Student Voices and Student Leadership in the McMaster Textbook Affordability Survey

This poster explores student leadership and partnership in the development and implementation of the 2025 McMaster Textbook Affordability Survey. Co-developed with an undergraduate student, the survey gathered responses from 2,757 McMaster undergraduate students about their experiences with the costs of textbooks and other required course materials.

Findings highlight the financial burden of course materials, including digital learning resources, and how students navigate these costs by purchasing, seeking alternatives, or going without required resources. Drawing on both quantitative findings and students’ open-ended responses, the poster also highlights opportunities to improve the affordability of course materials through open educational resources, library access, institutional policies, and continued student engagement. The project demonstrates the value of positioning students as active partners in research and institutional conversations about equitable access to learning.