Kentucky State University to Provide Free E-Textbooks to All Students

Kentucky State University, the historically Black educational institution in Frankfort, has announced a partnership with Pearson, the large textbook publisher and learning company. Under the agreement, Pearson will offer electronic textbooks to Kentucky State students for a flat fee. The university is offering students a book scholarship to cover the costs of the Pearson fee. The free e-textbook program is available to both undergraduate and graduate students.

“We want to ensure that all our students have equitable access to required course materials the very first day they walk into the classroom,” said Candice Jackson, acting vice president for academic affairs a Kentucky State University.

Aaron Thompson, interim president of Kentucky State University, added that “some traditional textbooks can cost anywhere from $100 to $300 apiece. And the fact is, some students simply cannot afford to buy all the textbooks required for their course load. We want our students to be successful, and numerous studies have shown that if students do not have their books during the first few days of school, their success rate is seriously diminished.”