In an effort to help low-income students achieve academic success, the Educational Opportunity Programs Office is launching a textbook drive to provide books to students who can't afford to buy them.
Any textbook, new or used, that professors anticipate using in a course are welcome, said anthropology student Lue Vang, a senior who is coordinating the book drive. Although faculty are expected to donate the most books, students are welcome to donate books, too. All EOP students will be eligible to receive books.
Books may be dropped off during regular business hours at the EOP Office on the first floor of the Academic Resources Center. Books can also be sent by intercampus mail to EOP Book Drive, 121 ARC Center.
With textbooks ranging in cost from $20 to more than $100, many students are unable to afford books each quarter, said Vang. Although professors typically put required textbooks on reserve at campus libraries, demand often exceeds supply. "There are only one or two copies for lectures with 40 to 100 students," he said.
With approximately 3,000 EOP students on campus, the need for textbooks is widespread, according to Yolanda Venegas, EOP pregraduate programs counselor. "It doesn't matter if a textbook is old or out of print--if a professor is going to use it in a class, we want it," said Venegas. "If it's going to be used, that's the key."
For more information, call (831) 459-3048 or contact Vang at lvang@ucsc.edu.
