Cengage, an education and technology company, and Warren County Community College (WCCC) have announced an agreement to implement the Cengage Unlimited subscription service institution-wide that will ultimately save WCCC students thousands of dollars towards books and other educational materials.

Beginning with the spring 2019 semester which starts in January, WCCC students will have unlimited access to all their course materials, including books, for the average retail price of a single textbook. Implementation of the subscription model, utilizing a 4 course load per semester for two semesters as an example, is estimated to save the average student at least $1,000 per year. The College Board estimates that the average student in this country spends around $1,200 a year on books and supplies. 

“This is an amazing program that will provide students with a one-time annual fee for online course ‘books’ and other related materials,” said Dr. Will Austin, President of WCCC, located in rural Washington Township, New Jersey. “Everyone knows the cost of books has become prohibitive to achieving a college degree. By going to this format, this program cuts the cost down dramatically. Additionally, students who like physical books, will still have that access as well under our customized negotiated agreement with Cengage.”   

For less than cost of a typical science textbook, WCCC students will pay a one-time annual fee that is good for all “books” and all other learning materials in their courses of study. Many college textbooks are known to cost over $150 or more per book, with some texts now over $250 for a single book. Dr. Austin emphasized that if you “add up the purchase of a few books each semester it’s easy to see how the new program will save students significant amounts of money.”

“Let’s face it,” noted Dr. Austin, “younger people in particular are using their smart phones and tablets, not books. We are excited to be on the edge of this new technology. This program puts us ahead of what’s to come eventually everywhere, while still providing an option for traditional textbooks for those students who are not yet ready for the digital environment.”   

Dr. Austin continued, “The best way to think of this is like a Netflix or Hulu for textbooks; for a flat fee, paid once per year; students get every educational product created by the largest academic publisher in the United States, all at their fingertips, on their tablets, computer, or smart phone instantly.”   

“We’re challenging the traditional educational model to give our students added value,” added Ed Smith, Warren County Freeholder-Director and former Board Chair of the WCCC Trustees. “It’s innovative. It’s the right thing to do.”  

“It’s a no-brainer,” agreed New Jersey State Senator Michael Doherty. “Why wouldn’t you want this program? It’s a win-win for everybody.”    

Current WCCC Board Chair Dr. Linfante pointed out that some students put off buying books simply because they can’t afford them.   

“As a result,” he said, “they fall behind in their classes and have a hard time catching up. With this program they are all set from the start not only with text books but with journals, articles, videos, and more.” He added, “Additionally, faculty are now not limited to a single textbook. They can choose the best material from a variety of sources. It makes Warren County Community College a college where learning without limits is a reality. Students can print, copy or paste all of these materials into the learning platform that works best for them: on paper, computer, tablet, or phone.”   

As the largest U.S. based company of its kind, Cengage has been honing its delivery to include thousands of books and educational materials, with the students’ pocketbooks in mind.  

“It is no surprise that the cost of textbooks and course materials has become a barrier for far too many students. This is particularly true at community colleges, where course materials can average as much as 40% of the cost of tuition.  With Cengage Unlimited, we are delivering high quality materials at a price that makes learning accessible,” said Todd Markson, Chief Strategy Officer, Cengage. “We applaud Warren County Community College’s leadership for their broad commitment to improving their students’ learning experience, and look forward to a strong partnership.”  

Indeed, Cengage Unlimited is the first-of-its-kind subscription that offers students access to more than 22,000 products across 70 disciplines and 675 courses—for one price, no matter how many Cengage materials they use. Students using Cengage technology platforms, like MindTap or WebAssign, also have the option of a print rental for $7.99 with free shipping.   

Beginning January 2019, Warren County Community College students will receive access to Cengage Unlimited at the start of class with a one-time annual subscription fee, streamlining resources through one digital platform across courses.    

To learn more about Warren County Community College and its array of degree, certification, and non-degree programs, visit www.warren.edu or call 908-835-9222. 

For more information about Cengage, visit www.cengage.com/unlimited-institutional.