comment
As a recent college graduate, I remember the excitement leading up to move-in day as well as the enormous amount of packing I did. That process was made a whole lot easier when my aunt gave me a laundry basket full of essentials (and some treats, too!). Here’s my guide to things that definitely come in handy in your home-away-from-home. Package all or some of them together for the most useful gift imaginable:
Topics include personal essential dorm items, linens, rook essentials, beyond the dorm. Go to my list
OU to begin using Open Textbook Network, a free textbook resource
August 4, 2017
College Tips, Textbook Rental News free textbooks, Ohio University, Open Textbooks, OTN Leave a comment
Textbook prices can drastically affect a student’s bank account, but faculty members at Ohio University Libraries are looking to reduce those costs.
Open Textbook Network, or OTN, a resource for peer-reviewed academic textbooks, will start being used on campus come fall semester.
Kelly Broughton, the assistant dean for research & education services at OU, said, as a member of OTN, OU Libraries now has access to a suite of materials to adapt to the faculty at OU in support of efforts to reduce the costs of course materials to students.
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Cheap Textbook Rentals 