The cost of higher education creeps higher every year, and a UCR task force felt that students should never have to choose between eating and buying textbooks.

A team of UC Riverside faculty, librarians, and information technology professionals joined forces to provide some incentives to make textbooks less costly. Their intention was to bridge the income gap so that students from disadvantaged backgrounds have an equal chance to succeed in their classes as do those who can bear the expense without sacrificing basic survival needs.

This collaboration may be the first of its kind in the nation that also has the financial backing of students.

Read more about the Affordable Course Materials Initiative here.