For-Profit calls for Profs to write their own texts

The American Public University System (APUS) is trying to recruit its professors to write and edit digital course materials to use instead of buying text materials from wealthy publishers. This effort comes as a cost-saving measure to the institution and to students. Professors are skeptical because they are not sure that they will be fairly compensated as well as who will own the intellectual copyrights, themselves or the institution? The APUS responds that professors will be fairly compensated and copyright material will be thoroughly examined so that recognition goes to the right people.

This measure is also an uphill battle with publishers who the APUS has been working with for some time and has paid a lot of money to. The APUS feels it’s time to give these major publishers some competition. Fred Stielow, the dean of libraries of the APUS, feels that the APUS gets bullied by the publishers and now is the time to be more creative about how the APUS uses electronic course materials. An interesting fact about the APUS is that it does not require undergrads to go out and buy textbooks rather; the price for textbooks is included in tuition. Critics praise the APUS albeit they are a for-profit institution because they have maintained a steady tuition rate, which is $750 for a three-credit course and that, has not changed in ten years. Their success shows in their growth. Last year their enrollment was 97,000 students this year it jumped to 105,000 students a 36% increase. The APUS sees a great opportunity to save money by reproducing e-textbooks internally. With the savings, it can pass on benefits to the students. The APUS also indicated that currently there is a textbook cost inflation and the creation of an APUS ePress can help diminish it. For students who prefer to use hard copy type texts, there is the capability to utilize “print-on demand technology.” The new ePress will also be available for other on-line institutions because of APUS’s movement of open-access materials.

Critics of the measure say that they worry about the ethics of having professors teach using their own texts because education is about teaching and learning from a variety of perspectives. On the other hand, some feel that it gives professors a greater sense of credibility from their students being able to study first hand using their professor’s texts. It seems some professors are constantly critiquing or are in disagreement of other texts anyway. Another argument is that for professors who do not participate in contributing to the ePress would be forced to use materials provided for them written by a professor who may or may not have the level of expertise as the instructor. Still, Fred Stielow believes that the APUS ePress is a move in the right direction. By enlisting faculty as writers and help from the librarians it will be a “team effort” to assist in sustaining the APUS as a cutting edge on-line education. It will combine the best of traditional academic press with new digital avenues that will allow higher education to reinvent itself during the rapid information age.   http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/11/07/american public-university-enlists-faculty-write-e-textbooks#ixzz1eJupZnAP