40 PERCENT INCREASE IN FIVE YEARS STUDENTS STRUGGLE WITH BOOK PRICES.Byline: CONNIE LLANOS llanos (yä`nōs), Spanish American term for prairies, specifically those of the Orinoco River basin of N South America, in Venezuela and E Colombia. Staff Writer VALENCIA -- Just one of Elvia Garcia's textbooks cost her nearly $175. The 18-year-old Newhall resident is taking 16 units at College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. this semester se·mes·ter n. One of two divisions of 15 to 18 weeks each of an academic year. [German, from Latin (cursus) s , and with classes like calculus calculus, branch of mathematics that studies continuously changing quantities. The calculus is characterized by the use of infinite processes, involving passage to a limit—the notion of tending toward, or approaching, an ultimate value. , physics and history, her book bill was more than $400. Considering she makes just $350 a month, it's no surprise she's had to make payments on her texts. "There is still one book I haven't even bought," Garcia said. Garcia is Garcia I might refer to:
The National Association of College Bookstores reported that prices of college textbooks have skyrocketed nearly 40 percent in the past five years. In hopes of finding a way to address this issue, College of the Canyons will host a public hearing Monday. The forum was organized by the U.S. Department of Education and is part of a year-long study requested by U.S. Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, R-Santa Clarita. "Textbook prices are particularly noticeable in California because our tuition at community colleges is the lowest in the nation," said Eric Harnish, assistant to the president at College of the Canyons. "When you are paying $60 for a three-unit class that requires a $120 textbook, the price is very noticeable." Harnish said college bookstores have nothing to do with textbook prices -- those are set by publishers -- but the college holds frequent outreach Outreach is an effort by an organization or group to connect its ideas or practices to the efforts of other organizations, groups, specific audiences or the general public. programs to advise students about financial aid and scholarships to help pay for education. But most of COC's 19,000 students have little or no help struggling with the price of books. Kristina Davey, a counselor for COC's Extended Opportunity Program, said the textbook issue is huge for students living in Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, -- already an expensive place to live. "Most students I know are already working one to three minimum-wage jobs just to cover rent. That doesn't even include books," Davey said. The EOPS-CARE program Davey works for helps qualifying students -- usually low-income students who are the first generation in their families to go to college -- by giving them book vouchers. The first semester students get $150, and returning students get $300. Davey said the vouchers are good as gold for most students, but they still don't cover all book expenses. "The average students spends anywhere from $300 to $500 a semester on books, with math and science books being at the top of the price list," Davey said. Students have also begun buying books online. Web sites such half.com and addall.com sell used books at rates 30 percent to 70 percent cheaper than most college bookstores. But, Davey said, many times Web sites cannot keep up with the pace of new textbook editions, and new editions are always more costly than earlier ones. Garcia, who is a freshman biochemistry biochemistry, science concerned chiefly with the chemistry of biological processes; it attempts to utilize the tools and concepts of chemistry, particularly organic and physical chemistry, for elucidation of the living system. major and plans to be a doctor, knows her book expenses are only beginning. "Many of my friends can't even afford to buy any books," Garcia said. Still, students find ways to be resourceful re·source·ful adj. Able to act effectively or imaginatively, especially in difficult situations. re·source  ful·ly adv. . "We just share books." connie.llanos@dailynews.com (661) 257-5254 If you go A public hearing on textbook prices will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday in the College of the Canyons Performing Arts Center A performing arts center, often abbreviated PAC, is a multi-use performance space that can be adapted for use by various types of the performing arts, including dance, music and theatre. , 26455 N. Rockwell Canyon Road. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: (color) Elvia Garcia, 18, of Newhall works from her physics book at the College of the Canyons. Garcia spent more than $400 for books during this semester at College of the Canyons. David Crane/Staff Photographer Box: If you go (see text) |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion