U.S. Textbook Publishers: New York Could Reduce College Dropouts, Save Millions in State Funds by Utilizing Technology

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association of American Publishers (AAP) pledged to continue its collaboration with the New York higher education community to help students and universities reduce colleges dropout rates, following the release of a report emphasizing the true economic costs of college freshman attrition in the state.

In a report released this week, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) found that $403 million was spent by the state of New York from 2003 to 2008 to support students at four-year colleges and universities who leave school before their sophomore year. The report also found that nationally, state and federal governments spend more than $9 billion -- including $7.6 billion in state appropriations and grants -- on students who will not return for their sophomore year.

"America's textbook publishers will continue to partner with the New York education community to make sure our focus remains on helping students succeed, lowering students' costs and reducing the per-pupil cost for instruction," said Tom Allen, president and CEO of AAP.  "In recent years publishers have increased their work with educators and administrators to create new and unique ways for students to think creatively, to collaborate with their classmates and professors, and to utilize the latest technologies."

Allen cited efforts by textbook publishers to help faculty keep students engaged by using the latest technologies to both maximize learning and keep down costs. 

"The number, variety and quality of technology-driven course materials have exploded over the last five years," Allen said. "This year, more than half of all students are expected to use these high-tech course materials in their classes."

Allen also noted the efforts of third-party non-profits, such as the National Center for Academic Transformation (NCAT), that are working with colleges to use course redesigns and the latest course material technologies to lower the cost for instruction by an average of 37 percent while decreasing student dropout rates by as much as 34 percent. Higher education publishers are providing the majority of the interactive course materials and technologies that are employed by NCAT in its redesigned classrooms.

"If these cost-cutting measures could be replicated throughout New York, the state could save as much as $149 million of the $403 million in funding cited in the AIR report," Allen said.  

"Publishers now offer more learning alternatives than at any time in history," Allen said. "They are helping to remedy the college dropout crisis by working to inform educators and policymakers on ways to reduce students' costs, improve student success and lower schools' cost per pupil for instruction."

To learn more about how publishers are helping students succeed, go to http://www.solutionsforstudentsuccess.org.

The Association of American Publishers

The Association of American Publishers is the national trade association of the U.S. book publishing industry. AAP's more than 300 members include most of the major commercial publishers in the United States, as well as smaller and non-profit publishers, university presses and scholarly societies. AAP's Higher Education group represents the needs and interests of member publishers who produce instructional materials including textbooks and digital products and services for the post-secondary educational market.

SOURCE The Association of American Publishers