Western Oklahoma State College Introduces an Equitable Access Program to Reduce the Cost of Textbooks

Western Oklahoma State College (WOSC), a public, state-supported, two-year institution located in Altus, Oklahoma announced the launch of a new innovative way of delivering course materials with a focus on reducing the costs for students.

The educational programs at WOSC are designed to provide a quality and affordable education for all students. As part of this initiative, this fall, they’ve introduced the Equitable Access model through a partnership with Akademos, an online bookstore platform. This model ensures all course materials and textbooks are delivered to their students on or before the first day of class and offers a reduced cost across the student population.

“We have made a commitment to our students to find strategies that combat the rising costs of textbooks. Launching the new textbook delivery model is expected to drastically lower the costs of materials, while still allowing full academic freedom so faculty can continue to decide their course texts,” said Melissa McMahon, Vice President for Business Affairs at Western Oklahoma State College.

Western’s Online Bookstore was launched in August 2022 to support the fall term. Under this model, the cost of textbooks and course materials are added to the student’s bill. The approximately 1,300 students at WOSC will be included in the program automatically, however, students do have the ability to opt out if they do not wish to participate.

CEO of Akademos, Raj Kaji, said, “Colleges are continuing to seek out new and innovative approaches to remove barriers to learning. By introducing an equitable access program, Western Oklahoma State College is joining a growing number of institutions focused on student success and providing an exceptional educational experience.”

About Western Oklahoma State College

Western Oklahoma State College (WOSC) is a public, state-supported institution and a member of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. The institution was established as Altus Junior College in 1926 and became Western Oklahoma State College in August of 1974. It is the oldest municipal two-year college still in existence in Oklahoma. The mission of WOSC is to provide high-quality education while ensuring equity, supporting student success, and empowering individuals to become productive members of diverse local, regional and global communities. WOSC has a student population of approximately 1,300 students.

About Akademos

More than just an online bookstore, an Akademos technology-driven solution is a customizable bookstore experience every unique institution can benefit from. Whether the bookstore is a service for students or a revenue generator, the platform supports prioritizing readiness, textbook affordability, and retention with all models including Equitable Access, Inclusive Access, Student Choice, or a combination. All aspects of textbook and course material purchasing and delivery are taken care of so you can focus on what matters – student success. A true partnership – Akademos provides unmatched customer support along with access to tools and analytics needed to take each student’s college experience to the next level. Learn more at akademos.com.