Does Your Institution Need to Try Inclusive Access Before Equitable Access?
ia before ea?
As institutions try to improve academic outcomes and affordability, they can take a closer look at one key piece of the student experience: course materials. Many schools are now considering a newer model called inclusive access, which delivers course materials in a digital format and automatically bills the student’s account. Access to course materials on the first day of class is a key predictor in student success, which is why this model has gained some traction in higher education.
But is inclusive access (IA) the first step toward equitable access (EA), and should your institution try it first?
The simple answer is no, you can skip right to EA! But first, let’s understand Inclusive Access.
IA offers consolidated billing and the automatic fulfillment (and return) of digital course materials through the LMS. It saves students money in some cases by using digital materials instead of new print materials. Students reap the benefits of discounted pricing from publishers and can opt out by course. The institution also has a greater market share than a traditional counter service delivery model.
On the other hand, the IA model decreases the margin for the campus bookstore by using digital materials. It also fails to solve the problem of ensuring all materials are delivered by the first day of class, as students may need to acquire materials for any courses not using the IA model . Sometimes professors will link students directly to publishers to purchase their materials outside of the IA program.
Any time students are responsible for acquiring their own materials and paying out of pocket for them, they face issues of affordability, preparedness for class, and additional stress. These factors can contribute to lower retention rates and academic performance.
Recently, Equitable Access (EA) emerged in the industry as a more student-focused delivery method. It’s similar to IA in that it offers auto-fulfillment and automatic billing to the student’s account. But EA takes a personalized approach, allowing faculty to select their preferred format for materials without requiring 100% digital content. EA also accommodates opting out (and back in) by semester and reduces the student’s costs to one predictable flat fee for all materials.
To better understand how EA compares, let’s look at how it creates greater accessibility for students:
CHALLENGE: Faculty want academic freedom to adopt the format that works best for their course and student population.
SOLUTION: EA tackles affordability concerns by offering a mix of physical and digital materials, curating the options that create the lowest possible cost for students. A partner like Slingshot can help faculty choose the best mix, while still allowing academic freedom to decide the best format for students.
CHALLENGE: Course material costs are still unpredictable.
SOLUTION: EA reduces course materials costs to one predictable fee automatically charged to the student’s account each semester. Pricing EA programs can be difficult on your own, but a partner like Slingshot can help with the development of a thriving EA program on your campus.
CHALLENGE: Students in an IA program may still be responsible for finding some of their course materials.
SOLUTION: EA provides all course materials for all courses in an auto-fulfillment model. Like IA, it is also a first-day access model, but it completely removes the burden of acquiring course materials from the student and ensures preparedness for class.
Slingshot’s EA model, Slingshot Premium, ships all materials by the first day of class, whether students are on campus, online, or at satellite locations. It’s a subscription model similar to Netflix with one price for all content. Slingshot leverages its relationships with publishers to negotiate better pricing and maintain academic freedom for faculty, and we work with your institution to customize a cost that offers the most benefit to your students.
Skipping straight to an EA model gives your students the maximum benefit and the most flexibility without the confusion of switching from IA to EA. With the right communication plan and a partner with plenty of experience rolling out EA programs, you can successfully launch a course materials model that fosters accessibility and affordability at your institution.
Learn more about Slingshot’s equitable access model at
slingshotedu.com/equitable-access.
