Biden Administration Looks to Clamp Down on Inclusive Access

Inside Higher Ed

Katherine Knott

January 29, 2024

The Biden administration wants to roll back an Obama-era policy that allowed a procurement model for digital textbooks and course materials to flourish—a move that’s alarmed publishers and institutions, but one that student advocates say would give students more choices.

The Association of American Publishers says nearly half of all degree-granting institutions have adopted a version of the sourcing option known as inclusive or equitable access, in which students receive all required course materials—offered for sale at below-market rates through deals struck between institutions, publishers and campus bookstores—by the first day of class as part of their tuition and fees.

The Education Department proposes to take away colleges’ ability to automatically bill students for their books and supplies, with only a few exceptions. Instead, students would have to opt in.

Publishers say the moves could deal a fatal blow to inclusive and equitable access systems. The change would make the models unworkable, they argue, because an opt-in approach could lead to fewer participants. For the programs to work, they say, a large bulk of students have to participate; without that, students could see higher costs for course materials.

Kelly Denson, senior vice president of education policy and programs for the AAP, said changing the policy would have an “outsized and very negative impact” on college students.

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