This article from Inside Higher Ed looks at the growth of and reaction to inclusive-access programs in the United States and Canada, where entire classes of students lease digital course materials from publishers at a discounted rate. “The ‘inclusive’ aspect of the model means that every student has the same materials on the first day of class, with the charge included as part of their tuition,” the article explains. Critics of the model note that these programs may limit students’ choices. Rajiv Jhangiani, university teaching fellow at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and open education advisor at BCcampus, points to open educational resources as an alternative. Jhangiani notes that institutions can freely adapt and share these resources, and faculty can customize and have complete autonomy over their course materials.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/11/07/inclusive-access-takes-model-college-textbook-sales