{"id":1441,"date":"2025-06-25T11:01:57","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T18:01:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.kpu.ca\/tlcommons\/?p=1441"},"modified":"2025-06-25T11:02:00","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T18:02:00","slug":"tariffs-textbooks-and-teaching-in-uncertain-times-why-open-resources-matter-more-than-ever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.kpu.ca\/tlcommons\/tariffs-textbooks-and-teaching-in-uncertain-times-why-open-resources-matter-more-than-ever\/","title":{"rendered":"Tariffs, Textbooks, and Teaching in Uncertain Times: Why Open Resources Matter More Than Ever"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As we prepare for the Fall semester at KPU, we do so in a time of significant uncertainty. The past academic year has brought sweeping changes to B.C.\u2019s post-secondary landscape, including legislative changes and institutional restructuring. At KPU, these shifts have resulted in difficult decisions\u2014faculty layoffs, program changes, and a general sense of instability that has touched every corner of our institution. 
 
Amid these challenges, another issue is emerging that could further impact our students and our teaching: the potential imposition of tariffs on books imported from the United States. Canada\u2019s post-secondary sector remains heavily reliant on U.S.-based publishers and educational technology platforms. From textbooks to digital tools like Pearson MyLab and McGraw-Hill Connect, many of the resources students use to complete quizzes, simulations, and assignments are tied to American companies. This dependence makes our institutions particularly vulnerable to the ripple effects of international trade policies, including potential tariffs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global Meets Local: Tariffs and Textbook Costs\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While these tariffs haven\u2019t yet taken effect, the possibility is real. If implemented, they could raise the cost of imported textbooks by 10\u201325%, according to recent reports from Langara College and UNBC. For students already navigating rising tuition, housing costs, and economic uncertainty, this added burden could be significant. 
 
Local booksellers and publishers are already preparing for the impact. As reported by CBC News, Canadian publishers are \u201ccautiously optimistic\u201d that books may be exempt from the proposed tariffs (as they are currently), but the uncertainty has left many scrambling to prepare for the worst-case scenario\u2014a 25% tariff on the production cost of books. This could lead to increased retail prices, reduced availability, and delays in course material delivery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zero Textbook Cost: Real Savings, Real Impact\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, KPU has been a leader in addressing textbook affordability through our Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) initiative, which has been running since 2018. In the 2023\u20132024 academic year alone, the ZTC initiative saved students an estimated $3.35 million.\u00a0
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To put that in perspective: The average textbook costs $112.55<\/strong>. A typical student takes 3\u20134<\/strong> courses<\/strong> per semester, attends 2\u20133 semesters<\/strong> per year, and studies for 4\u20135 years<\/strong>. That adds up to a potential textbook cost of $2,700 to $6,750 for a student over the course of their degree.\u00a0
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These savings are only possible because of the commitment of our faculty. In 2023\u20132024, 564 instructors taught their courses using ZTC methods, and an average 27% of all course sections offered had zero textbook costs. This is a powerful testament to the values of accessibility, equity, and innovation that define our teaching community.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Student Voices: The Human Impact of ZTC<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The numbers tell one story\u2014but the lived experiences of our students tell another. In a powerful reflection published in the KPU Student Voices Journal, one student shared how the Zero Textbook Cost initiative transformed their academic journey: 
 
\u201cI remember the relief I felt when I saw the ZTC label next to my courses. It meant I could focus on learning, not on whether I could afford to participate. It meant I didn\u2019t have to choose between groceries and textbooks.\u201d 
 
\u2014 Excerpt from the 2023\u20132024 Student Writing Competition Winner 
 
This reflection is a reminder that textbook affordability isn\u2019t just a policy issue\u2014it\u2019s a matter of student well-being, equity, and academic success. Every ZTC course is a step toward a more inclusive and supportive learning environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Empowering Learning Through Openness\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we face rising textbook costs and the looming possibility of tariffs, it\u2019s important to consider not just the challenges but the opportunities. Open education offers a powerful, sustainable solution that aligns with KPU\u2019s values and strategic direction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faculty are already being asked to do more with less. In this context, the rising cost of textbooks is not just a student issue\u2014it\u2019s a teaching and learning issue. If students can\u2019t afford course materials, their ability to engage meaningfully with course content is compromised. This affects learning outcomes, classroom dynamics, and ultimately, student success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open educational resources (OER) are freely available, openly licensed materials that can be used, adapted, and shared to support teaching and learning. They remove financial barriers for students, increase flexibility for instructors, and promote inclusive, learner-centred pedagogy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At KPU, open education is more than a cost-saving measure\u2014it\u2019s a strategic commitment. It supports:<\/p>\n\n\n\n